Unfortunately, the amazing offer that could get you the Southwest Companion Pass with one credit card sign-up bonus in no longer available. If you missed out on the opportunity to earn the Companion Pass through the end of 2019 (and 30,000 Southwest points) after spending $4,000 in the first three months, you’ll now have to earn it the “hard” way: by amassing 110,000 qualifying points or who take 100 qualifying flights in a year. Of course, the upside to earning it this way is that the pass is good for the remainder of the year in which you earn it and the entire following year, but that’s really a subject for a different post…
Now, all three personal Southwest credit cards are offering a sign-up bonus of 60,000 bonus points after you spend $2,000 in the first 3 months. This offer will be available through June 10, 2019.
Sign-Up Offer Details
Based on TPG’s valuations, 60,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points are worth $900. The Companion Pass aspect of the sign-up bonus is no longer available, but this new offer includes 20,000 additional points compared to the standard bonus, and remember that the 60,000 points count toward the 110,000 points needed to earn the Companion Pass the “traditional” way.
Here are the three cards offering this new sign-up bonus:
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
The names don’t exactly clarify how these three cards differ, but they have annual fees ranging from $69 to $149 and varying perks. Here’s more info on how they stack up:
| Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card | Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card | Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card | |
| Annual fee | $69 | $99 | $149 |
| Anniversary points bonus | 3,000 Rapid Rewards points | 6,000 Rapid Rewards points | 7,500 Rapid Rewards points |
| Earning rates | 2x on Southwest flights and hotel and car rental partners
1x everywhere else |
2x on Southwest flights and hotel and car rental partners
1x everywhere else |
2x on Southwest flights and hotel and car rental partners
1x everywhere else |
| Other perks | N/A | N/A | $75 annual Southwest travel credit
Four upgraded boardings per year (when available) 20% back on inflight drinks and Wi-Fi |
| Tier Qualifying Points | N/A | Earn up to 15,000 TQPs a year, 1,500 for each $10,000 spent | Earn up to 15,000 TQPs a year, 1,500 for each $10,000 spent |
| Foreign-transaction fee | 3% | None | None |
As all three cards are offering an identical welcome bonus, you should pick the one with the annual fee and benefits to match your needs. Not everyone will need the extra perks like four upgraded boardings with the Priority Card, for example.
Eligibility
You won’t be able to earn this sign-up bonus, let alone open one of these personal Southwest cards, if:
- You already hold a personal Southwest credit card
- You’ve earned a new card member bonus on a Southwest consumer credit card in the last 24 months
- You’re over 5/24 — meaning you’ve opened 5 or more credit cards in the last 24 months. This is a Chase policy that means there’s virtually zero chance you’ll be accepted for most of its cards if you’re over the 5/24 limit.
Using Points
Southwest points are great for travelers who don’t want to worry about maximizing their points. After all, the number of points required to book a flight is directly tied to the current fare of the flight. Southwest is also great for families traveling with lap children as well as flexible travelers since there aren’t any cancellation or change fees on Southwest flights.
Bottom Line
Especially with Southwest’s recent addition of service to Hawaii, boosting your Rapid Rewards points balance could be a smart move. 60,000 points could get you well on your way to the islands or to any of the destinations (including some international gems) the airline flies to, so this offer on the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card and the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card is worth a look.
Featured photo of a Southwest aircraft at Houston Hobby by Stephen M. Keller / Southwest.
Additional reporting by Katie Genter.
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