Last chance for this Southwest card welcome bonus: Earn 120,000 points with a best-ever business card offer

For Southwest Airlines loyalists, a cobranded Southwest credit card is a great way to earn points toward travel.

And if you’re a business owner loyal to the airline, now is a fantastic time to add one of Southwest’s business cards. That’s because the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card (see rates and fees) is offering the best welcome bonus in the card’s history, and now is your last chance to apply and receive this bonus.

As a new Cardmember, you can earn 120,000 Rapid Rewards bonus points after you spend $10,000 within the first three months from account opening. This offer ends on Oct. 27.

The current offer on the Performance Business is worth paying attention to because you could use it to earn two whole years of the valuable Companion Pass — if you time your spending correctly.

All of Southwest’s cards were recently revamped with some exciting and not-so-exciting changes, including new benefits, decreased earnings rates and annual fee increases.

However, with Southwest’s sweeping strategy changes — many of which have already taken effect — you may want to factor in what the airline will look like later in 2025 and beyond.

Southwest is:

• Ditching its open-seating model
• Ending its “bags fly free” policy — unless you have a Southwest card, have Southwest elite status or are traveling on a business fare
• Introducing basic economy
• Reducing the number of points earned on its most popular fares
• Shifting to dynamic pricing

If you’re familiar with Southwest as it has been, you should learn about its upcoming changes before you make a decision.

With this in mind, let’s look at the current welcome bonuses on the Southwest Airlines personal and business credit cards.

Comparison of the Southwest card welcome offers

Here’s a look at the Southwest welcome offers at first glance:

*Welcome offer value is based on TPG’s October 2025 valuations.

The information for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Southwest business cards

If you qualify for a business credit card and fly Southwest frequently, consider one of the carrier’s cobranded business cards.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card

Best for: Business owners who are loyal Southwest flyers

Annual fee: $299

Welcome bonus: Earn 120,000 points after spending $10,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

This offer is worth $1,680, based on TPG’s valuations. This is the best bonus we’ve seen in the card’s history. You’ll earn 120,000 points at a much lower spending requirement than the last time we saw this offer. Now is the last chance to apply if you want to be sure you secure this lucrative bonus, as it ends on Oct. 27.

Earning rates:

• 4 points per dollar spent on Southwest purchases
• 3 points per dollar spent on Rapid Rewards car rental and hotel partner bookings (ends Dec. 31)
• 2 points per dollar spent on cable and phone services, internet, paid search advertising and social media (ends Dec. 31)
• 2 points per dollar spent on commuting and local transit purchases
• New: 2 points per dollar spent at gas stations and restaurants, no annual cap
• New: 2 points per dollar spent on hotel stays booked directly
• 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases

Notable perks:

• Earn tier qualifying points toward A-List elite status
• Four upgraded boardings per year (ends Dec. 31)
• Free first checked bag for you and up to eight travel companions
• Group 5 priority boarding
• No foreign transaction fees
• Preferred seat selection at booking (when available)
• Unlimited ability to earn 2,500 TQPs for each $5,000 spent annually
• Unlimited upgrades to an extra-legroom seat 48 hours prior to departure at no charge (when available)
• Up to $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
• Up to 365 inflight Wi-Fi credits per year (ends Dec. 31)
• New: 25% discount on inflight purchases
• $500 fee credit for Southwest Rapid Rewards points transfers to another Rapid Rewards member (ends Dec. 31).
• 9,000 points every cardholder anniversary
• 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost annually

To learn more, read our full review of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business card.

Apply here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card

Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card

Best for: Business owners who fly Southwest regularly

Annual fee: $149

Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in the first three months from account opening.

This offer is worth $840, based on TPG’s valuations. This is the standard welcome offer we’ve typically seen in the card’s history.

Earning rates:

• 3 points per dollar spent on Southwest purchases
• New: 2 points per dollar spent on the first $8,000 in combined spend at gas stations and grocery stores each anniversary year
• 2 points per dollar spent on commuting and local transit purchases, including ride-hailing services (ends Dec. 31)
• 2 points per dollar spent on Rapid Rewards car rental and hotel partner bookings (ends Dec. 31)
• 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases

Notable perks:

• Free first checked bag for you and up to eight travel companions
• Group 5 priority boarding
• No foreign transaction fees
• Preferred seat selection within 48 hours of departure (when available)
• Unlimited ability to earn 2,000 TQPs for each $5,000 spent annually
• 15% flight discount promo code each anniversary year (excluding Basic fares)
• 25% discount on inflight purchases
• $500 fee credit for Rapid Rewards points transfers to another Rapid Rewards member (ends Dec. 31)
• 6,000 bonus points every cardholder anniversary
• 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost annually

To learn more, read our full review of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business card.

Apply here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card

Southwest personal cards

Whether you fly Southwest just a couple of times each year or it’s your exclusive airline, consider one of the carrier’s cobranded credit cards.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card

Best for: Beginners and infrequent travelers.

Annual fee: $99.

Welcome bonus: Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

This is the standard welcome offer we’ve seen in the card’s history and is worth $700, per TPG’s valuations.

Earning rates:

• New: 2 points per dollar spent on the first $5,000 in combined spend at gas stations and grocery stores each anniversary year
• 2 points per dollar spent on Southwest purchases
• 2 points per dollar spent on commuting and local transit purchases, including ride-hailing services (ends Dec. 31)
• 2 points per dollar spent on cable, internet, phone services and select streaming service purchases (ends Dec. 31)
• 2 points per dollar spent on Rapid Rewards car rental and hotel partner bookings (ends Dec. 31)
• 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases

Notable perks:

• Free first checked bag for you and up to eight travel companions
• Group 5 priority boarding
• No foreign transaction fees
• One promotional 10% flight discount each anniversary year (excludes basic economy)
• Standard seat selection 48 hours prior to departure (when available)
• Two EarlyBird check-ins annually (ends Dec. 31)
• 25% discount on inflight purchases
• 3,000 bonus points every cardholder anniversary
• 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost annually

To learn more, read our full review of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card.

Apply here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card

Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card

Best for: Regular Southwest flyers.

Annual fee: $149.

Welcome bonus: Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

This offer is worth $700 per TPG’s valuations and is the standard welcome offer we have typically seen in the card’s history.

Earning rates:

• New: 2 points per dollar spent on the first $8,000 in combined spend at gas stations and grocery stores each anniversary year
• 3 points per dollar spent on Southwest purchases
• 2 points per dollar spent on commuting and local transit purchases, including ride-hailing services (ends Dec. 31)
• 2 points per dollar spent on cable, internet, phone services and select streaming service purchases (ends Dec. 31)
• 2 points per dollar spent on Rapid Rewards car rental and hotel partner bookings (ends Dec. 31)
• 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases

Notable perks:

• Free first checked bag for you and up to eight travel companions
• Group 5 priority boarding
• No foreign transaction fees
• One promotional 15% flight discount each anniversary year (excludes basic economy)
• Preferred seat selection 48 hours prior to departure (when available)
• Two EarlyBird check-ins annually (ends Dec. 31)
• Unlimited ability to earn 1,500 TQPs for each $5,000 spent annually toward A-List status
• 25% discount on inflight purchases
• 6,000 bonus points every cardholder anniversary
• 10,000 points Companion Pass qualifying points boost annually

Learn more: Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card review

Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card

Best for: Southwest loyalists who can take advantage of day-of-travel perks.

Annual fee: $229.

Welcome bonus: Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

This is the standard welcome offer we’ve typically seen in the card’s history and is worth $700, according to TPG’s valuations.

Earning rates:

• New: 4 points per dollar spent on Southwest purchases (previously 3 points per dollar)
• New: 2 points per dollar spent at gas stations and restaurants, with no annual cap
• 2 points per dollar spent on commuting and local transit purchases, including ride-hailing services (ends Dec. 31)
• 2 points per dollar spent on cable, internet, phone services and select streaming service purchases (ends Dec. 31)
• 2 points per dollar spent on Rapid Rewards car rental and hotel partner bookings (ends Dec. 31)
• 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases

Notable perks:

• Four upgraded boardings (ends Dec. 31)
• Free first checked bag for you and up to eight travel companions
• Group 5 priority boarding
• No foreign transaction fees
• Preferred seat selection at booking (when available)
• Two EarlyBird check-ins annually (ends Dec. 31)
• Unlimited ability to earn 2,500 TQPs for each $5,000 spent annually toward A-List status
• Unlimited upgrades to extra-legroom seats within 48 hours of departure at no charge (when available)
• 25% discount on inflight purchases
• $75 annual Southwest credit (ends Dec. 31)
• 7,500-point anniversary bonus
• 10,000 points Companion Pass qualifying points boost annually

TPG named this card the Best Airline Cobranded Credit Card for the second year in a row at the 2024 TPG Awards.

To learn more, read our full review of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card.

Apply here: 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. However, many of its most prominent and popular benefits, such as free checked bags with every ticket, have gone away, which makes things different.

It’s important to note that credit card holders will be able to check one bag for free for themselves and up to eight companions on the reservation, saving themselves the added cost of paying $35 per bag each way.

Rapid Rewards A-List Preferred and Business Select members will receive two free checked bags. A-List members will only receive one checked bag. Weight and size limits apply.

The number of Southwest Rapid Rewards points required to book a flight is now “dynamic,” which means redemption rates could be higher or lower depending on the flight’s demand.

Furthermore, Southwest adjusted its policy toward cancellation and change fees, and now, only certain fare types get waived fees. Free same-day standby is also now limited to certain fare types.

You can get excellent value with the Companion Pass offered on Southwest’s personal cards. This perk allows you to bring along a designated travel companion on all your Southwest flights — both paid and award tickets (but you must pay taxes and fees).

To get a Companion Pass, you must earn 135,000 qualifying points or take 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year. Additionally, credit card welcome bonuses and points earned from card spending count toward qualification.

The current offer on the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card will get you within just 15,000 qualifying points to the Companion Pass qualification just by earning the bonus. When you add the 10,000-TQP boost, you’re within just 5,000 points of the beneficial perk.

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 — or by simply earning the Performance Business’s current offer — but now is your last chance to secure it. The standard Companion Pass is valid for the year it’s earned and the entire following year.

Southwest cardholders get a 10,000-TQP boost at the beginning of the year (for existing cardholders) or within 30 days of opening an account (for new members).

To maximize your time with the Companion Pass, you may want to time your credit card application so that your welcome bonus will post after the start of the new year, if you can.

Bottom line

If you’re looking for a new Southwest card, you could collect a solid haul of points from applying now.

Most notably, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card is offering its best-ever bonus with a fantastic Companion Pass fast-track ability, so now is a great time for business owners loyal to the airline to stock up on points. This is your last chance to secure this bonus if you’re interested in it as it ends on Oct. 27.

Just keep in mind that Southwest will continue to see its wide range of changes roll out throughout the rest of 2025 and into 2026.

Apply here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card
Apply here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card
Apply here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
Learn more: Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card
Apply here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card