Chase and Southwest raised the welcome bonuses on all three personal Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards. Southwest's card page labels it a limited-time offer that ends Dec 2, 2026.
The offers
| Card | Bonus | Spend in first 3 months | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid Rewards Plus | 80,000 points | $1,000 | $99 |
| Rapid Rewards Premier | 85,000 points | $2,000 | $149 |
| Rapid Rewards Priority | 90,000 points | $3,000 | $229 |
The annual fee is charged on your first statement on all three cards; it is not waived the first year.
Where to find it: the higher bonuses show on Southwest's credit card page. When we checked on Oct 28, Chase's own Southwest product pages still showed the standard offers (50,000, 55,000 and 60,000 points), and Chase's terms say offers can differ by where you apply. Check the bonus on the application before you submit it.
Who can get it
Per Chase's offer terms, the cards are not available if you currently have any personal Southwest Rapid Rewards card, or if you received a new cardmember bonus on any personal Southwest card in the last 24 months. Having a Southwest business card does not count against you. Southwest cards are issued by Chase, so the Chase 5/24 rule generally applies. Chase says to allow 6 to 8 weeks after you meet the spend for the points to post.
How the cards earn (per Chase)
- Plus: 2x on Southwest purchases and on the first $5,000 a year in combined gas station and grocery store purchases; 1x elsewhere
- Premier: 3x on Southwest purchases and 2x on the first $8,000 a year in combined grocery store and restaurant purchases; 1x elsewhere
- Priority: 4x on Southwest purchases and 2x at gas stations and restaurants; 1x elsewhere
All three include a free first checked bag for the cardmember and up to eight others on the same reservation, plus a 10,000-point Companion Pass qualifying boost each year.
The Companion Pass angle
Under Southwest's current rules, card welcome bonuses still count toward the 135,000 qualifying points needed for a Companion Pass, and a pass earned in 2026 stays valid through Dec 31, 2027. From Jan 1, 2027, welcome bonuses stop counting (our coverage). Because bonus points can take 6 to 8 weeks to post after you qualify, points from a card opened late in the offer window may not post until 2027.
Is it worth it?
This offer may make sense if you fly Southwest and can meet the spend without buying things you don't need. Weigh the annual fee you pay right away, the hard credit inquiry, and whether you're under 5/24. Our guide on comparing a sign-up bonus to its annual fee can help. Business owners can also look at the Southwest Premier Business card.
Sources: Southwest's consumer credit card page and Chase's offer details for each card, checked Oct 28, 2026.
We aren't paid by the companies in this article. Advertiser disclosure