Last updated on March 8th, 2023
Chase and Southwest are extending their co-brand credit card relationship. The news of the extension came during an investor’s call earlier this week and included news of new routes, new fares, and more.
Chase and Southwest Airlines Extended Credit Card Partnership
Southwest Airlines and Chase have extended their co-branded credit card partnership. The news, while unsurprising, is good news for both the leading low-cost carrier and Chase, as the partnership has resulted in a wildly successful suite of co-branded credit cards for businesses and personal travelers.
Chase’s co-branded Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards offer impressive perks, including priority boarding, upgraded booking vouchers, and in-flight savings. The cards frequently provide lucrative sign-up bonuses – with recent offerings including up to 100,000 bonus Rapid Rewards points, temporary Companion Passes, and more.
Southwest Airlines is extremely popular amongst frequent flyers. The airline carries a higher percentage of award passengers than any other U.S. Carrier, according to its annual SEC 10-K disclosed to the federal government.
Here are Chase’s current Southwest branded credit card offerings:
While the decision to continue the partnership with Chase was likely, Southwest had been courting interest from other banks in recent months. This process, however, was more of a negotiations ploy than a serious attempt to forge a new partnership. Co-branded partnerships are notoriously expensive, meaning there are only a handful of card issuers big enough to shoulder the costs, with Chase among the premier in the industry.
Other Southwest Annoucnements
Southwest also announced new non-stop routes during its investor’s presentation. The new services, set to begin in April 2022, will include:
- Austin, TX – Tulsa, OK
- San Antonio, TX – Oklahoma City, OK
- Syracuse, NY – Tampa, FL
The low-cost carrier also has plans to introduce a “new fare product” midway through 2022, according to USA Today. The new fare, which would be a the most expensive fare, would appear in a fourth column alongside Southwest’s current Wanna Get Away, Anytime, and Business Select tickets. The new fare is expected to launch in mid-2022.
Related Article: The Ultimate Southwest Rapid Rewards Program Guide
