Editor’s note: This is a periodic article, regularly updated with new information.
Currently, three Southwest Airlines personal credit cards, each with a higher welcome bonus TPG . Value at $1,125.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Cardthe Southwest Express Rewards Premium Credit Card and Southwest Express Rewards Priority Credit Card is offering an enhanced sign-up bonus of up to 75,000 bonus points to new subscribers who spend $3,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. These offers end on December 5, 2022.
Southwest credit card continues to be a fan favorite – in no small part because their bonuses represent the fastest way to earn valuable stuff Southwest Companion Card. So it’s important to know if you’re eligible.
Remember earning a Companion Pass will require more points starting in 2023 – Exactly 135,000 points. However, Southwest credit card holders will receive 10,000 bonus points in Quick Rewards account within 30 days of opening a Southwest credit card (new registrants) or at the beginning of the year (for existing cardholders).
There are three specific rules to keep in mind when looking at Southwest credit cards. Here’s what you need to know.
Related: The ultimate guide to credit card app restrictions
What Southwest credit cards am I eligible for?
If you’re looking at the Southwest credit card, you have five options to choose from – three individuals and two businesses. These are the individual cards:
And here are two business credit cards:
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Chase and Southwest have made the process relatively simple by treating all individual cards equally and issuing two simple rules for business cards.
If you want to register a personal card
You are eligible to do so as long as you comply with the following criteria:
- The Follow the 5/24 . rule: You will almost certainly be rejected because Southwest credit card if you have opened five or more credit cards (from any bank) within the last 24 months – excluding most business cards.
- Restricting the “family” tag: If you already have a Southwest personal card, you cannot open another card until you have canceled your current card.
- Bonus rules for signing up: You cannot open the card if you have earned a sign-up bonus from a Southwest personal card within the last 24 months
It’s important to note here that having a Southwest business credit card does not affect your eligibility for a personal card in any way.
If you want a business card
You are eligible to do so as long as you are under the age of 5 24 and meet the following rules:
- You can’t currently have that particular credit card.
- You couldn’t get a bonus on that particular credit card in the last 24 months.
Applying for a personal Southwest credit card does not affect your eligibility for a business card, except for the fact that it occupies one of your 5/24 slots. More importantly, there is one of two Southwest business credit card does not affect your eligibility for other Southwest business cards.
What is the best plan to apply for a Southwest credit card?
Assuming you have 5/24 slots to spare, the best plan for most people is to sign up for both Southwest merchant credit cards. Doing so will not increase your 5/24 count and will make you eligible to apply for a personal Southwest card in the future. Assuming both applications are approved, the combined sign-up bonus will suffice to qualify for the Southwest Companion Pass.
Related: How to quickly earn the Southwest Companion Card
Key point
It’s always important to plan your credit card application and keep it in mind issuer specific cards and rules. While Chase’s decision introduce so-called “family restrictions” on individual Southwest cards threw a wrench on many people’s Companion Pass packages, the same restriction did not apply to two business cards.
Remember, all three Southwest personal credit card is offering a higher signup bonus of 75,000 bonus points right now. You can earn those points after spending $3,000 on purchases within three months of account opening, and you’ll easily get a Companion Card. Offer ends on December 5, 2022.
Register here: Southwest Plus Credit Card
Register here: Southwest Premier Credit Card
Register here: Southwest Priority Credit Card
Register here: Southwest Premier Business Credit Card
Register here: Southwest Performance Business Credit Card
Additional reporting by Madison Blancaflor, Joseph Hostetler and Ryan Smith.
