SW Pers 1/24

Understanding the SW Pers 1/24 rule:

You're not eligible for a new card bonus if you have received a bonus from any personal Southwest card within the last 24 months. Southwest Business cards have a similar rule (that is a separate rule from this one). This rule makes getting the 135,000 points needed for a companion pass nearly impossible without either having a business or considerable flying and/or spending.

Fortunately, it seems that since they have launched this rule, they are offering personal cards with a 1-year companion pass included in late February into March. They have not done this every year - they’ve recently done it every other year - 2019, 2021, 2023, and 2025.

Important to know:

Southwest has three personal cards backed by Chase, so any card you get is also subject to Chase’s credit card rules.

The three personal cards offered by Southwest are:

• Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus
• Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier
• Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority

The 1/24 rule applies to all three of the above personal cards and explicitly states that the product is not available to anyone who has received a new signup bonus from any of the personal cards in the last 24 months. This is from the Rapid Rewards Plus card:

As you can see, it also states that this does not apply to either of the business cards, so you can have a business and personal card at the same time and receive the signup bonus for each. The business cards do have a 24 month restriction on bonuses, but it is not a family rule like this one with the personal cards. The two business cards are included in the 24 from Bonus rule. That means you are eligible to receive the signup bonus on BOTH business cards without having to wait 24 months. You only have to wait 24 months to earn the signup bonus again on each card.

About Approval Rules

Collecting credit card points is largely driven by understanding and abiding by bank rules regarding approval (or disapproval) of cards.  So here’s what you need to know:

• Approval rules are rarely fully publicized by the banks
• We use our own research and data points from other users in creating the rules listing
• Our goal in sharing/using the rule listings is to provide you guidance to avoid getting declined
• There can sometimes be exceptions to the rules, but we try to take a more cautious approach in advising you.