Southwest launches record-high 100,000-point credit card welcome bonuses - CNBC

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Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards cards limited-time welcome offers, and new benefits

Often card issuers, like American Express, increase the price of the annual fees when they add new benefits to credit cards. In this case, none of these Southwest cards are getting a fee increase.

Here's what you need to know about each card's changes:

Southwest consumer credit cards

All three of the consumer Southwest credit cards now have the same massive welcome offer:

You can earn up to a total of 100,000 Rapid Rewards points: You can earn 50,000 points after spending $2,000 on eligible purchases in the first three months your account is open, plus another 50,000 points after spending $12,000 total on eligible purchases in the first 12 months of card membership.

Southwest points are worth around 1.4 cents apiece, meaning the 100,000 points from the bonus alone are worth roughly $1,400 towards Southwest flights.

After earning the welcome bonus you'll also be well on your way to earning the coveted Southwest Companion Pass, which requires you to earn 125,000 Southwest points in a calendar year to qualify. The Companion Pass allows you to select a companion to fly with you for free on every flight you're on, with no limit on how many times you use it or how expensive the ticket is. All you have to do is pay the taxes for the flight, which is just $5.60 for a flight within the U.S..

In addition, each individual card is expanding its spending categories and benefits. Note that perks listed below are in addition to each card's current benefits.

In addition to the card's current benefits, cardholders with the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card will also earn:

2X points for every dollar spent on local transit and commuting, internet, cable and select streaming services
Two EarlyBird check-ins per year

This card has a $69 annual fee.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

On Chase's secure site

Rewards

Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases, 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare; 2X points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming; 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome bonus

Earn up to 100,000 bonus points: 50,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open, plus 50,000 more bonus points after spending $12,000 total on purchases in the first 12 months.
Annual fee
Intro APR
Regular APR

15.99% to 22.99% variable
Balance transfer fee

5%, minimum $5
Foreign transaction fees
Credit needed

Excellent/Good

Terms apply.

In addition to the card's current benefits, cardholders with the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card will also earn:

3X points for every dollar spent on Southwest Airlines flight purchases
2X points for every dollar spent on local transit and commuting, internet, cable and select streaming services
Two EarlyBird check-ins per year

This card has a $99 annual fee.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card

On Chase's secure site

Rewards

Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases, 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare; 2X points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming; 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome bonus

Earn up to 100,000 bonus points: 50,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open, plus 50,000 more bonus points after spending $12,000 total on purchases in the first 12 months.
Annual fee
Intro APR
Regular APR

15.99% to 22.99% variable
Balance transfer fee

5%, minimum $5
Foreign transaction fees
Credit needed

Excellent/Good

Terms apply.

In addition to the card's current benefits, cardholders with the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card will also earn:

3X points for every dollar spent on Southwest Airlines flight purchases
2X points for every dollar spent on local transit and commuting, internet, cable and select streaming services
Unlimited tier qualifying points (TQPs), which goes toward earning A-list elite status

This card has a $149 annual fee.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

On Chase's secure site

Rewards

Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases, 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare; 2X points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming; 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome bonus

Earn up to 100,000 bonus points: 50,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open, plus 50,000 more bonus points after spending $12,000 total on purchases in the first 12 months.
Annual fee
Intro APR
Regular APR

15.99% to 22.99% variable
Balance transfer fee

5%, minimum $5
Foreign transaction fees
Credit needed

Excellent/Good

Terms apply.

Southwest business credit cards

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card and Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card don't have new welcome offers, but are getting improved spending categories.

In addition to the card's current benefits, cardholders with the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card will also earn:

4X points for every dollar spent on Southwest Airlines flight purchases
2X points for every dollar spent on local transit and commuting, including rideshare
$500 fee credit per year for Rapid Rewards point transfers
Unlimited tier qualifying points (TQPs), which goes toward earning A-list elite status.

New cardholders can earn 80,000 Rapid Rewards points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open. This card has a $199 annual fee.

Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card

On Chase's secure site

Rewards

Earn 4X points on Southwest® purchases; 3X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car partners; 2X points on rideshare; 2X points on social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable, and phone services; 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome bonus

Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
Annual fee

$199 applied to first billing statement
Intro APR
Regular APR

15.99% to 22.99% variable
Balance transfer fee

5%, minimum $5
Foreign transaction fees
Credit needed

Excellent/Good

Terms apply.

In addition to the card's current benefits, cardholders with the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card will also earn:

3X points for every dollar spent on Southwest Airlines flight purchases
2X points for every dollar spent on local transit and commuting, including rideshare
$500 fee credit per year for Rapid Rewards point transfers
Two EarlyBird check-ins per year

New cardholders can earn 60,000 Rapid Rewards points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open. This card has a $99 annual fee.

Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card

On Chase's secure site

Rewards

Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases; 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare; 2X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car partners; 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome bonus

Earn 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
Annual fee
Intro APR
Regular APR

15.99% to 22.99% variable
Balance transfer fee

5%, minimum $5
Foreign transaction fees
Credit needed

Excellent/Good

Terms apply.

Bottom line

These bonuses are among the largest ever offered by personal Southwest Airlines credit cards. With airline fares on the rise, earning airline miles through credit cards is a great way to offset those costs. Southwest offers a wide array of destinations, two free checked bags per person on all flights and an easy-to-understand rewards program.

But before signing up for this card, make sure you're able to meet the minimum spend requirement responsibly. Because you will need to spend $12,000 over 12 months, this breaks down to spending $1,000 a month. This may take some forward planning, but if you have any large expenses coming up in the next year, such as your annual tax bill or college tuition, it will help you achieve that spending threshold even quicker.

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Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.

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