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We're focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won't be worth it if you're paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it's important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.
- Southwest is offering elevated welcome bonuses on three personal credit cards: The
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card - Product Name Only , theSouthwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card - Product Name Only and theSouthwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card - Product Name Only - New cardholders can earn
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card - Intro Bonus - These points count toward Southwest Airlines Companion Pass earning requirements
Southwest Airlines is offering
This elevated welcome bonus is available on all three personal credit cards:
- The
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card - Product Name Only - The
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card - Product Name Only - And the
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card - Product Name Only .
Aside from offering the same sign-up bonus, each of these cards offers different benefits and perks.
Here's what you should know about these credit cards as well as this welcome offer. We'll also tell you why this bonus can be your gateway to one of the most valuable rewards in the travel industry.
Which Southwest credit card should you get?
If you've been considering a Southwest credit card for some time, you're in the right place. Choosing between the three credit cards will come down to personal preference and spending habits, as well as your travel needs.
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Annual fee | |||
Rewards rate | 2x points on Southwest purchases 2x points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases 2x points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare 2x points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming 1x point per dollar on everything else | 3x points on Southwest purchases 2x points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases 2x points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare 2x points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming 1x point per dollar on everything else | 3x points on Southwest purchases 2x points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases 2x points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare 2x points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming 1x point per dollar on everything else |
Welcome bonus | |||
Southwest benefits | 3,000 points on your card anniversary Two EarlyBird Check-Ins per year 25% back on inflight drinks and Wi-Fi Boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points each calendar year | 6,000 points on your card anniversary Earn tier-qualifying points toward A-List elite status Two EarlyBird Check-Ins per year 25% back on inflight drinks and Wi-Fi Boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points each calendar year | 7,500 points on your card anniversary Earn tier-qualifying points toward A-List elite status $75 annual Southwest travel credit 4 upgraded boardings per year when available 25% back on in-flight drinks and Wi-Fi Boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points each calendar year |
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How to earn the Southwest Companion Pass
The Southwest Companion Pass is the holy grail of free travel for many U.S. travelers. This coveted benefit allows you to fly a friend or family member for just the cost of airfare taxes and fees, as long as you fly together on the same route. The Companion Pass even applies to flights booked on Rapid Rewards points, meaning that you and your boo can get away for less than it costs to buy pumpkin spice lattes for two.
You'll need to earn 135,000 qualifying Rapid Rewards points or fly 100 eligible one-way flights in a calendar year in order to earn the Southwest Companion Pass. While it may be daunting to consider earning so many points in 365 days or less, this welcome bonus can get you more than halfway to that goal.
Points that qualify for Companion Pass status are earned from:
- Booking flights
- Earning points issued on Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards
- Earning points from Rapid Rewards partners
Points that do not qualify for the Companion Pass include:
- Purchased points
- Points transferred between Rapid Rewards members
- Points transferred from Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- Points converted from hotel and car loyalty programs
- Points converted from e-Rewards, e-Miles, Valued Opinions, and Diners Club
- Points earned from Rapid Rewards program enrollment
- Tier bonus points
- Flight bonus points
- Partner bonus points
How this welcome bonus helps you toward Companion Pass status
Once you earn the Southwest Companion Pass, it's effective for the rest of the calendar year, as well as for the following year. This means that if you earn the Companion Pass today, you'll receive 14 months of Companion Pass benefits through the remainder of 2023, as well as all of 2024.
But if you sign up for one of these Southwest Rapid Rewards card today and wait to earn your sign-up bonus and additional required qualifying points in early 2024, you'll earn the Companion Pass for both 2024 and 2025. If you time everything correctly, you could potentially enjoy nearly 24 months of free travel for a partner, child or best friend.
Earning the rest of the points you need
Signing up for a Southwest business credit card at the same time you apply for a personal card is one of the easiest ways to quickly earn 135,000 qualifying Rapid Rewards points. While you can only have one Southwest personal card at a time, you are allowed to have one personal card as well as one or both small-business credit cards at the same time. And if you have a side hustle, resell your belongings on Poshmark or eBay or dogwalk for extra income, that may be all you need to qualify for a small-business credit card.
If you stick with the personal Southwest card, you'll need to come up with a number of additional points to qualify for a Companion Pass. Here are some ways to get there:
- Use your new Southwest card to pay all of your expenses, from food and utilities to travel. Just be sure to pay off your credit card statement in full each month to avoid high interest rates.
- When shopping, double-dip your rewards by making online purchases through the Southwest shopping portal.
- Fly Southwest, where you'll earn between 6 and 12 points per dollar, depending on the fare type. (And when you pay with your Rapid Rewards credit card, you'll earn extra points on Southwest travel purchases!)
Other ideas include booking hotels through Southwest Hotels, renting cars through Southwest Book a Car, or signing up for Rapid Rewards Dining and eating out at participating restaurants.