Last updated on January 7th, 2021
A brand new signup bonus for each of the Southwest Rapid Rewards® cards from Chase Bank is ready for liftoff. The Southwest co-branded credit cards from Chase are already extremely popular with fans of Southwest Airlines and credit card travel rewards alike. This new bonus will bring more fans to the fold and may even make existing cardholders slightly jealous. Here’s what to expect.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Signup Bonuses
Fans of flying Southwest who apply for a new Southwest Rapid Rewards® credit card are in for a treat. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card, and the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card each earns a special bonus of 40,000 points. This bonus is awarded to new cardholders who budget to spend $1,000+ within the first three months of card membership. Southwest Rapid Rewards points are valued at approximately 1.4 cents ($0.014) each. At this valuation, a bonus of 40,000 points comes out to a savings of $560, once redeemed. This is a lucrative return on a $1,000 spend. (Point valuations depend on several other factors at time of redemption, so these numbers can change.)
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Bonuses for Business
Southwest’s co-branded business cards also feature a similar new signup bonus that’s sure to tantalize business owners. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card weighs in with a bonus of 60,000 points after the cardholder spends a minimum of $3,000. This is the equivalent of an $840 reward. Folks who spring for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card can earn a signup bonus of up to $100,000 ($1,400 equivalent). This 100,000 point bonus is broken into two stages:
Business owners who spend $5,000+ on purchases within the first three months of opening their account will qualify for a bonus of 70,000 Rapid Rewards® points. If they continue to use their card to build their business and hit a $25,000 spending threshold within 6 months of opening their account, they’ll earn an additional bonus of 30,000 points. After spending $25,000, business owners will see their signup bonus come to a total of 100,000 points.
Comparing Southwest Cards from Chase
Each of the above consumer credit cards features the same signup bonus. The primary differentiators between the three personal cards are the annual fee, and the size of the anniversary bonus. Some cards offer more perks than others, too. The Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card includes an exclusive annual travel credit. It also offers 4 upgraded boardings each year (based on availability), and 20% back on inflight drinks and WIFI. The business offerings display similar differences; the Performance Business Credit Card features more airline-centric perks than its Premier Business counterpart.
Accessible Rewards
These new signup bonuses mark a slight reduction in the total number of points that can be earned with each card. A recent promotion, which featured a higher bonus reward, has just ended. However, Chase makes it easier to qualify for the new bonus. The required spend during the introductory bonus period has been reduced.
These rewards are not always this accessible, and Southwest and Chase offer beefed-up limited-time bonuses quite often. Those who are considering applying for a new Southwest co-branded card should check which promotions are available.
Apply for a Southwest Rapid Rewards® Card
For those who are debating which card to apply for, Chase doesn’t make this decision an easy one. The new signup bonus easily offsets the annual fee for each of these cards. Applying for one is a no-brainer – but only if the cardholder plans to meet or exceed the spending threshold. If you don’t spend the minimum required to qualify for the signup bonus, you won’t receive the points. There are still plenty of perks to take advantage of, but these bonus points steal the show. Luckily, spending $1,000 in three months is an easy goal to meet – especially for those who use their card regularly. Booking a family trip with Southwest Airlines, for example, is an easy way to spend $1,000 in the first three months.
Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide which of these cards is the best fit for you.
