Boasting a portfolio of over 20 cards, Jarrod has been an expert in the points and miles space for over 6 years. He earns and redeems over 1 million points per year and his work has been featured in o...
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Recently, Chase and Southwest shook things up with every card in the Southwest co-brand family — including personal cards and business cards!
These changes included new ways to earn points with your card, new card benefits, and new welcome offers on the consumer cards to help you earn the Southwest Companion Pass, all with no increases to any of the cards’ annual fees. While the changes to the cards are here to stay, the limited-time welcome offers are, unfortunately, coming to an end.
Let’s review everything you need to know.
Southwest Personal Card Changes
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
New Welcome Bonus: Earn 50,000 points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open, plus 50,000 points after spending $12,000 total on purchases in the first 12 months. This welcome bonus will now end at 6 p.m. EST on December 7, 2021.
Rewards Rates:
- New — 2x points per $1 on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming
- New — 2x points per $1 on local transit and commuting, including rideshare
- 2x points per $1 on Southwest purchases and at Rapid Rewards hotel and rental car partners
- 1x point per $1 on all other purchases
Card Benefits:
- New — 2 Early Bird Check-In certificates per year
- 25% discount on inflight food and beverage purchases (used to only be 20%)
- 3,000 anniversary bonus points when you renew your card
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
New Welcome Bonus: Earn 50,000 points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open, plus 50,000 points after spending $12,000 total on purchases in the first 12 months. This welcome bonus will now end at 6 p.m. EST on December 7, 2021.
Rewards Rates:
- New — 3x points per $1 on Southwest purchases
- New — 2x points per $1 on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming
- New — 2x points per $1 on local transit and commuting, including rideshare
- 2x points per $1 on Rapid Rewards hotel and rental car partners
- 1x point per $1 on all other purchases
Card Benefits:
- New — Unlimited Tier Qualifying Points — Earn 1,500 tier qualifying points towards A-List status for every $10,000 spent
- New – 2 Early Bird Check-In certificates per year
- 25% discount on inflight purchases (used to only be 20%)
- 6,000 anniversary bonus points when you renew your card
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
New Welcome Bonus: Earn 50,000 points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open, plus 50,000 points after spending $12,000 total on purchases in the first 12 months. This welcome bonus will now end at 6 p.m. EST on December 7, 2021.
Rewards Rates:
- New — 3x points per $1 on Southwest purchases
- New — 2x points per $1 on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming
- New — 2x points per $1 on local transit and commuting, including rideshare
- 2x points per $1 on Rapid Rewards hotel and rental car partners
- 1x point per $1 on all other purchases
Card Benefits:
- New — Unlimited Tier Qualifying Points — Earn 1,500 tier qualifying points towards A-List status for every $10,000 spent
- 25% discount on inflight purchases (used to only be 20%)
- 4 Upgraded Boarding certificates per year when available
- 7,500 anniversary bonus points when you renew your card
- $75 Southwest annual travel credit each year
Bottom Line: The additions to all 3 Southwest personal cards now give even more value to cardholders, both in the addition of new perks and ways to earn more points. In comparing benefits of each card, dedicated Southwest flyers should go for the Southwest Priority card, while more casual Southwest flyers would be best suited for the Southwest Plus card or Southwest Premier card.
Southwest Business Card Changes
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card
Welcome Bonus: Earn 60,000 points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
Rewards Rates:
- New — 3x points per $1 on Southwest purchases
- New — 2x points per $1 on local transit and commuting, including rideshare
- 2x points per $1 on Rapid Rewards hotel and rental car partners
- 1x point per $1 on all other purchases
Card Benefits:
- New — Unlimited Tier Qualifying Points — Earn 1,500 tier qualifying points towards A-List status for every $10,000 spent
- New — 2 Early Bird Check-In certificates per year
- New — $500 fee credit for point transfers each year
- 25% discount on inflight purchases (used to only be 20%)
- 6,000 anniversary bonus points when you renew your card
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card
Welcome Bonus: Earn 80,000 points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
Rewards Rates:
- New — 4x points per $1 on Southwest purchases
- 3x points per $1 on Rapid Rewards hotel and rental car partners
- New — 2x points per $1 on local transit and commuting, including rideshare
- 2x points per $1 on social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable, and phone services
- 1x point per $1 on all other purchases
Card Benefits:
- New — Unlimited Tier Qualifying Points — Earn 1,500 tier qualifying points towards A-List status for every $10,000 spent
- New — $500 fee credit for point transfers each year
- 9,000 anniversary bonus points when you renew your card
- 4 Upgraded Boarding certificates per year
- Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/Nexus credit
- Inflight Wi-Fi credits
Hot Tip: Interested in other credit cards that can help you earn Rapid Rewards points? Check out our guide to the best credit cards for Southwest Airlines flyers.
Final Thoughts
While none of the new additions to any single Southwest card might knock your socks off, getting new bonus categories so you can earn more points on your purchases, along with new perks like Early Bird Check-In certificates, discounts on inflight purchases, unlimited Tier Qualifying Points, and fee credits for points transfers adds significantly more value to each card — all with no annual fee increase!
If you were planning to add one of these Southwest cards to your wallet, you’ll likely want to do so before some of the limited-time welcome offers end at 6 p.m. EST on December 7, 2021, especially if you’re planning on working towards the Southwest Companion Pass in 2022!
Featured Image Credit: Southwest
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About Jarrod West
Boasting a portfolio of over 20 cards, Jarrod has been an expert in the points and miles space for over 6 years. He earns and redeems over 1 million points per year and his work has been featured in outlets like The New York Times.
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UP's Bonus Valuation
This bonus value is an estimated valuation calculated by UP after analyzing redemption options, transfer partners, award availability and how much UP would pay to buy these points.