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Southwest credit cards are giving new cardholders a chance to earn a two-part bonus that includes a Companion Pass and Rapid Rewards bonus points through March 19, 2026 at 9 a.m. EST. Under the new offer, Southwest cardholders who meet the spending requirement will be able to bring a companion on flights with the carrier an unlimited amount of times, through Feb. 28, 2027, for only the cost of taxes and fees.
The Companion Pass benefit is the same across the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card, Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card and Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card, but the amount of Rapid Rewards bonus points offered and the spending requirement will vary by card.
Here’s what new cardholders can expect.
The latest offer
The two-part bonus is a step up from the cards' previous offer:
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card ($99 annual fee): Earn Companion Pass® from Southwest® and 20,000 Rapid Rewards® bonus points after spending $3,000 within the first 3 months from account opening.
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card ($149 annual fee): Earn Companion Pass® from Southwest® and 30,000 Rapid Rewards® bonus points after spending $4,000 within the first 3 months from account opening.
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card ($229 annual fee): Earn Companion Pass® from Southwest® and 40,000 Rapid Rewards® bonus points after spending $5,000 within the first 3 months from account opening.
The previous bonus for all three cards offered 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months of opening the account.
How the cards compare
The latest offers could be significantly more valuable than that previous bonus, depending on how often you and your travel buddy plan to travel. It takes 100 qualifying one-way flights or 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year to earn a Companion Pass, so you're getting that value in addition to the Rapid Rewards bonus points.
Cardholders also get the cards’ ongoing benefits, including a first checked bag free, complimentary pre-flight seat selection, earlier boarding and no foreign transaction fees. The cards also offer ongoing Rapid Rewards points on airfare and other eligible everyday purchases.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card | Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card | Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card | |
|---|---|---|---|
Ongoing rewards | 2 points per dollar spent on Southwest Airlines purchases 2 points per dollar at gas stations and grocery stores on the first $5,000 in combined spending each anniversary year 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases | 3 points per dollar spent on Southwest Airlines purchases 2 points per $1 spent at grocery stores and restaurants on the first $8,000 in combined purchases per anniversary year 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases | 4 points per dollar spent on Southwest Airlines purchases 2 points per $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants with no yearly cap 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases |
Perks | 25% discount on in-flight purchases. 10,000 Companion Pass points per calendar year. Group 5 boarding. Seat selection 48 hours before departure for standard and preferred seats. First checked bag free for cardholders and up to eight additional passengers in the same reservation. 10% promo code each year for a flight discount (excludes Basic fare). | 25% discount on in-flight purchases. 10,000 Companion Pass points per calendar year. Group 5 boarding. Seat selection 48 hours before departure for standard and preferred seats. First checked bag free for cardholders and up to eight additional passengers in the same reservation. 15% promo code each year for a flight discount (excludes Basic fare). 1,500 tier qualifying points towards A-List status for every $5,000 spent annually. | 25% discount on in-flight purchases. 10,000 Companion Pass points per calendar year. Group 5 boarding. Standard or Preferred seat selection at booking when available for the cardholder and up to eight passengers traveling on the same reservation. Seat selection 48 hours before departure for standard and preferred seats. First checked bag free for cardholders and up to eight additional passengers in the same reservation. 2,500 tier qualifying points towards A-List status for every $5,000 spent annually. |
