Last chance: Earn a Companion Pass for up to a year by applying for a new Southwest card
For Southwest Airlines loyalists, a cobranded Southwest credit card is a great way to earn points toward travel.And if you’re a fan of the airline’s coveted Companion Pass, which allows you to bring a designated travel companion on all your Southwest flights, a new offer on one of Southwest’s three personal cards could be perfect for you. This is your last chance to secure this offer, since it ends on March 19 at 9 a.m. ET.Depending on your bonus preference (Companion Pass or bonus points), these bonuses could be considered the best in offer history. You can use the Companion Pass for both paid and award tickets (though you must pay taxes and fees from $5.60 one-way).While the personal cards aren’t offering a large number of points right now, they are providing the opportunity to earn a Companion Pass (good through Feb. 28, 2027), which could result in serious savings if you’re frequently flying with a plus-one. (Note you must meet the minimum spending requirement before receiving the Companion Pass — you will not receive it upon card approval.)Let’s look at the current welcome bonuses on the Southwest Airlines personal and business credit cards.Comparison of the Southwest card welcome offersHere’s a look at the Southwest welcome offers at first glance:CardWelcome offerOffer value*Annual fee<strong><a href=”https://thepointsguy.com/oc/22125792?pid=22125792&name=Southwest%20Rapid%20Rewards%C2%AE%20Plus%20Credit%20Card%20PID&issuer=Chase” target=”_blank”>Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card</a> </strong>(see <a href=”/tc/22125792?pid=22125792&name=Southwest%20Rapid%20Rewards%C2%AE%20Plus%20Credit%20Card%20PID&data-testid=ratesFees” target=”_blank”>rates and fees</a>)<p data-pm-slice=”1 1 []”>Earn a Companion Pass (valid through Feb. 28, 2027) plus 20,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. This is your last chance to earn this offer, as it ends March 19 at 9 a.m. ET.</p>$260 (plus an unquantifiable value for Companion Pass use)$99<strong><a href=”https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/reviews/southwest-rapid-rewards-premier-card-review/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card</a><br>
</strong><p data-pm-slice=”1 1 []”>Earn a Companion Pass (valid through Feb. 28, 2027) plus 30,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. This is your last chance to earn this offer, as it ends March 19 at 9 a.m. ET.</p>$390 (plus an unquantifiable value for Companion Pass use)$149<strong><a href=”https://thepointsguy.com/oc/6269?pid=6269&name=Southwest%20Rapid%20Rewards%C2%AE%20Priority%20Credit%20Card%20PID&issuer=Chase” target=”_blank”>Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card</a> </strong>(see <a href=”/tc/6269?pid=6269&name=Southwest%20Rapid%20Rewards%C2%AE%20Priority%20Credit%20Card%20PID&data-testid=ratesFees” target=”_blank”>rates and fees</a>)<p data-pm-slice=”1 1 []”>Earn a Companion Pass (valid through Feb. 28, 2027) plus 40,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. This is your last chance to earn this offer, as it ends March 19 at 9 a.m. ET.</p>$520 (plus an unquantifiable value for Companion Pass use)$229<strong><a href=”https://thepointsguy.com/oc/6703?pid=6703&name=Southwest%C2%AE%20Rapid%20Rewards%C2%AE%20Performance%20Business%20Credit%20Card%20PID&issuer=Chase” target=”_blank”>Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card</a> </strong>(see <a href=”/tc/6703?pid=6703&name=Southwest%C2%AE%20Rapid%20Rewards%C2%AE%20Performance%20Business%20Credit%20Card%20PID&data-testid=ratesFees” target=”_blank”>rates and fees</a>)Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.$1,040$299<strong><a href=”https://thepointsguy.com/oc/6157?pid=6157&name=Southwest%C2%AE%20Rapid%20Rewards%C2%AE%20Premier%20Business%20Credit%20Card%20PID&issuer=Chase” target=”_blank”>Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card</a> </strong>(see <a href=”/tc/6157?pid=6157&name=Southwest%C2%AE%20Rapid%20Rewards%C2%AE%20Premier%20Business%20Credit%20Card%20PID&data-testid=ratesFees” target=”_blank”>rates and fees</a>)Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in the first three months from account opening.$780$149*Welcome offer value is based on TPG’s March 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 cardsWhether 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 CardBest for: Beginners and infrequent travelersAnnual fee: $99Welcome bonus: Earn a Companion Pass (valid through Feb. 28, 2027) plus 20,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. This is your last chance to earn this offer, as it ends March 19 at 9 a.m. ET.If you value the Companion Pass highly, this could be considered one of the best offers in the card’s history. It’s worth $260 in points, per TPG’s valuations, but you’ll also want to add the value of a Companion Pass to that calculation.THE POINTS GUYEarning 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 purchases1 point per dollar spent on all other purchasesNotable perks:Free first checked bag for you and up to eight travel companionsGroup 5 priority boardingNo foreign transaction feesOne promotional 10% flight discount each anniversary year (excludes Basic fares)Standard seat selection 48 hours prior to departure (when available)25% discount on inflight purchases3,000 bonus points every cardholder anniversary10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost annuallyTo learn more, read our full review of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card.Apply here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit CardSouthwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit CardBest for: Regular Southwest flyersAnnual fee: $149Welcome bonus: Earn a Companion Pass (valid through Feb. 28, 2027) plus 30,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. This is your last chance to earn this offer, as it ends March 19 at 9 a.m. ET.This could be considered the card’s best offer if you value the Companion Pass highly. According to TPG’s valuations, the points are worth $390, but you’ll want to factor in the Companion Pass as well.THE POINTS GUYEarning rates:3 points per dollar spent on Southwest purchases2 points per dollar spent at gas stations and grocery stores each anniversary year (on the first $8,000 in combined spending)1 point per dollar spent on all other purchasesNotable perks:Free first checked bag for you and up to eight travel companionsGroup 5 priority boardingNo foreign transaction feesOne 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 status25% discount on inflight purchases6,000 bonus points every cardholder anniversary10,000 points Companion Pass qualifying points boost annuallyLearn more: Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card reviewSouthwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit CardBest for: Southwest loyalists who can take advantage of day-of-travel perksAnnual fee: $229Welcome bonus: Earn a Companion Pass (valid through Feb. 28, 2027) plus 40,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. This is your last chance to earn this offer, as it ends March 19 at 9 a.m. ET.If you’re a fan of the Companion Pass, this could be considered the best offer in the card’s history. The points offered in this bonus are worth $520, according to TPG’s valuations, and you’ll want to include the value of the Companion Pass here as well.THE POINTS GUYEarning rates:4 points per dollar spent on Southwest purchases2 points per dollar spent at gas stations and restaurants, with no annual cap1 point per dollar spent on all other purchasesNotable perks:Free first checked bag for you and up to eight travel companionsGroup 5 priority boardingNo foreign transaction feesPreferred seat selection at booking (when available)Unlimited ability to earn 2,500 TQPs for each $5,000 spent annually toward A-List statusUnlimited upgrades to extra-legroom seats within 48 hours of departure at no charge (when available)25% discount on inflight purchases7,500-point anniversary bonus10,000 points Companion Pass qualifying points boost annuallyTo learn more, read our full review of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card.Apply here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit CardSouthwest business cardsIf you qualify for a business credit card and fly Southwest frequently, consider one of the carrier’s cobranded business cards.Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit CardBest for: Business owners who are loyal Southwest flyersAnnual fee: $299Welcome bonus: Earn 80,000 points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.This offer is worth $1,040, 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 wait, we’d recommend it in order to get a larger stash of points.THE POINTS GUYEarning rates:4 points per dollar spent on Southwest purchases2 points per dollar spent on commuting and local transit, at gas stations and restaurants (no annual cap) and on hotel stays booked directly1 point per dollar spent on all other purchasesNotable perks:Earn tier-qualifying points toward A-List elite statusFree first checked bag for you and up to eight travel companionsGroup 5 priority boardingNo foreign transaction feesPreferred seat selection at booking (when available)Unlimited ability to earn 2,500 TQPs for each $5,000 spent annuallyUnlimited upgrades to an extra-legroom seat 48 hours prior to departure at no charge (when available)Up to $120 Global Entry, TSA PreCheckor Nexus credit (every 4 years)25% discount on inflight purchases9,000 points every cardholder anniversary10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost annuallyTo learn more, read our full review of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business card.Apply here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit CardSouthwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit CardBest for: Business owners who fly Southwest regularlyAnnual fee: $149Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.This offer is worth $780, according to TPG’s valuations. This is the standard welcome offer we’ve typically seen in the card’s history.THE POINTS GUYEarning rates:3 points per dollar spent on Southwest purchases2 points per dollar spent at gas stations and grocery stores each anniversary year (on the first $8,000 in combined spending)1 point per dollar spent on all other purchasesNotable perks:Free first checked bag for you and up to eight travel companionsGroup 5 priority boardingNo foreign transaction feesPreferred seat selection within 48 hours of departure (when available)Unlimited ability to earn 2,000 TQPs for each $5,000 spent annually15% flight discount promo code each anniversary year (excluding Basic fares)25% discount on inflight purchases6,000 bonus points every cardholder anniversary10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost annuallyTo learn more, read our full review of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business card.Apply here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit CardShould 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 new assigned seating model last month after ending free checked bags with every ticket in May 2025.Credit card holders can check one bag for free (for themselves and up to eight companions on the reservation), saving themselves the added cost of paying $35 per bag 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).The number of Southwest Rapid Rewards points required to book a flight is “dynamic,” which means redemption rates could be higher or lower depending on the flight’s demand. Plus, only certain fare types qualify for waived fees. Free same-day standby is also now limited to certain fare types.SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUYYou can get excellent value with the Companion Pass offered on Southwest’s cards, and current offers on the personal cards provide the opportunity to earn a Companion Pass for up to a year (valid through Feb. 28, 2027).Otherwise, you must earn 135,000 qualifying points or take 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year to earn a Companion Pass. Credit card welcome bonuses and points earned from card spending count toward qualification. The standard Companion Pass (not the one included in the personal cards’ welcome offers right now) is valid for the year it’s earned and the entire next calendar year.Bottom lineIf you’re looking for a new Southwest card, now could be an excellent time to apply. If you frequently travel with a plus-one and value the Companion Pass highly, the current offers on the personal cards are as good as they get.However, if you frequently fly solo or place more value on Rapid Rewards points, these offers may not be as exciting to you.But if you plan to take multiple Southwest flights with a partner from now through February 2027, now could be the time to get your application in for a personal cobranded card with the airline. Plus, now is your last chance to get in on this offer since it ends on March 19 at 9 a.m. ET.Apply here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit CardLearn more: Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit CardApply here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit CardApply here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit CardApply here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit CardEditorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
