Southwest Airlines and Chase Level Up Credit Card Perks: 100K Points Bonus and New Travel Benefits

Chase and Southwest Airlines just rolled out a major refresh to their Rapid Rewards credit card lineup, and cardmembers are getting substantially more value across the board. Through September 17th, new cardholders can pocket 100,000 bonus Rapid Rewards points—the strongest offer of 2025—after hitting $4,000 in spending within the first five months.

But the real story isn’t just the sign-up bonus. The cards now pack a suite of enhanced benefits that redefine what frequent flyers get from their plastic. All three consumer tiers (Priority, Premier, Plus) and two business variants now let cardmembers check their first bag free for themselves and up to eight companions on the same reservation—a potential $280 roundtrip savings for a group of four.

Breaking Down the New Earn Categories

The refresh introduces accelerated earning on everyday spending that actually matters. Cardmembers can now stack 2X points at gas stations and restaurants (Priority Card applies no annual cap), plus 2X points on grocery purchases up to certain thresholds depending on card tier. This restructuring acknowledges how people actually spend money, moving beyond niche categories into the essentials.

The Priority Card elevates the structure further, now earning 4X points on Southwest flights themselves—up from 3X—while business cardholders get 2X points on hotel bookings and local transit without caps. For the company traveler, this compounds significantly over a year.

Boarding and Seating: The Logistics Win

Here’s what transforms the travel experience: everyone now boards earlier (Group 5 instead of standard boarding), and seat selection gets standardized across consumer and business cards. The Priority and Performance Business Card step further with unlimited upgrades to Extra Legroom seats within 48 hours of departure, available for the cardholder and up to eight additional passengers at no extra charge.

These seating and boarding benefits roll out gradually—standard assigned seating launches July 29, 2025, with full operations beginning January 27, 2026.

The Card-by-Card Breakdown

Consumer tier: The Priority Card ($229/year) anchors the premium experience with 2,500 Tier Qualifying Points toward A-List status annually. The Premier ($149/year) offers 2X points on up to $8,000 combined annual spend at groceries and restaurants, while the Plus ($99/year) caps benefits at $5,000 combined spend but adds no foreign transaction fees.

Business tier: The Performance Business Card ($299/year) earns 2X points on gas, restaurants, and all hotel purchases with no caps. The Premier Business ($149/year) matches consumer positioning, while the Plus Business ($99/year) keeps costs low for smaller operations.

Every card tier maintains legacy benefits: anniversary bonus points, 10,000 annual Companion Pass qualifying points, 25% off inflight purchases, and access to exclusive Rapid Rewards Access Events.

What This Means for Existing Cardholders

Current cardmembers see annual fees adjusted on their 2026 anniversary date, so there’s no surprise retroactive hit. The existing earn categories—including 2X points on internet, cable, phone services, and rewards partner properties—remain available through year-end before consolidating into the new structure.

The visa benefits landscape just shifted. By bundling first-bag checking, group boarding advantages, and expanded everyday earn categories, Chase and Southwest are making the case that co-branded credit cards aren’t just loyalty tokens—they’re functional travel infrastructure.

For the frequent flyer, the math favors the Priority or Performance Business cards if annual travel volume justifies the fee. For casual users, the Plus cards deliver respectable perks without premium pricing. The 100K points bonus through mid-September creates a natural window to evaluate which tier aligns with your actual spending and flight frequency.