Southwest just handed you one of the strongest reasons to apply for one of its personal credit cards. All three personal Southwest Rapid Rewards cards are carrying elevated welcome bonuses right now, and they disappear on July 2, 2026 at 9 a.m. ET. That's less than a week away.

The standard offers on these cards sit at 50,000 points. That gap — up to 40,000 bonus points depending on which card you choose — is real money. At our valuation of 1.5 cents per Rapid Rewards point, the top offer alone is worth roughly $1,350. For context, that puts this among the most valuable sign-up bonuses available right now.

All three offers expire July 2, 2026 at 9 a.m. ET. There's no guarantee these bonus levels return after that date.

The three current offers

The Southwest Plus card offers 80,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months, with a $99 annual fee. The Southwest Premier card steps up to 85,000 points after $2,000 in spending, at $149 per year. And the Southwest Priority card leads the lineup with 90,000 points after $3,000 in spending and a $229 annual fee.

The spending requirements are notably approachable. You only need to put $1,000 on the Plus card in three months to unlock 80,000 points — that's a recurring monthly expense or two. Even the top-tier Priority card's $3,000 threshold is achievable without manufactured spending for most households.

The Companion Pass angle — and why the math is compelling right now

Southwest requires 135,000 qualifying points earned in a calendar year to unlock the Companion Pass. If you're not familiar, it lets you bring one designated person on every Southwest flight you take for nothing beyond taxes and fees. Welcome bonus points count toward that threshold — which is exactly what makes these offers so strategically timed.

Companion Pass math: Southwest Priority card example

Welcome bonus90,000 pts

Anniversary points (earned at renewal)7,500 pts

Spend to meet minimum ($3,000 × ~3 pts/$ on SW)~9,000 pts

Remaining gap to 135,000~28,500 pts

Needed in regular everyday spendAchievable in one year

The Companion Pass is valid for the rest of the calendar year you earn it, plus the entire following year. Apply in late June and you could be halfway to the Pass by the time your first statement closes. That's potentially 18 months of bringing a travel companion for free on every single Southwest flight — on both cash and points bookings.

Which card should you pick?

It depends on how much you fly Southwest and whether the annual fee math works for you.

The Southwest Plus card is the right call if you're primarily here for the welcome bonus and the Companion Pass push. The $99 annual fee is low, and the $1,000 spending requirement is the easiest to hit. The card earns 2x points on Southwest purchases and 3,000 anniversary points per year.

The Southwest Premier card is worth considering if you'll hit $2,000 in three months comfortably and want a stronger everyday earning structure. It earns 3x on Southwest and includes 6,000 anniversary points annually, plus earlier boarding with Group 5. The $149 fee is reasonable if you fly Southwest a few times per year.

The Southwest Priority card makes the most sense for frequent Southwest flyers who can absorb the $229 annual fee. It earns 4x on Southwest, comes with a $75 Southwest travel credit, 7,500 anniversary points, and the highest welcome bonus of the three. The $75 credit alone offsets a big chunk of the annual fee, and 7,500 anniversary points at 1.5 cents each adds another $112 in value. You're effectively paying very little for the best card in the lineup.

One thing to check before you apply

These cards are issued by Chase, which means the Chase 5/24 rule applies. If you've opened five or more personal credit cards in the past 24 months, your application will likely be declined regardless of your credit score. Check your 5/24 status before applying so you're not burning a hard inquiry on a card you won't be approved for.

You can apply for the Southwest Priority card, the Southwest Premier card, or the Southwest Plus card directly through our links. July 2 at 9 a.m. ET is the hard deadline — don't leave it to the last minute.

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