For Southwest Airlines loyalists, a cobranded Southwest credit card is a great way to earn points toward travel.
While these latest bonuses focus on points rather than limited-time perks like the Companion Pass, they still offer great value, especially for those planning upcoming Southwest flights.
Right now, the three Southwest personal cards are offering elevated bonuses. If you don’t place a lot of value on a Companion Pass or just want to top off your Southwest balance, now is a great time to apply. These offers end at 9 a.m. ET on July 2, so it’s your last chance to apply.
Let’s take a look at the current welcome bonuses on Southwest’s personal and business credit cards.
Comparison of the Southwest card welcome offers
Here’s a look at the Southwest welcome offers at first glance:
| Card | Welcome offer | Offer value* | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card (see rates and fees) |
Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. Offer ends at 9 a.m. ET on July 2. |
$1,000 |
$99 |
|
Earn 85,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. Offer ends at 9 a.m. ET on July 2. |
$1,063 |
$149 |
|
|
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card (see rates and fees) |
Earn 90,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. Offer ends at 9 a.m. ET on July 2. |
$1,125 |
$229 |
|
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card (see rates and fees) |
Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. |
$750 |
$149 |
|
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card (see rates and fees) |
Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. |
$1,000 |
$299 |
*Welcome offer value is based on TPG’s June 2026 valuations.
The information for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Southwest personal cards
Whether you fly Southwest just a couple of times each year or it’s your exclusive airline, consider one of the carrier’s cobranded credit cards.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
Best for: Beginners and infrequent travelers
Annual fee: $99
Welcome bonus: Last chance to earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. Offer ends at 9 a.m. ET on July 2.
According to TPG’s valuations, this offer is worth $1,000. This is an elevated welcome offer for this card, so we’d suggest applying now — or waiting until a Companion Pass is offered, if that’s your preference.
Earning rates:
- 2 points per dollar spent at gas stations and grocery stores each anniversary year (on the first $5,000 in combined spending) and on Southwest purchases and Lyft (through Dec. 31, 2027)
- 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases
Notable perks:
- Free first checked bag for you and up to eight travel companions
- Group 5 priority boarding
- No foreign transaction fees
- One promotional 10% flight discount each anniversary year (excludes Basic fares)
- Standard seat selection 48 hours prior to departure (when available)
- 25% discount on inflight purchases
- 3,000 bonus points every cardholder anniversary
- 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost annually
To learn more, read our full review of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus.
Apply here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card
Best for: Regular Southwest flyers
Annual fee: $149
Welcome bonus: Last chance to earn 85,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. Offer ends at 9 a.m. ET on July 2.
According to TPG’s valuations, the points are worth $1,063. If you’re looking to add a solid stash of Southwest points to your balance, now is a great time to apply.
Earning rates:
- 3 points per dollar spent on Southwest purchases and Lyft (through Dec. 31, 2027)
- 2 points per dollar spent at grocery stores and restaurants each anniversary year (on the first $8,000 in combined spending)
- 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases
Notable perks:
- Free first checked bag for you and up to eight travel companions
- Group 5 priority boarding
- No foreign transaction fees
- One promotional 15% flight discount each anniversary year (excludes Basic fares)
- Preferred seat selection 48 hours prior to departure (when available)
- Unlimited ability to earn 1,500 TQPs for each $5,000 spent annually toward A-List status
- 25% discount on inflight purchases
- 6,000 bonus points every cardholder anniversary
- 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost annually
Learn more: Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card review
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
Best for: Southwest loyalists who can take advantage of day-of-travel perks
Annual fee: $229
Welcome bonus: Last chance to earn 90,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. Offer ends at 9 a.m. ET on July 2.
The points offered in this bonus are worth $1,125, according to TPG’s valuations. If you don’t mind missing out on a Companion Pass as part of your welcome offer, this is a good offer to apply for.
Earning rates:
- 5 points per dollar spent on Lyft (through Dec. 31, 2027)
- 4 points per dollar spent on Southwest purchases
- 2 points per dollar spent at gas stations and restaurants, with no annual cap
- 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases
Notable perks:
- Free first checked bag for you and up to eight travel companions
- Group 5 priority boarding
- No foreign transaction fees
- Preferred seat selection at booking (when available)
- Unlimited ability to earn 2,500 TQPs for each $5,000 spent annually toward A-List status
- Unlimited upgrades to extra-legroom seats within 48 hours of departure at no charge (when available)
- 25% discount on inflight purchases
- 7,500-point anniversary bonus
- 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost annually
To learn more, read our full review of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card.
Apply here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
Southwest business cards
If you qualify for a business credit card and fly Southwest frequently, consider one of the carrier’s cobranded business cards.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card
Best for: Business owners who fly Southwest regularly
Annual fee: $149
Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
This offer is worth $750, according to TPG’s valuations. This is the standard welcome offer we’ve typically seen in the card’s history.
Earning rates:
- 3 points per dollar spent on Southwest purchases and Lyft (through Dec. 31, 2027)
- 2 points per dollar spent at gas stations and restaurants each anniversary year (on the first $8,000 in combined spending)
- 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases
Notable perks:
- Free first checked bag for you and up to eight travel companions
- Group 5 priority boarding
- No foreign transaction fees
- Preferred seat selection within 48 hours of departure (when available)
- Unlimited ability to earn 2,000 TQPs for each $5,000 spent annually
- 15% flight discount promo code each anniversary year (excluding Basic fares)
- 25% discount on inflight purchases
- 6,000 bonus points every cardholder anniversary
- 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost annually
To learn more, read our full review of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business card.
Apply here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card
Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card
Best for: Business owners who are loyal Southwest flyers
Annual fee: $299
Welcome bonus: Earn 80,000 points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
This offer is worth $1,000, based on TPG’s valuations. This is the standard welcome offer we’ve typically seen in the card’s history, so if you can afford to, we’d recommend waiting in order to get a larger stash of points.
Earning rates:
- 5 points per dollar spent on Lyft (through Dec. 31, 2027)
- 4 points per dollar spent on Southwest purchases
- 2 points per dollar spent on commuting and local transit, at gas stations and restaurants (no annual cap) and on hotel stays booked directly
- 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases
Notable perks:
- Earn tier-qualifying points toward A-List elite status
- Free first checked bag for you and up to eight travel companions
- Group 5 priority boarding
- No foreign transaction fees
- Preferred seat selection at booking (when available)
- Unlimited ability to earn 2,500 TQPs for each $5,000 spent annually
- Unlimited upgrades to an extra-legroom seat 48 hours prior to departure at no charge (when available)
- Up to $120 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus credit (every 4 years)
- 25% discount on inflight purchases
- 9,000 points every cardholder anniversary
- 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost annually
To learn more, read our full review of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business card.
Apply here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card
Should you apply for a Southwest credit card now?
Southwest has many fans who love the airline’s personality. However, it has undergone waves of change over the past year, most recently launching its assigned seating model earlier this year after ending free checked bags with every ticket in May 2025.
Southwest’s personal cards are offering elevated bonuses until July 2 at 9 a.m. ET, making now a great time to apply if you’re interested in points versus a Companion Pass.
Credit card holders can check one bag for free (for themselves and up to eight companions on the reservation), avoiding the $45 per bag fee each way. Rapid Rewards A-List Preferred and Business Select members receive two free checked bags (A-List members only receive one checked bag; weight and size limits apply).
Southwest uses dynamic award pricing, which means redemption rates can be higher or lower depending on flight demand. Plus, only certain fare types qualify for waived fees.
Free same-day standby is also limited to certain fare types.
The two business cards are currently offering standard welcome bonuses, so we’d recommend waiting until the points offered are higher or until there’s a welcome bonus that offers a Companion Pass.
Bottom line
If you frequently fly solo or place more value on Rapid Rewards points than a Companion Pass, these offers may excite you. Southwest’s current credit card offers deliver decent value, especially for those looking to boost their Rapid Rewards balance.
Southwest’s three personal cards are offering elevated bonuses right now, so it’s a good time to apply if you’ve been eyeing one of those cards. These offers end at 9 a.m. ET on July 2, so don’t wait any longer to apply.
If you’re not in a rush, it may be worth holding out for the return of a Companion Pass offer. But if you’re ready to earn points now and have a redemption in mind, one of these cards could definitely make sense.
Apply here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
Apply here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
Apply here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card
Apply here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card
