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Essential Facts to Consider Before Obtaining a Southwest Credit Card

Exploring the pros and cons of Southwest's lineup of credit cards, providing an analysis of their benefits and potential disadvantages.

Essential Facts to Consider Before Acquiring a Southwest Credit Card
Essential Facts to Consider Before Acquiring a Southwest Credit Card

Essential Facts to Consider Before Obtaining a Southwest Credit Card

In the realm of frequent flyer programmes, Southwest Airlines stands out for its competitive value and generous perks, especially when it comes to their co-branded credit cards. Here's a breakdown of what you can expect from these cards, including the highly sought-after Companion Pass.

Firstly, the Companion Pass is a unique feature that allows cardholders to book flights with cash or points anywhere Southwest Airlines flies and add a designated companion for free, excluding taxes and fees. This pass is valid for the remainder of the calendar year you earn it, plus the entire following calendar year.

To qualify for a Companion Pass, you have two options: either fly 100 qualifying flight segments or earn 135,000 qualifying Rapid Rewards points in a calendar year. Sign-up bonuses from Southwest Airlines cards count towards this requirement, making it easier to earn the pass faster.

For instance, new cardmembers can earn 60,000 points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months, or 120,000 points after spending $10,000 in the same period. Additionally, you can earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Southwest Airlines cards also come with an annual bonus of 10,000 points that count towards the Companion Pass qualification.

Frequent Southwest Airlines flyers will find significant value in getting a Southwest Airlines credit card due to these perks. However, there are limits on how many sign-up bonuses you can earn on Southwest Airlines cards, and current cardmembers cannot earn a new sign-up bonus, nor can previous cardmembers who received a new cardmember bonus within the last 24 months.

Another benefit of Southwest Airlines cards is that you can have a personal Southwest Airlines card and a business Southwest Airlines card at the same time and earn sign-up bonuses on both. Southwest Airlines co-branded credit cards are offered by Chase Bank, and the airline also plans to launch a co-branded debit card issued by Sunrise Banks.

Lastly, Southwest Airlines cardholders receive one free checked bag for themselves and up to eight companions on the same reservation, making travel even more convenient. With these benefits and the potential to earn a Companion Pass, Southwest Airlines credit cards are worth considering for frequent flyers.

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