New Southwest Credit Card Offers: 85,000 Points on All Personal Cards
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New elevated offers? Oh, don’t mind if we do! | Photo Credit: Travel Freely
Okay, so here's the thing: Southwest just pulled off something we've rarely seen in the credit card world.
One elevated offer ended. And immediately after? THREE new elevated offers dropped. On ALL their personal cards. At the same time.
Credit card companies don't do this. Like, ever.
But Southwest is apparently playing on a whole different level right now, and honestly? We are absolutely here for it. 🎉
What's the New Offer?
Starting now, all three Southwest personal credit cards are offering 85,000 Rapid Rewards points after you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months.
Now, we know what you might be thinking: "Wait, didn't we just see a 100k offer?" Yes! And that was incredible. But here's why this 85k offer is still a HUGE deal:
The spending requirement is lower ($3,000 vs $4,000)
All three cards have it simultaneously, which means you have OPTIONS depending on your travel style
They can be the key to earning Companion Pass for 2026 and 2027
And most importantly? 85,000 Southwest points is still worth roughly $1,100+ in flight value. That's not chump change, folks.
We've used Southwest points for everything from quick weekend trips to visit family Florida to week-long adventures in Colorado. Brad once booked a last-minute flight to Arizona for a friend's bachelor party and it cost him like 8,000 points. The flexibility is chef's kiss.
Why This Timing Is Actually Wild
Let's put this in perspective: Southwest just ran an elevated offer on one of their business card that ended and then literally the SAME DAY they launched THREE more elevated offers.
Not to mention these cards were JUST elevated less than 3 months ago….
That's three consecutive rounds of elevated offers in a row!!
If you've been on the fence about getting a Southwest card, this is probably the universe telling you to just do it already. 😜
Speaking of the Companion Pass…
👆 Click above to get our FREE PDF guide!
If earning the Southwest Companion Pass is on your 2026 bucket list, these offers could be CLUTCH.
The Companion Pass is hands-down one of the best perks in travel. You designate one person (partner, best friend, your mom who always wants to visit… whoever!) and they fly with you for pretty much free (just taxes and fees) on every Southwest flight for up to two years.
Both paid flights AND award flights.
It's basically a permanent BOGO deal on flights.
To earn the pass, you need 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year. An 85k welcome bonus gets you more than halfway there. Add in the 10,000 anniversary bonus points you get each year just for having the card, plus points from your everyday spending, and you're looking at a pretty achievable path to 2-for-1 flights for 2026–2027.
👉 CLICK HERE TO GET OUR FREE SOUTHWEST COMPANION PASS PRINTABLE GUIDE TO LEARN HOW!
⚠️ But Here's the Catch (And It's Important)
If you're planning to use this card as part of your Companion Pass strategy, you need to be VERY strategic about timing.
You want those 85,000 welcome bonus points to post to your account in 2026, not 2025.
That means:
DO NOT apply and hit the $3,000 spend before January 1, 2026
DO apply soon enough that you can strategically control when you meet that spending requirement
For most people, that sweet spot is probably late October through early December. You'll have the card in hand, you can put some spending on it during the holidays, and then finish off the requirement in January.
We go way deeper into the full Companion Pass timeline and strategy in our FREE Southwest Companion Pass Guide, which is basically our love letter to this whole process. 😍
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! 💛
We’ve flown Southwest with our own Companion Pass to Florida, Colorado, Mexico, California, and more!
Our Take: Should You Jump on This?
Look, we're not going to tell you to open a credit card you don't need. But if Southwest aligns with where you actually fly, this is one of those rare moments where the stars align.
You should absolutely apply if:
You're serious about earning the Companion Pass for 2026–2027
You fly Southwest at least a few times a year
You're looking for flexible points you can use for domestic travel, Mexico, or the Caribbean
You don't already have a Southwest card (or you got one more than 24 months ago and are eligible for a new welcome bonus)
You might want to hold off if:
You're still working on a welcome bonus for another card
You prefer international travel and Southwest's route map doesn't excite you
You're already holding a Southwest personal card that you got less than 24 months ago
And honestly? If you're just getting into points and miles and don't have the Chase Sapphire Preferred® yet, that might still be your best first move. It's more versatile, and you can always transfer points to Southwest later if needed.
Bottom Line
Southwest is doing something unprecedented right now, and whether it's because of end-of-year goals, preparation for their 2026 changes, or just pure chaos energy 🤪… we love to see it!
Three elevated offers. At once. On all their personal cards.
If you've been thinking about getting a Southwest card, waiting for the "right time," or mapping out your Companion Pass strategy for next year? This is your moment.
And if you do decide to apply, make sure to use the links on our Best Credit Cards page (check the menu bar!). It's totally free for you, helps us keep creating content like this, and ensures you're getting the most current offer available. Win-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.