100K Southwest Card Bonus Ends September 17 — Here’s How to Choose the Best One

by joeheg

Southwest Airlines and Chase are offering one of their most generous Southwest Airlines credit card bonuses in years. For a limited time, all three personal Southwest Rapid Rewards® credit cards come with a 100,000-point sign-up bonus after spending $4,000 in the first 5 months from account opening. Based on typical redemption rates, that’s worth roughly $1,300–$1,400 toward Southwest flights—plus you’ll still enjoy each card’s ongoing travel perks.

This promotion comes as Southwest makes broader updates to its offerings, including changes to fare types and added benefits for cardholders. Whether you’re a frequent Southwest flyer or just looking for a big stash of points to use for future trips, now’s a good time to consider which card fits your needs.

If you decide to sign up for any of the Southwest credit cards, we’d appreciate it if you used our link. We receive Southwest points for each referral, which helps us keep Your Mileage May Vary HQ going strong.

The Cards

These are the three Southwest personal credit cards currently offering the 100,000-point bonus (read our full reviews here):

You can see the current list of card benefits on Southwest’s site: Southwest Cardmember Benefits.

What’s the sign-up bonus worth?

Southwest points are generally worth around 1.3–1.4 cents each, though the exact value will depend on the fare type you choose under Southwest’s refreshed fare structure. At this valuation, 100,000 points could cover roughly $1,300–$1,400 in flights. With no blackout dates and free changes/cancellations on award tickets, you can redeem points for the flights that work best for your schedule.

Which card should you sign up for?

Since all three cards offer the same 100,000-point bonus, the choice really comes down to how often you fly Southwest and which ongoing benefits you’ll actually use.

  • Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card ($99 annual fee) — Best for occasional Southwest flyers who want useful perks without a higher fee. Earns 2X points on Southwest purchases, includes the new first checked bag free benefit, 3,000 anniversary points, a 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying point boost, 25% back on inflight purchases, and no foreign transaction fees.
  • Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card ($149 annual fee) — A solid middle ground with better earning and improved seating. Earns 3X points on Southwest purchases, includes 6,000 anniversary points, and offers standard or preferred seat selection within 48 hours of departure (when available), plus all benefits of the Plus Card.
  • Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card ($229 annual fee) — Best for frequent Southwest travelers who want the highest earning and earliest seat access. Earns 4X points on Southwest purchases, includes 7,500 anniversary points, preferred seat selection at booking (when available), and extra-legroom seat selection within 48 hours (when available), plus all benefits of the Premier Card.

Do Southwest points expire?

Southwest Rapid Rewards points no longer expire.

Are there any other restrictions?

This product is available to you if you do not have a current Southwest Rapid Rewards® Credit Card and have not received a new Cardmember bonus within the last 24 months. This does not apply to Business Card and Employee Credit Card products.

All Southwest personal cards are also subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule.

Is it worth it to get this offer?

With Southwest’s recent changes to fares and benefits, these credit cards now play a bigger role in shaping your travel experience. While older versions focused heavily on auxiliary benefits, like piling up bonus points for the Companion Pass, the current lineup adds more tangible perks—like a free checked bag for you and up to eight companions on the same reservation and seat assignment options that can place you in better spots on the plane.

The Plus Card ($99) delivers the base benefits, improving the experience for infrequent travelers who want to keep costs down but still get meaningful perks. If you fly Southwest more often, the Priority Card ($229) stands out with preferred seat selection at booking, access to extra-legroom seating within 48 hours (when available), and the highest earning rate on Southwest purchases. The Premier Card ($149) sits in the middle, offering stronger earning and upgraded seating at the 48-hour mark without the Priority’s higher annual fee.

Final Thoughts

This 100,000-point bonus is the highest I’ve seen for Southwest’s personal credit cards, and it’s not sticking around for long. The offer on the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus, Premier, and Priority Consumer Credit Cards from Chase ends at 9 a.m. ET on Wednesday, September 17, 2025.

Now that we know more about the “new” Southwest—with updated fare classes, free checked bag benefits for cardholders, and seat assignment options that can get you into better spots on the plane—it’s up to you to decide which of these cards, if any, is the right fit. Whether you choose the entry-level Plus, the middle-ground Premier, or the perk-heavy Priority, this limited-time offer gives you a huge stash of Rapid Rewards points to put toward your next trips.

If you’re ready to apply, we’d appreciate it if you used our referral link—your support helps keep Your Mileage May Vary running strong!

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