[Expired] Last Call for 85K Welcome Bonus Offers on Southwest’s Personal Credit Cards

Update:The offers mentioned below have expired and are no longer available.

If you’re a Southwest Airlines fanatic, you have 3 consumer credit cards to choose from: the Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Plus Credit Card, the Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Premier Credit Card, and the Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Priority Credit Card.

Currently, all 3 cards boast an elevated 85,000-point welcome offer, which can be worth upwards of $1,100 toward Southwest flights. However, the offer ends at 9 a.m. ET on June 27, 2024, so be sure to apply before the offer ends if you’ve been considering any of these cards.

Here’s what you need to know about the card offers and how to earn them.

Ending Soon: Increased Welcome Offers on Southwest Credit Cards

Right now, you can earn an 85,000-point welcome bonus after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months after account opening when applying for the Southwest Plus card, Southwest Premier card, or the Southwest Priority card. However, these increased welcome bonus offers are set to expire at 9 a.m. ET on June 27, 2024.

Cardholders who hit the minimum spending requirements will have at least 88,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points, which are worth approximately $1,144, per our valuations.

One of the standout features of Southwest Airlines is the opportunity to earn the Southwest Companion Pass. This pass allows you to bring a travel companion along for free, with the exception of taxes and fees.

If you’re looking to earn the Companion Pass for unlimited BOGO tickets (just pay $5.60 in taxes and fees per ticket), you’ll want to consider one of these Southwest personal cards. These cards also give you a 10,000-point boost toward earning a Companion Pass, which normally requires 135,000 tier qualifying points (TQP) in a calendar year.

Lastly, check your 5/24 status as Southwest credit cards are issued through Chase Bank, which restricts those who have been approved for more than 5 credit cards in the last 24 months. If you’re above that threshold, you may consider other travel credit cards in the interim.

Overview of Southwest Credit Cards

Despite the Southwest cards offering identical welcome bonuses, each has subtle differences. Read more about the details of each card to see which better suits your travel and spending habits.

Southwest Plus Card

The Southwest Plus card is the entry-level option, with an annual fee of $69. Benefits of this card include:

• 3,000 anniversary points each year
• 2x points per $1 spent on Southwest purchases
• 2x points per $1 spent on all Rapid Rewards car and hotel partners, local transit and commuting, internet, cable, and phone purchases, as well as select streaming purchases
• 2 EarlyBird Check-In credits each year

Southwest Premier Card

The  Southwest Premier card offers stronger perks than the Southwest Plus card with an annual fee of $99. Benefits of this card include:

• 6,000 anniversary points each year
• 3x points per $1 spent on Southwest purchases
• 2x points per $1 spent on all Rapid Rewards car and hotel partners, local transit and commuting, internet, cable, and phone purchases, as well as select streaming purchases
• 2 EarlyBird Check-In credits each year

Southwest Priority Card

The Southwest Priority card is the most premium option that comes with an annual fee of $149, however, the benefits of this card can easily outweigh the cost.

• $75 annual Southwest travel credit
• 7,500 anniversary points each year
• 3x points per $1 spent on Southwest purchases
• 2x points per $1 spent on all Rapid Rewards car and hotel partners, local transit and commuting, internet, cable, and phone purchases, as well as select streaming purchases
• 4 Upgraded Boardings per year

Final Thoughts

The generous welcome bonus offers on the Southwest personal cards are a fantastic opportunity to rapidly increase your points balance. Be sure to apply before these increased offers end on June 27, 2024, at 9 a.m. ET.

Although Southwest doesn’t provide luxurious business class seats, it remains an excellent airline for traveling from point A to point B without the hassle of paying for checked bag fees and seat assignments.

With airline ticket prices increasing in 2024, utilizing Rapid Rewards points from a welcome bonus can provide some relief for your travel expenses.