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From May 28 through July 1, 2026, all three personal Southwest credit cards from Chase have elevated their welcome bonuses by 30,000 points each, ranging from 80,000 points on the Plus card up to 90,000 on the Priority card. At roughly 1.3 to 1.5 cents per point, that is about $1,040 to $1,350 in flights. But the real question is not which bonus is biggest. It is which card fits how you travel, and how close the bonus gets you to a Companion Pass. All figures are as of June 2026 and can change, so confirm details on Chase’s official page before applying.
Key Takeaways
- All three Southwest cards have boosted bonuses through July 1, 2026: 80K (Plus), 85K (Premier), and 90K (Priority).
- The bonus is worth roughly $1,040 to $1,350 at typical redemption values.
- You cannot have earned a Southwest consumer card bonus in the past 24 months to qualify.
- The bonus gets you a big chunk toward the Companion Pass (135,000 qualifying points), but not all the way on its own.
- Approval depends on your creditworthiness, and terms, fees, and bonuses can change.
The Three Offers: What You Get and What It Costs
| Card | Bonus | Spend requirement | Annual fee | Bonus value (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Plus | 80,000 pts | $1,000 in 3 months | $99 | ~$1,040 |
| Southwest Premier | 85,000 pts | $2,000 in 3 months | $149 | ~$1,105 |
| Southwest Priority | 90,000 pts | $3,000 in 3 months | $229 | ~$1,170 |
Bonus values use about 1.3 cents per point. After subtracting the annual fee, first-year net value lands around $941 (Plus), $956 (Premier), and $941 (Priority). In other words, the three are surprisingly close in first-year value, so the deciding factor is the ongoing perks, not the headline bonus.
Ongoing perks by card
- Plus ($99): 2x on Southwest purchases, 1x elsewhere, 3,000 anniversary points, no foreign transaction fees.
- Premier ($149): 3x on Southwest, 2x on hotels and rental cars, 6,000 anniversary points, plus tier-qualifying points toward A-List status.
- Priority ($229): 3x on Southwest, 2x on hotels and rentals, 7,500 anniversary points, a $75 Southwest travel credit, 4 upgraded boardings a year, and 1,500 tier-qualifying points a year.
All three now also include benefits tied to Southwest’s 2025 changes: a free first checked bag for you and others on your reservation, a preferred seat at booking when available, and earlier boarding. Those perks can offset a chunk of the annual fee if you fly Southwest a few times a year.
What the Points Are Worth
Southwest points are worth about 1.3 to 1.5 cents each on the cheapest Wanna Get Away fares. There is no fuel surcharge or award chart to fight, and you can cancel and redeposit points easily, which is part of why the program is beginner-friendly. Your real value depends on the cash price of the flights you book, since points are tied to fare prices.
The Companion Pass Angle
The Companion Pass is the most valuable perk in Southwest’s program. It lets a designated companion fly with you for just taxes and fees on every paid or award flight, for the rest of the year you earn it plus the entire next calendar year. To earn it, you need 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year (or 100 qualifying one-way flights).
Here is the honest math: the welcome bonus counts toward that 135,000, and cardholders also get a 7,500-point Companion Pass bonus each year. So a 90,000-point welcome bonus, plus the spending to earn it, plus that 7,500, gets you to roughly 100,000, or about three-quarters of the way. You would still need additional spending or flights to finish. The bonus is a strong head start on a Companion Pass, not an instant one.
Which Card Is Worth It?
Since first-year net value is close across all three, match the card to your travel:
- Fly Southwest once or twice a year: the Plus keeps the annual fee lowest while still earning the bonus and the free checked bag.
- Fly several times a year: the Premier’s higher earning and A-List progress can be worth the extra fee.
- Fly frequently and want perks: the Priority’s $75 travel credit and upgraded boardings can offset much of its higher fee if you actually use them.
None of this is a recommendation to apply for a specific card. Run the annual fee against the perks you will realistically use, and remember a travel card only pays off if you pay the balance in full. If you are weighing points cards against simpler options, see our comparison of travel rewards cards versus the alternatives, our roundup of no-annual-fee cards, and the Citi Double Cash for a flat cash-back option.
Before You Apply
A few rules can make or break the offer:
- The 24-month rule: you cannot have earned a welcome bonus on any Southwest consumer card in the past 24 months.
- Chase 5/24: Chase often declines applicants who have opened five or more cards from any issuer in the past 24 months.
- Hit the spend honestly: only charge what you would buy anyway. Overspending for a bonus erases the value.
- Mind the deadline: the elevated offer runs through July 1, 2026.
FAQ
How much are 90,000 Southwest points worth?
About $1,170 to $1,350, based on roughly 1.3 to 1.5 cents per point on Wanna Get Away fares. The exact value depends on the cash price of the flights you book.
Does the welcome bonus earn me a Companion Pass?
Not by itself. The bonus counts toward the 135,000 qualifying points, and with the annual 7,500-point card bonus and your spend, it gets you roughly three-quarters of the way. You would need more spending or flights to finish.
Can I get the bonus if I had a Southwest card before?
Only if you have not earned a welcome bonus on a Southwest consumer card in the past 24 months. Chase’s 5/24 rule may also apply.
Which Southwest card has the best value?
First-year net value is close across all three, so the best one depends on how often you fly Southwest and which perks you will use. The Plus minimizes the fee, while the Priority adds the most perks.
When does this offer end?
The elevated bonuses run through July 1, 2026. Confirm current terms on Chase’s official page before applying.
Bottom Line
All three Southwest cards offer strong bonuses through July 1, 2026, and first-year value is close, so pick based on perks and how often you fly. The bonus is a big head start toward a Companion Pass but not an instant one, and the 24-month and 5/24 rules can affect your eligibility. Approval and terms depend on your credit, so confirm the latest details with Chase before applying.
This article is for educational purposes only and is not financial advice. Card offers, bonuses, fees, and terms change frequently and depend on your creditworthiness. Confirm current details on the issuer’s official page before applying.
