Southwest Plus Card’s Welcome Offer History: 2022 to 2026

If you’re loyal to Southwest and want a simple way to earn Rapid Rewards points while unlocking one of the most valuable perks in domestic travel, the Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Plus Credit Card is often the entry point. Positioned as the introductory option in Southwest’s personal card lineup, it offers a low annual fee and a clear path to earning points toward award flights and even the coveted Companion Pass.

The Southwest Plus card is issued by Chase and has been around for more than a decade. It remains a popular choice for occasional Southwest flyers.

In this guide, we’ll look at when it makes sense to apply, how the welcome offer has evolved, what benefits matter most, and whether this card fits into your long-term Southwest strategy.

When To Apply for the Southwest Plus Card

At its core, the Southwest Plus card is an introductory-level airline rewards credit card.

Instead of earning flexible Ultimate Rewards points that can transfer to multiple travel partners like some other Chase credit cards, this card earns Southwest Rapid Rewards points directly. That means your rewards are tied to Southwest’s Rapid Rewards program, which works well if you consistently fly the airline, but the card doesn’t offer the transfer flexibility of some other Chase cards.

Travelers tend to like this card because Southwest’s program is simple and transparent. There are no blackout dates, points prices are tied to the cash cost of tickets, you can use points for any seat on the plane, and the Companion Pass remains one of the most valuable benefits in domestic travel. The card’s $99 annual fee is relatively low compared to premium airline cards, making it accessible for casual travelers. Since its launch in the early 2010s, the card has served as the entry-level option for Southwest loyalists.

The card recently underwent changes as part of Southwest’s 2025 credit card updates, including adjustments to earning structures and bonus strategies across the portfolio. While the core positioning remains the same, promotional offers now lean more heavily into Companion Pass incentives and creative structures, rather than just large point bonuses.

Currently, the Southwest Plus card offers the following public welcome bonus:

• Earn 80,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months.

Here’s how that compares to the card’s historical offers:

* Value based on our latest points valuations that peg Southwest Rapid Rewards points at 1.3 cents each. This value isn’t provided by the card issuer.

Looking at the full timeline, the Southwest Plus card’s welcome offer history is far more dynamic than many entry-level airline cards. Rather than following a steady upward progression, offers have rotated aggressively between moderate point bonuses, elevated short-term spikes, and Companion Pass-based promotions.

Through 2022, the most common public offers landed between 40,000 and 50,000 points after modest spending requirements, typically $1,000 to $3,000 within 3 months. During this period, 75,000-point promotions appeared periodically, usually requiring higher spending thresholds such as $5,000 in 3 months. Those 75,000-point offers represented the high-water mark for several years.

In late 2021 and again in 2025, we saw much larger headline numbers, including a 100,000-point offer tied to a 12-month spending window and another 100,000-point promotion requiring $4,000 in spending over 5 months. These were clear outliers compared to the card’s usual structure and represent the largest pure-points offers in the card’s public history.

Beginning in 2021 and recurring multiple times since, Chase also introduced Companion Pass-based offers. These typically paired 30,000 bonus points with a Companion Pass valid through a fixed future date. While the point totals were smaller, the Companion Pass component can dramatically increase total value depending on how often you fly Southwest. In many cases, those promotions likely delivered more real-world value than a standard 50,000-point offer.

More recently, in 2024 and 2025, the card’s bonuses became even more promotional and varied. We saw alternating 50,000-point offers with low spending requirements, elevated 85,000-point offers after $3,000 in spending, and even a 40,000-point offer paired with a $400 statement credit. The 85,000-point promotions in 2024 and 2025 and the 100,000-point offer in mid-2025 now stand as the strongest pure-points bonuses in the card’s history.

Historically, a typical public offer has fallen between 40,000 and 50,000 points. Elevated promotions of 75,000 to 85,000 points appear periodically, and the rare 100,000-point offers represent clear peaks. Companion Pass-based offers are unique and can exceed the value of even high-point promotions if fully utilized.

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Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Plus Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This card makes it easy to earn unlimited points and qualify for the Southwest Companion Pass.

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Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Plus Credit Card

This card makes it easy to earn unlimited points and qualify for the Southwest Companion Pass.

Welcome Offer

Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

80,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,040

Annual Fee

$99

APR

19.24% - 27.74% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

If you spend a lot of time in the air, it’s important to get a great deal on your plane tickets.

Southwest Airlines can help you get those deals.

One way to save is by using the Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Plus Credit Card. This card helps you earn points for all your spending, and earning more reward points is always a good thing for a busy traveler!

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 2x points per $1 on Southwest purchases
• 2x points per $1 on the first $5,000 in combined spend at gas stations and grocery stores each anniversary year
• 3,000 anniversary points each year on your card renewal

Cons

• $99 annual fee
• Does not earn transferable rewards

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Card Highlights

• Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• 3,000 anniversary points each year.
• Earn 2 points per $1 spent on Southwest Airlines^® purchases
• Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and grocery stores on the first $5,000 in combined purchases per anniversary year
• Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation can check their first bag at no additional cost.
• Select a Standard seat within 48 hours prior to departure, when available.
• Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.24% - 27.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Southwest Rapid Rewards Frequent Flyer Program

The key takeaway is simple: Timing matters significantly with the Southwest Plus card. Standard offers are common, but elevated ones — especially those including Companion Pass or unusually high point totals — return regularly. Applying during the right window can mean hundreds of dollars in additional value or even 2 years of buy-one-get-one flights.

Southwest Plus Card Benefits

The Southwest Plus card is an introductory-tier airline credit card with a few solid perks that enhance the Southwest travel experience.

Benefits include:

• Earn 2x points on Southwest purchases.
• Earn 2x points at gas stations and grocery stores on the first $5,000 in combined purchases per anniversary year, then 1x.
• Earn 1x points spent on other purchases.
• 3,000 anniversary bonus points each year.
• Complimentary first checked bag for the cardholder and up to 8 companions on the same reservation when flying with Southwest.
• Select a Standard seat within 48 hours prior to departure, when available.
• 25% back on inflight purchases.

The annual anniversary points help offset the annual fee, and savings on Southwest’s new checked-bag fees add ongoing value.

Final Thoughts

The Southwest Plus card remains a compelling entry-level option for loyal Southwest flyers. Its welcome offer history shows frequent rotation between moderate and elevated offers, with occasional high-water marks like the 75,000-point promotion.

Companion Pass-based offers may appear modest in points, but the potential value can be substantial if you travel frequently with a companion.

As always, the welcome offer should be just one part of your decision. The real value of this card lies in how often you fly Southwest and whether you can maximize the Companion Pass and anniversary points over time.

For occasional Southwest travelers who want affordable perks and a shot at meaningful travel value, the Southwest Plus card continues to be a strong long-term contender.