Despite Southwest being in the news recently for its big, negative changes, the airline's suite of co-branded credit cards is still worth your attention … maybe now, more than ever. 

Carrying a co-branded card will soon be the easiest way to get a free checked bag when flying with Southwest. With the current offers, you can earn 50,000 Rapid Rewards points after you spend $1,000 in the first three months of card membership … no matter the card you choose.

Better yet, the sign-up bonus from any of these cards will count toward the 135,000 points needed to qualify for the Southwest Companion Pass. What's the Southwest Companion Pass? Oh, just one of the best deals in all of travel – and the timing of these bigger bonuses could allow you to earn it for nearly two full years – more on that later.

With the Southwest Companion Pass, you get to choose one person to fly free with you every time you buy a flight or redeem Southwest Rapid Rewards points. No blackout dates and no questions asked: If the flight is bookable, you can add your companion.

Beyond the bonus points and opportunity to get close to a coveted Companion Pass, these cards come with other benefits like anniversary bonus points, early bird check-ins, upgraded boardings, and a discount on in-flight purchases.

Keep reading for everything you need to know about these Southwest credit card offers.

 

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

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  • Anniversary Bonus: On your cardmember anniversary, you will receive 3,000 Rapid Rewards points each year.
  • Earn 2x Rapid Rewards Points per dollar spent on Southwest Airlines purchases.
  • New! Earn 2x Rapid Rewards Points on first $5,000 in combined spend at gas stations and grocery stores each anniversary year
  • Earn 1x Rapid Rewards Points per dollar on all other spending on the card.
  • New! 10% Flight discount: Receive a 10% promo code each year on your cardmember anniversary (excludes basic fares).
  • New! Boarding benefit: Cardmembers and up to eight passengers on the same reservation will board with Group 5 giving them earlier access to overhead bins.
  • New! Free checked bag: Cardmembers and up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation can check their first bag for free.
  • New! Complimentary seat selection: Select a Standard seat within 48 hours of departure, when available.
  • New! No foreign transaction fees
  • Increased! Annual Fee: $99 (was $69)

 

*sw plus*

 

Learn more about the *sw plus*.

 

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card

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  • Anniversary Bonus: Each year, on your cardmember anniversary, you will receive 6,000 Rapid Rewards points.
  • Earn 3x Rapid Rewards Points per dollar spent on Southwest Airlines purchases.
  • New! Earn 2x Rapid Rewards Points on first $8,000 in combined spend at restaurants and grocery stores each anniversary year
  • Earn 1x Rapid Rewards Points per dollar on all other spending on the card.
  • New! Spend your way to A-List status: Earn 1,500 tier qualifying points (TQPs) toward A-List status for every $5,000 spent in purchases annually accelerating your way to A-List status.
  • New! 15% Flight discount: Receive a 10% promo code each year on your cardmember anniversary (excludes basic fares).
  • New! Boarding benefit: Cardmembers and up to eight passengers on the same reservation will board with Group 5 giving them earlier access to overhead bins.
  • New! Free checked bag: Cardmembers and up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation can check their first bag for free.
  • New! Complimentary seat selection: Select a Standard or Preferred seat within 48 hours of departure, when available.
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Increased! Annual Fee: $149 (was $99)

 

Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card

 

Learn more about the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card (for full disclosure, this is not an affiliate link).

 

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

  • bonus_miles_full
  • Anniversary Bonus: On your cardmember anniversary, you will receive 7,500 Rapid Rewards points each year.
  • New! Earn 4x Rapid Rewards Points (was 3x) per dollar spent on Southwest Airlines purchases.
  • New! Earn 2x Rapid Rewards Points per dollar spent at gas stations and restaurants each anniversary year.
  • Earn 1x Rapid Rewards Points per dollar on all other spending on the card.
  • New! Spend your way to A-List status: Earn 2,500 tier qualifying points (TQPs) toward A-List status for every $5,000 spent in purchases annually accelerating your way to A-List status.
  • New! Boarding benefit: Cardmembers and up to eight passengers on the same reservation will board with Group 5 giving them earlier access to overhead bins.
  • New! Free checked bag: Cardmembers and up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation can check their first bag for free.
  • New! Complimentary Preferred seat selection: Enjoy unlimited upgrades to an Extra Legroom seat within 48 hours of departure, when available.
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Increased! Annual Fee: $229 (was $149)

 

*sw priority*

 

Learn more about the *sw priority*.

 

Pair with a Chase Sapphire Preferred or Sapphire Reserve

All three of these Southwest credit cards make great companions to either the *csr* or the *csp*. That’s because Chase Ultimate Rewards points can be transferred to your Southwest Rapid Rewards account on a 1:1 basis, meaning 1,000 Chase points get you 1,000 Southwest Rapid Reward points. And those transfers are instant.

 

*csp*

 

Learn more about the *csp*.

 

*csr*

 

Learn more about the *csr*.

 

Bottom Line

Chase and Southwest are out with bonus offers allowing you to earn 50,000 Rapid Rewards points after you spend $1,000 in the first three months of card membership on any of the Southwest personal credit cards.

What's more, these big bonuses count toward the 135,000 points needed to earn Southwest's coveted Companion Pass … clearing an easy(ish) path to nearly two years of BOGO flights.