Southwest credit cards and the Companion Pass

Compare the cards

These annual fees were checked against Chase’s pages on October 4, 2026. Check the offer and fees shown when you apply. The cards differ in travel benefits and earning categories; a higher fee doesn’t create a larger annual Companion Pass boost.

A bigger bonus can help this year, but you’ll pay the fee again if you keep the card. Think about the bags, seats and other benefits you’d actually use after earning the pass.

Card offers checked October 4, 2026

On Chase’s offer pages checked October 4, 2026, Plus showed 50,000 points after $1,000 in purchases; Premier showed 55,000 after $1,500; Priority showed 60,000 after $2,000; Premier Business showed 80,000 after $3,000; and Performance Business showed 80,000 after $5,000. Each spending window is three months from account opening. Offers can differ by application channel and change at any time.

View Southwest card referral offers

Save the offer before you apply. You’ll want the bonus amount, spending requirement, deadline, fee and eligibility wording if questions come up later. Use the terms on that application, even if they differ from the figures here.

One personal card and one business card

If you’re eligible for both, the bonuses can do most of the work. A 50,000-point personal bonus plus an 80,000-point business bonus gives you 130,000 points. Add the eligible 10,000-point boost and you’re at 140,000, before purchase rewards.

You’ll need a real business for the business-card application, and Chase still has to approve each card. Use the same person’s Rapid Rewards number on both. You can’t put one card in your name and one in your partner’s name and combine the points to qualify. Budget for both annual fees and spending requirements.

What if you only want one card?

A 50,000-point bonus and a 10,000-point boost still leave 75,000 points to earn before counting purchases. One card may be enough if you already have a substantial qualifying balance or expect a lot of eligible spending. Starting from zero makes it a longer route.

Two business cards can also work for someone eligible for both products. The 80,000 + 80,000 bonuses in our dated example clear the target before purchase points, provided they qualify and post in the same year.

You can also use rewards from a card you already have, paid flights or partners. Here’s how to earn without a new credit card.

Check whether you’re eligible

The Plus terms reviewed October 4, 2026 exclude current Southwest personal-card holders and anyone who received a Southwest personal-card welcome bonus within the prior 24 months. Business and employee cards are excluded from that personal-family restriction. Check the current application’s exact language. Personal-card restrictions can apply across the personal-card family; business offers have their own product-specific language. A past approval isn’t evidence you qualify again now.

Include interest and fees in your decision. A bonus may not cover the cost of extra spending. Use purchases you already need and can pay for, and remember that fees, cash advances and excluded cash-like transactions don’t satisfy normal purchase requirements.

For the practical application checklist, including sole proprietors and existing-card scenarios, read business-card eligibility. Families can also compare the two-person, three-card example.