What the Southwest Airlines Chase card does
The Southwest Airlines Chase card is a co-branded rewards card that earns points on every purchase you make. Those points can be redeemed for Southwest flights, seat upgrades, and other travel-related expenses. Unlike some airline cards that lock you into one carrier, this card works for any purchase — groceries, gas, utilities — and the points accumulate toward flights whenever you choose to book them.
The card comes with a sign-up bonus: after you spend a set amount in the first few months, Chase deposits a lump sum of points into your account. The exact bonus changes periodically, so the current offer may differ from what it was last year. You also earn points on every dollar spent, with higher earning rates on Southwest purchases and certain categories like dining.
One feature specific to Southwest is the Companion Pass. If you earn enough points in a calendar year, Southwest grants you a pass that lets one person fly free with you on any Southwest flight for an entire year. The threshold to reach this benefit is set by Southwest, not Chase, and it resets each January.
Key Takeaways
- The card earns points on all purchases, with bonus earning rates on Southwest flights and select categories like dining and rideshare.
- A sign-up bonus of points is deposited after you meet a spending threshold in the first months — the exact amount varies by offer.
- Points redeem directly for Southwest flights at no additional cost, and you can book any available seat without blackout dates.
- Reaching the Companion Pass threshold in a calendar year gives you a free companion ticket on any Southwest flight for the next 12 months.
- The card charges an annual fee, which Chase deducts from your account each year on your anniversary date.
Annual fee and what you get for it
The Southwest Airlines Chase card charges an annual fee that appears on your statement each year. The amount is fixed and does not change based on how much you spend or how many points you earn. Chase charges this fee on your card anniversary — the date you opened the account — not on January 1st.
In return for this fee, you receive a anniversary bonus: a set number of points deposited into your account on your anniversary date each year. This bonus is automatic; you do not need to do anything to receive it. Many cardholders find that the anniversary bonus roughly offsets the annual fee if they redeem points for flights, though the actual value depends on how much you value each point.
If you decide the card is not worth keeping, you can close it at any time. There is no penalty for closing before your anniversary, but if you close after your anniversary date has passed, you will have already paid the annual fee for that year.
How to earn and redeem points
Every purchase on the card earns points. The earning rate depends on what you buy: you earn a higher rate on Southwest purchases and in bonus categories (which typically include dining, rideshare, and gas), and a lower base rate on everything else. Chase publishes the exact earning rates on the card's benefits page, and these rates do not change unless Chase announces an update.
Points sit in your Southwest account, which is separate from your Chase account. You log into Southwest.com to see your balance and book flights. When you find a flight you want, you select the option to pay with points instead of cash. Southwest deducts the points from your balance and issues your ticket when ready. There are no blackout dates — you can use points on any flight Southwest operates, though popular flights may have limited award availability.
You can also use points for seat upgrades, standby flights, and gift cards, though flights are the most common redemption. Points do not expire as long as your Southwest account remains active, which means you can hold them indefinitely if you do not close your account.
The sign-up bonus and how it works
When you open the card, Chase offers a sign-up bonus of points. The bonus is not automatic — you must spend a minimum amount within a set timeframe (usually the first three months) to receive it. Once you hit that spending threshold, the points are deposited into your Southwest account within a few days.
The bonus amount and spending requirement change periodically. Chase may offer 40,000 points for $1,000 in spending one month and 50,000 points for $2,000 in spending the next month. Check the current offer before you open the card, because the bonus you see at that moment is the one you will receive.
The sign-up bonus counts toward the Companion Pass threshold. If the bonus alone gets you to the required points for the year, you will earn the Companion Pass automatically once Southwest processes your account.
Understanding the Companion Pass
The Companion Pass is a Southwest benefit that lets one person fly free with you on any Southwest flight for 12 months. You do not choose who the companion is in advance — you designate them when you book each flight. The companion must be a real person (not a pet or cargo), and they must be listed on the reservation.
To earn the Companion Pass, you must accumulate a set number of points in a single calendar year (January through December). Southwest sets this threshold, and it is the same whether you earn points through the credit card, by flying, or by other means. Once you hit the threshold, Southwest sends you a notification and activates the pass. The pass is valid for the remainder of that calendar year plus all of the following calendar year — so if you earn it in March, you have the pass through December of the next year.
The pass covers the companion's base fare only. Taxes, fees, and any seat upgrades the companion purchases are their responsibility. If your companion wants to sit in an upgraded seat or add luggage fees, they pay those separately.
Annual fee versus the value you get
Whether the card makes financial sense depends on how often you fly Southwest and how much you value the anniversary bonus. The annual fee is a fixed cost that appears every year. The anniversary bonus is also fixed, but its value to you depends on whether you actually redeem points for flights.
If you fly Southwest at least once or twice per year and redeem your points, the card often pays for itself through the anniversary bonus and the points you earn on everyday spending. If you rarely fly or let points sit unused, the annual fee becomes a cost with no return. There is no minimum spending requirement to keep the card open, so the decision is purely about whether the benefits match your travel habits.
Some people keep the card specifically to chase the Companion Pass in a high-earning year, then close it the following year. Others keep it long-term because they fly Southwest regularly. Both approaches are valid — it depends on your situation.
How to open the card and what happens next
You open the Southwest Airlines Chase card through Chase.com or by calling Chase directly. You will need your Social Security number, date of birth, and current address. Chase runs a credit check (a hard inquiry) that may temporarily lower your credit score by a few points.
Chase typically approves or denies you within minutes. If approved, your card arrives in the mail within 7 to 10 business days. Once it arrives, you set up it by calling the number on the back or logging into your Chase account online. set up is when ready.
Your Southwest account is linked to the card automatically through your name and date of birth. Points from the card start posting to your Southwest account within a few days of each purchase. If you do not already have a Southwest account, one is created for you when you open the card.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use points on flights booked by someone else?
No. Points in your Southwest account can only be used to book flights where you are the passenger. You cannot transfer points to another person or use them to pay for someone else's ticket. However, you can use your Companion Pass to bring someone on a flight you are taking.
What happens to my points if I close the card?
Your points stay in your Southwest account. Closing the credit card does not delete your points or your Southwest account. You can continue to redeem points for flights as long as your Southwest account remains active. However, you will stop earning new points once the card is closed.
Do I have to use the card every month to keep it open?
No. There is no minimum spending requirement. You can keep the card open and inactive, though you will still pay the annual fee each year. If you do not plan to use the card, closing it avoids the fee.
How long does it take to earn enough points for a free flight?
It depends on how much you spend and which categories you use. The sign-up bonus alone may cover a short domestic flight. After that, earning a full flight typically takes several months of regular spending, though frequent flyers or high spenders reach this goal faster. Southwest publishes the points required for each flight on their website.
Can I have more than one Southwest Airlines Chase card?
Chase has rules about how many of the same card you can hold. You generally cannot open a new Southwest Airlines Chase card if you already have one, though you may be able to upgrade or downgrade to a different version. Contact Chase directly to ask about your specific situation.