Southwest Premier Card: 85,000 Points + Companion Pass for a Year

If you fly Southwest even a few times a year, the current offer on the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card is worth a serious look. Right now, you can earn 85,000 bonus points plus a Companion Pass valid for a full year after meeting a modest spending requirement. That's a lot of travel for a card with a $99 annual fee. But is it right for you? Let's break down the details, the perks, and a few things to keep in mind before you apply.

Why This Offer Stands Out

Southwest has built a loyal following by keeping things simple: no change fees, two free checked bags, and low fares. That approach has paid off for the airline, and it makes their credit card more attractive too. The current welcome bonus of 85,000 points is enough for two round-trip flights on Wanna Get Away fares, which can easily be worth over $1,000 in travel. But the real kicker is the Companion Pass that comes with it.

A Companion Pass normally requires earning 135,000 qualifying points or flying 100 one-way flights in a calendar year. With this offer, you get a full year of Companion Pass just by meeting the spending requirement. That means a designated companion can fly with you for free (just pay taxes and fees) on any flight you take, as long as there's a seat available. If you fly with a partner or friend even a couple of times, the value can be huge.

The Three Bonuses You Can Earn

This card isn't just about the welcome offer. There are actually three ways to earn bonus points, which helps justify the $99 annual fee.

First, the welcome bonus: 85,000 points plus the Companion Pass after you spend $3,000 in the first three months. That's a low spending requirement for such a big reward.

Second, the anniversary bonus: every year after your card anniversary, you get 6,000 bonus points. That's essentially a $60-$80 travel credit, depending on how you redeem, which takes a nice bite out of the annual fee.

Third, the tier qualifying bonus: you earn 1,500 bonus points for every $5,000 you spend, up to 30,000 tier qualifying points per calendar year. These points count toward elite status, which can unlock perks like priority boarding and extra points on flights.

• Welcome bonus: 85,000 points + Companion Pass after $3,000 spend in 3 months
• Anniversary bonus: 6,000 points every year after your card anniversary
• Tier qualifying bonus: 1,500 points per $5,000 spent, up to 30,000 per year

Earning Points Beyond the Card

The card itself earns 2 points per dollar on Southwest purchases and 1 point per dollar on everything else. That's decent, but you can boost your balance significantly by using Southwest's other earning programs.

Rapid Rewards Dining is a free program where you earn 3 points per dollar at participating restaurants, plus 10 points for each online review. If you pay with your Southwest Premier card, you get an extra point, bringing it to 4 points per dollar. There are also sign-up bonuses like 750 points for the Holiday New Member Bonus, 500 points for the First Step Bonus, and 300 points for the Thank You Bonus.

Rapid Rewards Shopping lets you earn up to 15 points per dollar at various retailers. For example, Macy's offers 6 points per dollar, and you can earn 4,000 points just for signing up for AT&T Wireless. Again, using your Southwest card adds another point per dollar.

You can also earn points through partners like Energy Plus, Everything Energy, or Reliant Energy for electricity service, or by completing surveys with e-Miles, e-Rewards, and Valued Opinions. Airport transportation with SuperShuttle or Execucar also earns points. And if you have Chase Ultimate Rewards, you can transfer points to Southwest at a 1:1 ratio, giving you more flexibility.

What to Watch Out For

Before you jump on this offer, keep a few things in mind. The $99 annual fee is not waived, so you'll pay it upfront. The 6,000 anniversary points help offset that, but you need to hold the card for at least a year to get them.

The Companion Pass is only valid for one year, not the full calendar year plus the next like the traditional Companion Pass. Also, you need to designate your companion, and you can only change them a limited number of times (usually once per year).

Southwest points don't expire as long as you have activity every 24 months, but if you stop using the card and don't earn or redeem points, you could lose them. Also, award pricing is dynamic, so the number of points needed for a flight varies based on demand, time, and other factors. There are no blackout dates, but popular flights may require more points.

Finally, check the eligibility rules: you won't get the bonus if you currently have the card or have received a bonus on it in the past 24 months. Chase also has stricter approval rules like 5/24, so if you've opened five or more credit cards in the last 24 months, you might not be approved.

Bottom Line

• 85,000 points + 1-year Companion Pass after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months
• Companion Pass lets a designated companion fly with you for free (plus taxes/fees) for a year
• 6,000 bonus points every year on your card anniversary helps offset the $99 annual fee
• Earn 2x points on Southwest purchases, 1x on everything else, and no foreign transaction fees
• Offer ends October 17, 2024, so act fast if you're interested
• Check eligibility: you can't have this card or received the bonus in the past 24 months

Common Questions