Should You Jump on Southwest’s New 100k Offers? Read This First.


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Wait… is this the best thing to ever happen to Southwest cards or WHAT?! | Photo Credit: Travel Freely


Spoiler alert: If you’re even thinking about earning the Southwest Companion Pass for 2026–2027, you’re gonna want to lean in.

There’s a brand new 100,000-point welcome offer on all three Southwest personal cards and it could be the first domino in your dream of 2-for-1 flights across the U.S., Mexico, and the Caribbean.

But like any good plot twist, there’s a catch (and we’re going to help you avoid it).

👋 But First...
You can always support our small biz for FREE by applying to these (or any other cards) using our “Best Credit Cards” page in the menu bar! 🫶

🎉 New Offer: 100k Welcome Bonus

From July 24 to September 17, 2025, all three personal Southwest credit cards are offering 100,000 Rapid Rewards points after spending $4,000 in the first 5 months.

That’s a best ever welcome bonus and a longer-than-usual time frame to meet the spending requirement (no frantic Amazon hauls in month one, unless that’s your thing 📦).

100,000 points on Southwest is a big deal.

We’re talking potentially $1,300+ in flight value! We’ve flown Southwest to California (multiple times), Mexico, Dominican Republic, and even Hawaii! Brad’s also trying to convince me to take a spontaneous trip to New York for 24 hours because, “We need bagels. Stat.” 🥯

The point is: you can do a lot with 100k Southwest points.

Why These Cards Are Worth a Look

Let’s break down the benefits of why people love Southwest cards:

  • Free checked bags (for you and up to 8 companions on your reservation—aka, your whole brunch group)

  • Boosted bonus categories to gas, dining, and groceries

  • Perks like upgraded boarding and annual travel credits on higher-tier cards

Plus, you’ll get 10,000 Companion Pass-qualifying points every year just for having the card. Think of it as a little loyalty bonus, kind of like when your favorite barista starts making your drink before you even order.

But… What’s Changing With the Cards (Besides the Offer)?

🐘 Let’s address the elephant in the room: Southwest is raising annual fees and changing card benefits and not all the changes are awesome.

Here’s what’s up:

  • All 3 cards have higher annual fees for new applicants starting July 24, 2025. 🥲 (Current cardholders will keep their current fees through the end of 2025.)

  • Some old perks are being removed in early 2026—like Upgraded Boarding credits, EarlyBird Check-In, and Wi-Fi passes on certain cards.

  • New perks are coming, too, like seat selection and Extra Legroom access, but the changes feel a bit like trading a benefit WE ALREADY HAD FOR FREE (prior to Southwest’s fare changes) to now paying an annual fee for them.

Let’s just say… Chase is marketing these as “enhancements,” but if we’re being real honest, it’s kinda giving serious ✨ shrinkflation ✨ vibes.

And in case you missed it: Southwest also announced some airline-wide changes:

  • Assigned seating is coming on January 27th 2026 (!!!). No more boarding line mosh pits or hoping your polite energy doesn’t get you a middle seat between two toddlers.

  • Fare class updates are on the way, and points will move to a dynamic pricing model so flexibility and timing will matter more than ever.

But… it’s not all bad news. ⬇️

The Catch: If You’re Thinking About the Companion Pass Timing Is Everything

If you’re hoping to earn the Southwest Companion Pass for 2026–2027, you absolutely want this welcome bonus in your corner. The Companion Pass lets one person fly with you (on both paid AND award tickets) for just the taxes and fees. It’s truly one of the best travel deals out there.

‼️ BUT—and this is important—you’ll need to hit the $4,000 minimum spend on the card after January 1, 2026 for the points to count toward your Companion Pass for 2026-2027.

So if you're reading this in August and thinking, “I’ll just open this card now!,” that could backfire.

We HIGHLY RECOMMEND waiting to open one of these cards until mid-August and probably early-to-mid September (before the offers end on September 17th) so that you don’t accidentally hit the welcome bonus before January 2026.

We break down the full timeline and strategy in our Southwest Companion Pass guide ( ⬅️ definitely worth bookmarking that one!).

Which Southwest Card Is Best for You?

Let’s break them down, quick and simple:

1. Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

  • Lowest out-of-pocket cost ($99 Annual Fee)

  • 3,000 anniversary points ($45-ish value)

  • A 10% discount coupon (not valid on Basic fares)

  • Lets you choose Standard seats 48 hours in advance

👉 Great option if you want points and perks without paying extra for seat upgrades or business vibes.

2. Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card

  • $149 Annual Fee

  • 6,000 anniversary points (~$90 value)

  • 15% discount coupon (again, not on Basic fares)

  • Choose Preferred or Standard seats 48 hours out

👉 Offers more flexibility in seat selection and slightly better value overall. For just ~$5 more (when you consider the points), it’s the best middle-of-the-road pick. Personally, it’ll be the one we choose this Companion Pass season.

3. Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

  • $229 Annual Fee

  • Lets you pick seats at the time of booking

  • Access to Extra Legroom seats 48 hours before departure

  • No anniversary coupon 🤷‍♀️

👉 Worth it if you fly Southwest often and really want to pick your seat the moment you book. Otherwise, you’re paying a premium for flexibility most casual travelers don’t need.

Before you apply, check out our Best Credit Cards page in the menu bar of our website. It has all the current Southwest offers in one spot, and applying through our links is totally free. We may earn a small commission (instead of the bank keeping it!), and it helps support this small biz! 💛

So Should You Apply?

Let’s bring it all home:

  • ✅ YES, if you're chasing the Companion Pass and can time your spending perfectly to meet the minimum spend after January 1, 2026. (Personally, we will be waiting until the first week of September to open one of these cards, putting about ~$3500 of spend on it, and then waiting until January to finish it off!)

  • ✅ YES, if you already fly Southwest often and want the convenience of free bags, seat selection, and 100,000 bonus points.

  • ⚠️ MAYBE, if you’re just dipping your toes into points travel. In that case, you might be better off starting with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® (our top recommended beginner card) if you don’t have it already. It earns flexible points that can transfer to Southwest and other airlines & hotels, making them easier to use and more valuable than Southwest points alone.

Bottom Line

This isn’t one of those “meh” offers we’ve seen in the past. It’s a legit opportunity to stack points and set yourself up for free flights next year (and maybe even a year of 2-for-1 travel with the Companion Pass 👀). If Southwest fits your travel style, this is one worth jumping on. FOR SURE.

❤️ And if you do decide to apply (whether it’s these card offers or another one we’ve recommended) using the links on our Best Credit Cards page in the menu bar is a great way to support Parks on Rec. It’s totally free to you, and it helps us keep creating travel tips, reviews, and resources you actually want to read (instead of scrolling through a million Instagram reels). Win-win!





Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.

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