Travel options are currently limited, but there’s no reason you can’t be earning points to pay for future trips! I get emails frequently that encourage me to refer friends to sign up for travel reward credit cards, but I don’t share those offers unless I actually think they’re offering an unusually good bonus.
One of those good opportunities is available right now with a 65,000 point sign-up bonus (through September 14) if you are approved for any of Chase Bank’s Southwest Visa cards.
What are 65,000 Rapid Rewards points worth? The Points Guy values Southwest Rapid Rewards points at 1.5 cents each. That would mean the current bonus offer is worth $975!
To qualify for the bonus, you have to spend $2,000 in the first three months you have the card, which is a low threshold considering the value of the bonus compared to typical offers.
I’ve posted previously about Why I Love My Southwest Visa, and I’ve also shared some tips on using credit card rewards to your advantage in my Basic Guide to Points & Miles. I won’t repeat all those details here other than to say if you’ve considered getting a Southwest Visa, this is a good time because for most of the year, the bonus offer has been just 40,000 points!
If you’re interesting in applying for a Southwest Visa or just want more information, please click here to use my referral link. You’ll be eligible for the 65,000 point sign-up bonus, and I’ll be eligible for 10,000 referral points if you sign up. It’s a win-win just like earning free travel from money you already spend!
As for when it’ll be time to get back to travel like “normal,” that’s a matter of personal preference and risk tolerance. I’m looking at a few more short-distance road trips this year, but I still feel optimistic that next year will bring a return back to more of my normal travel habits. Even if it takes a bit longer, banking points during 2020 will pay off with more free travel over the next few years.
Based on today’s prices, you can do a lot with 65,000 points. You could take THREE round trips from Louisville (SDF) to Las Vegas (LAS), another to Orlando (MCO), and still have almost 4,000 points left. From Nashville (BNA), you could take a round trip to San Diego (SAN), Las Vegas (LAS), San Antonio (SAT), and almost THREE round trips to New Orleans (MSY)!
One source of frustration I have with other airline travel cards during 2020 is that I’m paying annual fees without enjoying any of the benefits I planned to use – like free checked bags. With Southwest, there are no baggage fees, and you get anniversary points that largely offset those annoying annual fees.
If you’re not sure confident that you’ll fly in the near future, I’d suggest starting with the Plus card (3,000 anniversary points [$45 value], $69 annual fee) or Premier card (6,000 anniversary points [$90 value], $99 annual fee). You can bank and save the points for when you’re ready to use them.
In normal times, I highly suggest the Priority card for anyone who travels on Southwest twice a year. This card comes with a larger annual fee of $149, but it also includes 7,500 anniversary points, a $75 Southwest annual travel credit, 20% back on in-flight drinks and WiFi, and up to four upgraded boardings. The added benefits can easily be worth over $300 if you use them all, so the card easily compensates for the annual fee. However, this option is a little more risky in the era of COVID-19 as you don’t benefit from things like upgraded boardings if you’re not flying!