Southwest and Chase have teamed up to offer a wide range of co-branded credit cards, ensuring they have something for everyone. And right now, Chase is offering new card members the opportunity to earn 50,000 Rapid Rewards points after spending $1,000 within the first three months on any of their personal credit cards.
These offers aren't the biggest points bonuses we've seen from Southwest but if you're in the market for a new card and typically fly Southwest, they can still be a good option for picking up some extra perks and additional points to fund your next vacation.
Depending on which version of the card you go with, you'll be rewarded with things like anniversary bonus points, early bird check-ins, and a discount on in-flight purchases. Better yet, the sign-up bonus from any of these cards will count toward the 135,000 points needed in order to qualify for the Southwest Companion Pass.
What's the Southwest Companion Pass? Oh, just one of the best deals in all of travel.
With the Southwest Companion Pass you get to choose one person to fly free with you every time you purchase a flight or redeem Southwest Rapid Rewards points for a flight on Southwest. There are no blackout dates and no questions asked. If the flight is bookable, you can add your companion. Even though you'll need to earn 135,000 points in a calendar year in order to earn the Companion Pass, you also get 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points just for being a co-branded cardholder. That means that after earning one of these welcome offers you'll only need an additional 75,000 points to be on your way to BOGO airfare for the next year plus.
Keep reading for everything you need to know about these Southwest credit card offers.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
- *sw plus bonus*
- Anniversary Bonus: Each year on your cardmember anniversary, you will receive 3,000 Rapid Rewards points.
- Earn 2x Rapid Rewards Points per dollar spent on purchases with Southwest Airlines and its hotel and rental car partners.
- Earn 2x Rapid Rewards Points per dollar spent on local transit and commuting purchases, including rideshares like Uber and Lyft. You’ll also earn 2x points per dollar spent on internet/cable, phone services, and select streaming purchases.
- Earn 1x Rapid Rewards Points per dollar on all other spending on the card.
- Get 2 Early Bird check-ins each year.
- Chase 5/24 Rule: The card will be subject to the Chase 5/24 rule, so you may not be approved for the card depending on how many credit cards you’ve opened in the last two years.
- Annual Fee: The card has an annual fee of $69, which is not waived for the first year of card membership.
Learn more about the *sw plus*.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
- *sw premier bonus*
- Anniversary Bonus: Each year on your cardmember anniversary, you will receive 6,000 Rapid Rewards points.
- Earn 3x Rapid Rewards Points per dollar spent on purchases with Southwest Airlines.
- Earn 2x Rapid Rewards Points per dollar spent on local transit and commuting purchases, including rideshares like Uber and Lyft. You’ll also earn 2x points per dollar spent on internet/cable, phone services, and select streaming purchases.
- Earn 1x Rapid Rewards Points per dollar on all other spending on the card.
- 25% Back on In-Flight Purchases: Receive 25% back via statement credits for in-flight purchases. This can be used for drinks, movies, and purchasing Wi-Fi and messaging.
- Get 2 Early Bird check-ins each year.
- No foreign transaction fees
- Chase 5/24 Rule: The card will be subject to the Chase 5/24 rule, so you may not be approved for the card depending on how many credit cards you’ve opened in the last two years.
- Annual Fee: The card has an annual fee of $99, which is not waived for the first year of card membership.
Learn more about the *sw premier*.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
- *sw priority bonus*
- Anniversary Bonus: Each year on your cardmember anniversary, you will receive 7,500 Rapid Rewards points.
- Priority Boarding: Each year on your cardmember anniversary, you will receive four upgraded boarding positions. Simply purchase an upgrade on the day of your travel with the Priority card. You’ll receive a boarding number between A1 and A15, and be reimbursed via statement credit within eight weeks.
- Annual Travel Credit: Receive an annual travel credit of $75 to use on Southwest Airlines flights.
- 25% Back on In-Flight Purchases: Receive 25% back via statement credits for in-flight purchases. This can be used for drinks, movies, and purchasing Wi-Fi and messaging.
- Earn 3x Rapid Rewards Points per dollar spent on purchases with Southwest Airlines.
- Earn 2x Rapid Rewards Points per dollar spent on local transit and commuting purchases, including rideshares like Uber and Lyft. You’ll also earn 2x points per dollar spent on internet/cable, phone services, and select streaming purchases.
- Earn 1x Rapid Rewards Points per dollar on all other spending on the card.
- Unlimited Tier Qualifying Points can be earned towards A-List status each year.
- Chase 5/24 Rule: The card will be subject to the Chase 5/24 rule, so you may not be approved for the card depending on how many credit cards you’ve opened in the last two years.
- Annual Fee: The card has an annual fee of $149, which is not waived for the first year of card membership.
Learn more about the *sw priority*.
What to Know Before You Apply
There are some considerations to work through before you apply. And the first comes down to whether you're even eligible to open one of these Chase Southwest cards.
Chase only lets you hold one Southwest personal credit card at a time. That means if you already have one Southwest credit card open, you will not be approved for a second card. On top of that, these welcome bonuses are not available if you have earned a welcome bonus on any of the three Southwest Airlines personal credit cards in the past 24 months (or two years).
And of course, these cards are also subjected to the dreaded Chase 5/24 rule, so getting approved for one of these cards may be difficult depending on how many credit cards (from any bank, not just Chase) you’ve opened in the last 24 months. If you've opened five or more five credit cards with any bank in that time span, you will not be approved for Chase credit cards, regardless of your credit score or history with Chase bank.
But if you are eligible, these Southwest credit cards are easily among the best credit cards you can get if you are under the Chase 5/24 rule. That’s especially true with this new offer to earn a Companion Pass for the first year.
Open a card, meet the minimum spending requirement, and voila – you've got 50,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points. Keep in mind, though: Credit cards are serious business. If you can't afford to charge and immediately pay off $1,000 within three months, it isn't worth digging yourself into debt.
Read more: The Master Guide to the Southwest Companion Pass
Pair with a Chase Sapphire Preferred or Sapphire Reserve
All three of these Southwest credit cards make great companions to either the *csr* or the *csp*. That’s because Chase Ultimate Rewards points can be transferred to your Southwest Rapid Rewards account on a 1:1 basis, meaning 1,000 Chase points get you 1,000 Southwest Rapid Reward points. And those transfers are instant.
You can even transfer these points to Southwest to book one ticket to use with your Companion pass, paying just the taxes and fees on both tickets. It’s a great deal.
Learn more about the *csp*.
Learn more about the *csr*.
Bottom Line
Chase and Southwest are currently offering 50,000 Rapid Rewards points after you spend $1,000 in the first three months of card membership on any of the Southwest personal credit cards. While a big stash of Southwest points never hurts – especially since they count toward earning a Companion pass – the real value here is with the card's ongoing travel perks and benefits for flying Southwest Airlines.
Does the point transfer go the other way? Can the points in Southwest credit card be transferred to Chase Sapphire? Thanks
They can not. Transfers are only one way
Great deal, I just wish Southwest had more (direct) flights out of MSP to destinations I am interested in.
Do I actually have to spend the $5,000 by March 10 to qualify?
No, you’d simply have to apply while the offer is still available and then spend $5,000 within three months of being approved for the card.
My husband and I both have personal Chase SW cards and have had them more than 2 yrs, Could one of us cxl a personal card and reapply in a couple weeks to attain this bonus? Or would it trigger something negative with Chase?
Hi Kim. That absolutely should work. I would give it 30 days from when you close the card to reapply. And I would also suggest applying for a different version than you currently have.
FYI, Your article shows 2 different annual fees for the Chase Card where you earn the companion bonus.
Also, if you spend $5k in the first month you have the card how soon would I be able to use the companion benefit? Since it is only good until next February I want to maximize it this spring too.
Lastly, can I use it to fly others with companions or do I always have to be one of the ticket holders?
Hi Rayne. There are three cards all offering this right now and each of them has a different annual fee.
Regarding how quickly you would receive the Companion pass, generally, you would receive it within a few days after your card statement closes in which you met the spending requirement.
Anyone know how to get the Companion Pass added the quickest way? I got the card Feb 16th, it arrived in ~ 5 days. I charged over $5000 within 3 weeks, I went online to pay the bill early and now hoping I can at least get the Companion Pass to use ASAP. I can wait on the 30,000 bonus points, but really want the CP!
Thanks
It should be available as soon as your card statement closes.
My first statement closed Feb 25th, but I was only 1/2 way there, so I have to wait until Mar 25th now? Hoping to esclate it somehow 🙂
Correct. After the statement closes in which you meet the spending requirement.
Just had another idea or thought….my first due date is April 2nd, but what if I change my due date going foward to the 6th, so I could pay the remaining balance by April 6th instead of waiting for May 2nd? I’m guessing these questions center around the Chase Card provider rather than the SW Rewards provider?
Yes. You will need to work with Chase on this.
Closing up this discussion for reference to others. I contacted Chase and was unable to change closing date to be earlier. Seems you can only do this for future closing dates which doesn’t help me.
Do you know how long this most recent bonus offer will last? I’ve gotten 2 chase cards in the last 30 days so I think I need to wait, but scared to miss it!
Unfortunately, we don’t. Chase hasn’t yet listed an end date for the offer.
So, I applied for both the personal and business cards. I was called about the business card but received notification that the personal card was declined “due to already having that card”. I called and was told that I can only have one version of the Southwest card. I explained that I wanted to keep my personal and business charges separate but earn the points on all my charges. I asked to be reconsidered but they said that department was closed due to the holiday. I called the next day and went through the same procedure and waited on hold for an hour before hanging up and calling back. I explained everything again and was told that it would be under consideration, and I would hear in 1 to 2 weeks.
My husband is an authorized user on my Southwest card. Would he be able to apply for his own card since a person can only hold one Southwest personal card?
Hi Diane. Yes, he should be able to.