One of the best deals we’ve seen on Southwest Airlines credit cards is still available, but not for much longer.
Until Thursday, March 19 at 9 a.m. EDT, the Chase set of Southwestern Consumer Cards is offering a large portion of Southwest Quick Rewards points and the legendary companion pass (valid until February 28, 2027).
if you are eligible for welcome bonusThis is what you can win:
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card (see rates and fees): Earn a Companion Pass, plus 40,000 Rapid Rewards bonus points, after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
- Premier Southwest Rapid Rewards® Credit Card: Earn a Companion Pass, plus 30,000 Rapid Rewards bonus points, after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card (see rates and fees): Earn a Companion Pass, plus 20,000 Rapid Rewards bonus points, after you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
Southwest Premier information has been independently compiled by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
You can redeem those Rapid Rewards points for free flights, but you can get even more value from the promotional Companion Pass, which lets you bring a companion on virtually any Southwest flight you take just for the cost of taxes and fees.
Southwest’s Companion Pass is known for offering nearly unlimited value, but it doesn’t come cheap: You typically need to take 100 qualifying one-way flights or earn 135,000 qualifying Rapid Rewards points in a calendar year to earn a companion pass for the remainder of the year and the following full calendar year.
On the other hand, these credit card welcome bonuses let you earn Companion Pass for over nine months with just a few thousand dollars in spending. And the sooner you meet the minimum spending requirement, the sooner you can start using your pass (although it may take up to eight weeks for it to post to your account). Your promotional pass will be valid until February 28, 2027.
This opportunity to fast-track your path to a Companion Pass may not come around again for a while, so now is the time to consider adding a Southwest card to your wallet.
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Related: Last chance: Get a Companion Pass for up to one year by applying for a new Southwest card
Why I love the Companion Pass
I requested the Southwest Priority Card around this time in 2022, when it had a similar welcome offer (no longer available).
After meeting the minimum spending requirement, I got a Companion Pass for about nine months.
In that time, I visited family in Michigan, explored Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky, hiked Mount Rainier National Park outside of Seattle, spent Thanksgiving in New Orleans, and took a week-long vacation to the Turks and Caicos Islands, all while bringing my partner almost for free. My promotional Companion Pass saved me about $2,000 that year.
For me, one of the best features of the Southwest Companion Pass is its flexibility.
No matter how you pay for your ticket (with cash, points, or a combination of both), you can bring your designated companion just for the cost of taxes and fees, as long as there is an empty seat on the plane. And although you can’t bring just anyone, Southwest allows you to change your designated companion up to three times in a calendar year.
The Companion Pass is what you make it. The more trips you take, the more value you can get.
Of course, you’re limited to destinations within Southwest’s network.
When I got my promotional pass, I deliberately focused on domestic travel that year to maximize my pass. Now that Southwest has added international partners like Condor Airlines and Turkish airlinesyou have even more options.
Related: I’ve had the Southwest Companion Pass for over a decade: Here’s how I maximize its value
In a nutshell
These Southwest cards offer additional benefits for frequent travelers, such as free checked bags and seat selection. But you don’t have to be loyal to Southwest to get the most out of the promotional Companion Pass; I certainly wasn’t.
If, like me, you’re more independent from operators, give some thought to your travel plans for next year. If you’re planning trips with friends or family to destinations served by Southwest or its partners, consider taking advantage of this offer before March 19 at 9 a.m. EDT.
Related: Best Time to Apply for Southwest Chase Cards Based on Offer History
Apply here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
More information: Premier Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Card
Apply here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
