Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards have always been popular, but they’ve become even more valuable since the airline eliminated its long-standing free checked bags policy.
Sitting squarely in the middle of the Southwest cards lineup is the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card with a $149 annual fee.
If you’ve already looked into the benefits and think it’s a good fit, it’s worth taking an extra step to review past welcome offers. Doing so can help you gauge whether to apply now for the Southwest Premier card or if it might be smarter to wait for a better introductory offer to return.
When To Apply for the Southwest Premier Card
In 2025, Southwest revamped its entire credit card portfolio by adding a free checked bag, new statement credits, improved point-earning rates, and more. Since then, we’ve seen welcome offers shift noticeably, reflecting the airline’s broader move toward a new operating model that differs from what travelers were accustomed to.
That said, the Southwest Premier card offers the following public welcome bonus offer:
- Earn 85,000 points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Let’s examine how this compares with the card’s welcome offers, dating back to 2023:
|
Offer Date |
Welcome Offer Details |
Value* |
|
Current offer (May 2026 to now) |
Earn 85,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 in the first 3 months |
$1,105 |
|
March 2026 to May 2026 |
Earn 55,000 points after spending $1,500 in the first 3 months. |
$715 |
|
February 2026 to March 2026 |
Earn Companion Pass through February 28, 2027, and 40,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months. |
$520 plus Companion Pass |
|
December 2025 to February 2026 |
Earn 50,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months. |
$650 |
|
October 2025 to December 2025 |
Earn 85,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months. |
$1,105 |
|
September 2025 to October 2025 |
Earn 50,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months. |
$650 |
|
July 2025 to September 2025 |
Earn 100,000 points after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months. |
$1,300 |
|
April 2025 to July 2025 |
Earn 50,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months. |
$650 |
|
February 2025 to March 2025 |
Earn Companion Pass through February 28, 2026 and 30,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. |
$390 plus Companion Pass |
|
January 2025 to February 2025 |
Earn 50,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months. |
$650 |
|
November 2024 to January 2025 |
Earn 40,000 points and a $400 statement credit after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months. |
$920 |
|
October 2024 to November 2024 |
Earn 50,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months. |
$650 |
|
September 2024 to October 2024 |
Earn 85,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months. |
$1,105 |
|
June 2024 to September 2024 |
Earn 50,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months. |
$650 |
|
June 2024 to June 2024 |
Earn 85,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months. |
$1,105 |
|
March 2024 to June 2024 |
Earn Companion Pass through February 28, 2025, and 30,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. |
$390 plus Companion Pass |
|
December 2023 to March 2024 |
Earn 50,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months. |
$650 |
|
October 2023 to December 2023 |
Earn 75,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months. |
$975 |
|
July 2023 to October 2023 |
Earn 50,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months. |
$650 |
* Value based on our latest valuation of Southwest Rapid Rewards points estimated at 1.3 cents each. This value isn’t provided by the card issuer.
The Southwest Premier card regularly features elevated offers throughout the year. Typically, once a year, a 1-year Companion Pass is offered for a smaller number of points, which can be a huge opportunity for those who travel frequently with a partner.
If that’s not you, the best sum of points we’ve seen is 100,000 bonus points, though anything above 75,000 points is an elevated welcome offer worth considering. Just be mindful that larger welcome offers are usually paired with higher minimum spend requirements.
The 50,000-point welcome offer seems to be the baseline, so if that’s what is currently being offered, chances are you can wait a few months for a stronger opportunity to come back.
Southwest Premier Card Benefits
The Southwest Premier card comes with a long list of benefits, but we’ve summed up the major ones below:
- Earn 3x points on Southwest Airlines purchases and 2x points at grocery stores and restaurants (on the first $8,000 in combined purchases per anniversary year, and 1x points on everything else)
- First free checked bag and Group 5 boarding for you and up to 8 additional passengers on the same reservation
- Select a Standard or Preferred seat within 48 hours prior to departure, if available
- 6,000 anniversary points each year
Final Thoughts
The Southwest Premier card offers enticing welcome offers multiple times per year. There’s even an opportunity to earn a Companion Pass, which allows you to bring a travel companion on the same flight for just the cost of taxes and fees ($5.60). Reviewing these bonus offers can help you predict which one is the best option for you, as they might return in the future.