Chase offers 5 Southwest credit cards — and all of them earn points that count toward the Southwest Companion Pass

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You can earn 50,000 points with the Southwest personal card offers.

Chase offers five Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards — three personal and two small business.
Points earned from these cards count toward qualifying for the Southwest Companion Pass.
These cards offer Southwest perks that can help you save money and improve your travel experience.
Read Insider’s guide to the best airline credit cards.

Chase issues five Southwest credit cards that range from an entry-level product with a handful of benefits, to a premium small-business card with a higher annual fee (and perks to match). All of these cards earn a bonus and points from spending that count toward qualifying for the Southwest Companion Pass — one of the best travel deals around.

The welcome bonuses for these cards change now and then, with occasional increased offers or bonuses for spending in certain categories. Currently, all three personal Southwest cards — the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card, Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card, and Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card — are offering 80,000 points (50,000 points after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months ,and an additional 30,000 points after you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first 9 months). These aren’t the highest bonuses we’ve seen — but they’re still a solid deal if you need to earn Southwest points quickly.

Here’s what to know about the Southwest credit card offers that are available right now.

We’re focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won’t be worth it if you’re paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it’s important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.

Earn 50,000 points with Southwest personal cards

There have been a couple of elevated offers on the Southwest personal cards this year; recently, new cardholders could earn 100,000 points after meeting the minimum spending requirements (offer no longer available). And the last offer included a promotional Companion Pass as well as points (no longer available).

Right now, you can earn Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card. 

Read more: How to earn, redeem, and maximize Southwest points

30,000 points is the standard card bonus, so this offer is slightly more valuable — but if you’re not in a hurry, you might want to wait for a higher offer. The points you earn with the card do count toward earning the Southwest Companion Pass, which can be a very lucrative perk.

With a Companion Pass, you designate a friend or family member to travel with you on any paid or award flight with Southwest for only the cost of taxes and fees (usually about $5.60 one-way on domestic tickets).

Southwest points are worth, on average, 1.4 cents each based on Insider’s 2022 points and miles valuations. That means you can expect to get about Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card in Southwest flights from 50,000 points.

Chase Southwest personal cards comparison

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The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card, Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card, and Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card all offer the same bonus: 80,000 points (50,000 points after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months ,and an additional 30,000 points after you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first 9 months).

Other spending bonus categories and benefits vary depending on the card. 

 

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

Annual fee

$69

$99

$149

Rewards rate

2x points on Southwest® purchases

2x points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare

2x points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming

1x point per dollar on everything else

3x points on Southwest® purchases

2x points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare

2x points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming

1x point per dollar on everything else

 

3x points on Southwest® purchases

2x points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare

2x points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming

1x point per dollar on everything else

Welcome bonus

80,000 points (50,000 points after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months ,and an additional 30,000 points after you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first 9 months)

80,000 points (50,000 points after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months ,and an additional 30,000 points after you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first 9 months)

80,000 points (50,000 points after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months ,and an additional 30,000 points after you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first 9 months)

Anniversary points

3,000

6,000

7,500

Travel benefits

Two EarlyBird Check-Ins per year

25% back on inflight drinks and Wi-Fi

Earn tier-qualifying points toward A-List elite status

Two EarlyBird Check-Ins per year

25% back on inflight drinks and Wi-Fi

Earn tier-qualifying points toward A-List elite status

$75 annual Southwest travel credit

4 upgraded boardings per year when available

25% back on inflight drinks and Wi-Fi

 

Foreign transaction fee

Yes

No

No

Review

Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus credit card review

Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier credit card review

Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority credit card review

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Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card has the lowest annual fee ($69) of the personal Southwest cards, but it offers the same bonus and spending categories as the others. That said, it also comes with the fewest benefits — for example, you won’t earn tier-qualifying points from spending on the card like the others.

Read more: Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus credit card review

You’ll earn 3,000 bonus points each account anniversary (worth about $42 in Southwest airfare, according to Insider’s valuations), which covers much of the annual fee. Keep in mind this is the only Southwest personal card that adds foreign transaction fees, so you shouldn’t use it overseas.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier card

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The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card is the middle-tier Southwest personal card, with a $99 annual fee. You’ll earn 6,000 Southwest bonus points each account anniversary (worth about $84 in Southwest flights), so the card almost pays for itself when you renew it.

Read more: Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier credit card review

If you’re aiming for Southwest elite status, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card can give you a boost. You’ll earn 1,500 tier-qualifying points (TQPs) for each $10,000 in purchases you make with the card, and this benefit is no longer capped — so big spenders could reach elite status without ever setting foot on a Southwest plane.

To reach Southwest A-List status, you’ll need to fly 25 Southwest one-way qualifying flights or earn 35,000 tier-qualifying points per calendar year. A-List Preferred status requires 50 Southwest one-way qualifying flights or 70,000 tier-qualifying points in the same timeframe.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority card

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card has a $149 annual fee, but offers the most benefits and perks of the three Southwest cards. In fact, frequent Southwest flyers can get a value from the card that far exceeds the annual cost.

Read more: Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority credit card review

Cardholders receive $75 in Southwest credit per year, which can be applied to any Southwest purchase except inflight purchases and upgraded boarding. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card also comes with 7,500 points each account anniversary (worth about $105 in Southwest airfare), four upgraded boardings per year when available (worth up to $50 each time), and a 25% discount on inflight purchases including Wi-Fi.

Like the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card can make elite status more attainable by earning tier-qualifying points when you hit the same spending thresholds, with no limit to the number of TQPs you can earn.

Chase Southwest business card comparison

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Chase offers two Southwest credit cards for small-business owners. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card currently offers Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card, and offers benefits similar to the personal version of the card.

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card offers Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card

 

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card

Annual fee

$99

$199

Rewards rate

3x points on Southwest Airlines® purchases

2x points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car partners

2x points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare

1 point per dollar on everything else

4x points on Southwest® purchases

3x points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car partners

2x points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare

2x points on social media and search engine advertising

2x points on internet, cable, and phone services

1 point per dollar on everything else

 

Welcome bonus

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card

Anniversary points

6,000

9,000

Travel benefits

Two EarlyBird Check-Ins per year

25% back on inflight purchases

Earn tier-qualifying points toward A-List elite status

Earn tier-qualifying points toward A-List elite status

$100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit

4 upgraded boardings per year when available

Inflight Wi-Fi credits

 

Foreign transaction fee

No

No

Review

Southwest Premier Business card review

Southwest Performance Business card review

Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier business card

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card charges a $99 annual fee, but, like the personal version, comes with 6,000 points (worth about $84 in Southwest airfare) each card anniversary. It now comes with two EarlyBird Check-Ins per year and 25% back on inflight purchases.

Read more: Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business credit card review

You’ll also have the opportunity to earn tier qualifying points toward Southwest A-List and A-List Preferred elite status, up to up to $500 in points transfer fee credits per year, and won’t be charged any foreign transaction fees.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance business card

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With a bonus of Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card is worth serious consideration for Southwest flyers, even with the $199 annual fee.

Read more: Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business credit card review

Unlike the other Southwest cards, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card rewards spending in bonus categories other than Southwest purchases. You’ll earn 4x points on Southwest purchases (compared to 2x or 3x with the other cards), 3x points on purchases with Rapid Rewards® hotel and car partners, 2x points on social media and search engine advertising, and 2x points on internet, cable, and phone services. All other purchases earn 1 Southwest point per dollar.

You’ll also receive 9,000 Southwest points (worth about $126 in Southwest airfare) each card anniversary. If you fly Southwest frequently, you can even get more value, because the card comes with four upgraded boardings per year when available (worth up to $50 each) and up to 365 inflight Wi-Fi credits each year (worth $8) each. 

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card also offers up to $100 in Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit every four years, and up to $500 in points transfer fee credits per year.

Chase Southwest card application restrictions

Both the personal and small-business Chase Southwest cards are subject to the Chase 5/24 rule, which means if you’ve opened five or more cards (from any bank) in the past 24 months, you likely won’t be approved for the card.

Read more: Guide to the best Chase credit cards

While you’re allowed to have one personal and one small-business Southwest card at the same time, there are other card application restrictions to keep in mind. For the Southwest personal cards, you aren’t eligible if you currently have any personal Southwest card, or have received an intro bonus on one in the past 24 months. This doesn’t include Southwest business cards.

And with the Southwest business cards, you won’t be approved if you currently hold the card, or have received a sign-up bonus for that specific card in the past 24 months.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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