Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
In addition to its usual bonuses on all three of its personal cards, Southwest Airlines has an elevated welcome offer on one of its business cards now through August 28.
Now’s your last chance to apply for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card and earn 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, plus an additional 60,000 points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first nine months. This is the best-ever offer we’ve seen on this card.
All three personal Southwest credit cards are currently offering 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. That’s the regular offer, so it’s worth holding off for an elevated bonus.
Let’s take a look at the current sign-up bonuses on the Southwest Airlines credit cards.
Related: The best time to apply for these popular Chase credit cards based on offer history
Southwest business cards
If you already have a personal Southwest card — or are looking for alternatives to these welcome offers — don’t forget that the airline fields two cobranded business credit cards. Here are the details on those.
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card
Best for: Business owners who fly Southwest regularly
Annual fee: $99
Sign-up bonus: 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, plus an additional 60,000 points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first nine months. Offer ends August 28.
Earning rates: 3 points per dollar on Southwest flights, 2 points per dollar on local transit and commuting purchases (including ride-share services), 2 points per dollar on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners and 1 point per dollar on everything else.
Primary perks: 2 EarlyBird check-ins every card anniversary, $500 fee credit for Rapid Rewards points transfers to another Rapid Rewards member, 6,000-point anniversary bonus, earn tier-qualifying points toward A-List elite status and no foreign transaction fees.
This is double the offer that this card has had for almost the past three years, so if you can meet the minimum spending requirement, now is an ideal time to apply.
For more details, check out our full review of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business card.
Official application link: Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card
Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card
Best for: Business owners who are loyal Southwest flyers
Annual fee: $199
Sign-up bonus: 80,000 bonus Rapid Rewards points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Earning rate: 4 points per dollar on Southwest flights, 2 points per dollar on local transit and commuting purchases (including ride-share services), 3 points per dollar on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners, 2 points per dollar on social media and paid search advertising, internet, cable and phone services, 1 point per dollar on everything else
Primary perk(s): Unlimited TQP earning: 1,500 for each $10,000 spent, $500 fee credit for Rapid Rewards points transfers to another Rapid Rewards member, 9,000-point anniversary bonus, four upgraded boardings per year, up-to-$100 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, up to 365 inflight Wi-Fi credits per year and no foreign transaction fees
For more details, check out our full review of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business card.
Official application link: Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card
Southwest personal cards
THE POINTS GUY
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
Best for: Beginners and infrequent travelers
Annual fee: $69
Sign-up bonus: 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Earning rates: 2 points per dollar on local transit and commuting purchases, including ride-share services like Uber and Lyft, 2 points per dollar on internet, cable, phone services and select streaming service purchases, 2 points per dollar on Southwest flights, 2 points per dollar on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners and 1 point per dollar on everything else
Primary perks: 2 EarlyBird check-ins every card anniversary and 3,000 points every card anniversary
For more details, check out our full review of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card.
Official application link: Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card
Best for: Regular Southwest flyers
Annual fee: $99
Sign-up bonus: 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Earning rates: 3 points per dollar on Southwest flights, 2 points per dollar on local transit and commuting purchases (including ride-share services), 2 points per dollar on internet, cable, phone services and select streaming service purchases, 2 points per dollar on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners and 1 point per dollar on everything else
Primary perks: 2 EarlyBird check-ins every card anniversary, 6,000-point anniversary bonus, Unlimited TQP earning: 1,500 for each $10,000 spent and no foreign transaction fees
For more details, check out our full review of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier card.
Official application link: Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
Best for: Southwest loyalists who can take advantage of day-of-travel perks
Annual fee: $149
Sign-up bonus: 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Earning rates: 3 points per dollar on Southwest flights, 2 points per dollar on local transit and commuting purchases, including ride-share services, 2 points per dollar on internet, cable, phone services and select streaming service purchases, 2 points per dollar on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners and 1 point per dollar on everything else
Primary perks: Unlimited TQP earning: 1,500 for each $10,000 spent, $75 annual Southwest credit, 7,500-point anniversary bonus and no foreign transaction fees
For more details, check out our full review of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority card.
Official application link: Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
Should you apply for a Southwest credit card now?
Southwest has many fans who love the airline’s personality and the fact that all passengers get two free checked bags. The carrier’s Rapid Rewards program is also popular, thanks to its simplicity. The number of Southwest Rapid Rewards points required to book a flight is directly tied to the flight’s current fare, and you often get good deals if you know when and where to look for redemptions.
Furthermore, because of Southwest’s policy of no cancellation or change fees on its flights, you can actually re-price a Southwest flight if you book a trip and then find the same itinerary at a lower price before departure. In addition, Southwest points never expire, so you don’t need to worry about earning points and then not getting a chance to use them.
However, you can get even more value from your Southwest points if you can earn a Companion Pass. This perk allows you to bring along a designated travel companion on all of your Southwest flights — both paid and award tickets (but you must pay taxes and fees).
Related: How to quickly earn the Southwest Companion Pass
To get a Companion Pass, you must earn 135,000 qualifying points or take 100 qualifying, one-way flights in a calendar year. But credit card welcome bonuses and points earned from card spending count toward qualification, so the current offers on these cards can really jumpstart you toward earning your Companion Pass.
You can receive nearly two years of buy-one-get-one flights by opening a personal and business Southwest credit card and timing your spending to earn the bonuses near the beginning of any given year. That’s because the standard Companion Pass is valid for the year it’s earned and the entire following year.
This year, the points required to earn the Companion Pass jumped from 125,000 to 135,000. However, Southwest cardholders get a 10,000-point boost at the beginning of the year (for existing cardholders) or within 30 days of opening an account (for new members).
Read more: 13 lessons from 13 years’ worth of Southwest Companion Passes
JAMES D. MORGAN/GETTY IMAGES
Bottom line
The Southwest Premier Business card is offering double its usual welcome bonus through August 28, making now the perfect time to apply if you’ve been mulling this card over.
Or, if you’re looking for a personal card, you can choose from three viable options from Southwest to boost your savings on your next big trip. But it’s best to hold off for higher offers on those cards.
Official application link: Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
Official application link: Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card
Official application link: Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
Official application link: Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card
Official application link: Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card
Additional reporting by Emily Thompson, Ryan Wilcox, Madison Blancaflor, Eric Rosen, Christina Ly and Ryan Smith.