The companion pass offer is over and Southwest has now adjusted the cards’ welcome bonuses to what we believe will be the cards’ new ongoing offers going forward. It’s nice to see that the Premier and Priority cards get a little bump in their ongoing bonuses.
Here are the current Southwest credit card sign-up bonuses:
The best Southwest credit card sign-up bonuses
 Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card Annual fee: $99 | Sign-up bonus: Earn 50,000 bonus points
after you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months from account opening. Learn how to apply. |
 Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card Annual fee: $149 | Sign-up bonus: Earn 55,000 bonus points after you spend $1,500 in the first 3 months from account opening. Learn how to apply. |
 Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card Annual fee: $229 | Sign-up bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $2,000 in the first 3 months from account opening. Learn how to apply. |
 Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card Annual fee: $149 | Sign-up bonus: Earn 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Learn how to apply. |
 Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card Annual fee: $299 | Sign-up bonus: Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Learn how to apply. |
Quick take: Wait for better bonuses
Aaron Hurd
Executive Editor of Cards and Points
Now that the three Southwest personal cards are back down to what I expect will be their ongoing business-as-usual bonuses, we can see that their new credit card strategy involves offering larger bonuses to the cards with higher annual fees. This is a posittive development.
Previously, my advice was always to go for the lower-tier card because you used to get the same bonus, regardless of which personal card you got. Now, each subsequent card tier gets another 5,000 Rapid Rewards points. That’s not terribly generous, but in my view, that amount of value covers the marginal bump in annual fee to upgrade. It’s probably worthwhile to get the highest-tier Southwest card… at least in the first year.
That said, now isn’t going to be the best time to apply for a Southwest card, since there isn’t a limited-time, increased bonus available. But, since Southwest changed their baggage and seating policies in the last few years, bag fees or seating fees (on Southwest…. it’s still hard for me to believe that we got here!) might change your value calculation.
Are you eligible to earn a Southwest Rapid Rewards bonus?
If you currently hold or have received a new cardmember bonus of any Southwest Rapid Rewards personal credit card within the previous 24 months, Chase’s terms state that you not only won’t be eligible for the bonus, but you won’t be eligible to get the card.
Here’s the exact wording, which is common across the offer terms on all of the personal cards:
The product is not available to either (i) current Cardmembers of any Southwest Rapid Rewards® Credit Card, or (ii) previous Cardmembers of any Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Card who received a new Cardmember bonus within the last 24 months. This does not apply to Cardmembers of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Business Card and Employee Credit Card products.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card offer terms
On the small business side of the house, you won’t receive the bonus if you either hold or have received a new cardmember bonus within 24 months on the exact same product. My interpretation of this is that you can receive a bonus on both small business variants of the Southwest credit card, without waiting 24 months.
Here’s the exact wording from the terms and conditions on the business cards:
This new Cardmember bonus offer is not available to either (i) current Cardmembers of this business credit card, or (ii) previous Cardmembers of this business credit card who received a new Cardmember bonus for this business credit card within the last 24 months.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card offer terms
Holding or receiving a welcome bonus on the business cards does not impact your ability to receive a bonus on the personal cards, and vice-versa.
More on the Southwest cards
If you’re looking to dig in and figure out which is the best Southwest card for you, see our complete guide to the Southwest Airlines credit cards.
