Southwest Is Handing Out 5,000 Free Rapid Rewards Points to Some Cardholders

If you hold a Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card from Chase, you might want to dig through your email. Southwest recently sent out a targeted promotion giving 5,000 Rapid Rewards points to some cardholders—just for being loyal. No spending required, no hoops to jump through. The subject line reads: 'Gifting you 5,000 Rapid Rewards® points for your loyalty!' If you got it, congratulations. If not, well, it's targeted, so not everyone will see it.

What Exactly Is the Offer?

Southwest is giving 5,000 Rapid Rewards points to certain Chase cardholders. That's it. No minimum spend, no activation link, no hidden tricks. The points just show up—or will show up—in your account if you're one of the chosen ones.

The only way to get this offer is through an email. There's no public link, no promo code, and no way to sign up manually. If you didn't receive the email, you're probably out of luck. But it never hurts to check your spam folder or search your inbox for 'Rapid Rewards' or '5,000 points.'

• 5,000 Rapid Rewards points deposited into your account
• Targeted to select Chase Southwest cardholders
• Delivered via email only—no direct link
• No spending or purchase requirement

Why Is Southwest Doing This?

Your guess is as good as mine. Maybe Chase and Southwest are feeling generous. Or maybe they're trying to keep cardholders happy after some recent changes to the business card lineup—like adding lifetime language that makes it harder to earn bonuses repeatedly.

Whatever the reason, free miles are free miles. And 5,000 Rapid Rewards points can be worth around $70 in Wanna Get Away fares, depending on how you redeem them. That's not nothing.

What to Do If You Got the Email

First, don't delete it. Even though there's no link to click, you'll want to keep the email as proof in case the points don't post automatically. Take a screenshot or save it to a folder.

Then, keep an eye on your Rapid Rewards account. The points should appear within a few weeks. If they don't show up after a month or so, reach out to Chase or Southwest customer service and reference the email.

And if you're not sure whether you're targeted, check your email again. Search for 'Southwest' or 'Rapid Rewards'—sometimes these offers get buried in promotions tabs or spam folders.

• Save the email as proof
• Monitor your Rapid Rewards account for the points
• Contact Chase or Southwest if points don't post within a month

The Catch (There's Always One)

The biggest catch is that this is a targeted offer. If you didn't get the email, you can't call in and ask for the points. Trust me, I've tried similar things before—it rarely works.

Also, while 5,000 points is a nice little bonus, it's not life-changing. It might cover a short one-way flight or part of a longer trip. But hey, free is free.

One more thing: if you recently opened or closed a Southwest card, you might not be targeted. These offers often go to long-time cardholders or those who haven't churned recently.

• Targeted only—no way to request it if you didn't get the email
• 5,000 points is a modest but welcome bonus
• Recent card activity might affect eligibility

Bottom Line

• Check your email for a message from Southwest with the subject line about 5,000 Rapid Rewards points.
• This is a targeted offer, so not all cardholders will receive it.
• No spending required—the points are free if you're eligible.
• Save the email and watch your Rapid Rewards account for the points to post.
• If points don't appear within a month, contact Chase or Southwest.

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