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The Southwest Plus card has an elevated offer of 80,000 bonus points after $1,000 in purchases within the first 3 months, and the points may count toward the 2026 Companion Pass. As of October 22, 2026, the offer is reported to start on October 21, 2026. The terms below are worth checking line by line, because the email condition and an unclear deadline both affect whether this offer is available to you.
Southwest Plus welcome offer terms
The offer is 80,000 bonus points after $1,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. The annual fee is $99. The spending requirement is modest compared with many large offers, which can make the offer easier to reach if your regular purchases already total $1,000 in that time.
As with any welcome offer, avoid spending only to reach the number. Count the purchases you would make anyway, note the date the account opens and track the window so you do not miss it.
The email opt-in condition for the Southwest Plus offer
The elevated offer is available only to Rapid Rewards members who have opted in to receive Southwest emails. That condition may remove the offer for people who have turned off marketing messages. Check your Rapid Rewards communication settings before you apply, and read the application page to confirm that the elevated offer is the one displayed to you.
How the Southwest Plus bonus can affect Companion Pass timing
Bonus points can count toward 2026 Companion Pass qualification even if the spending threshold is reached in early 2027. Southwest changes how the pass is earned beginning January 1, 2027. For travelers who want the Companion Pass, that timing can make this offer more interesting than its points alone.
The pass should not be treated as automatic. Whether the points qualify depends on when they post and on the program rules, so verify the current qualification terms before you plan around the pass. A card offer is not a substitute for checking how many points you need and when they must arrive.
The unclear Southwest Plus application deadline
The reported details give conflicting application deadlines, and the correct date is not established. For that reason this guide does not state one. Look for the deadline on the application page itself, and if you cannot find a clear date, do not assume you have unlimited time to apply.
Think about the card as a whole, not just the bonus. The annual fee is $99 every year, while the welcome points arrive once. If you would not use the card after the offer is earned, compare the fee with the value you realistically expect. A bonus can be a good reason to open a card, but it is a poor reason to keep paying a fee for benefits you do not use.
Keep a short checklist: confirm you are opted in to emails, confirm the offer shown on the application page, note the date the account opens, and set a reminder for the 3-month spending window. If any one of those items is uncertain, pause and resolve it before applying, because a missed condition cannot be fixed afterward.
Who should consider the Southwest Plus offer
This offer is most worth evaluating if you fly Southwest, are opted in to emails, can comfortably spend $1,000 in 3 months and are interested in the Companion Pass. It is less attractive if you rarely fly the airline or if the $99 annual fee does not fit your budget. Compare those costs with the benefit you expect before you apply.