You’re probably familiar with Southwest, the popular airline famous for its free checked bags and laissez-faire approach to seating. With thousands of flights per day and a robust route network, Southwest is a strong competitor in the U.S. airspace — which makes the airline’s co-branded credit cards an appealing option for travelers.

But when is the best time to sign up for a Southwest credit card? Not all timelines are as smart as others, and figuring out when to apply for a Southwest credit card is a strategic choice all on its own. Here's what to think about as you coordinate the timing of applying for a new Southwest credit card.

1. When you have upcoming trips

One of the best reasons to get a travel rewards credit card is to help smooth the way for your future travel. Different cards offer different perks, and Southwest’s credit cards are no exception. With three different consumer options and even a business card, you’ll find a variety of Southwest Airlines credit card benefits available to you.

Things like complimentary EarlyBird Check-In offered by the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card can score you better seats, while the $75 annual travel credit available with the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card can minimize your flight costs.

If you have future travel plans and want to take advantage of these perks, you’ll want to be sure you apply for your card before you book.

Of course, we can’t talk about the timing of applying for these cards without talking about the sign-up bonuses. For the unfamiliar, sign-up bonuses offer a one-time lump sum reward of points after meeting a certain spend threshold.

If you’re looking to travel with the Rapid Rewards points you’ll earn as a cardholder, note that it takes time to both earn those points and have them deposited into your account. We recommend getting the card at least five months in advance of your trip to be sure that your points post.

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2. When you anticipate spending a lot

As we mentioned above, you’ll only receive your welcome offer after spending a certain amount of money on your card. Take the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card, for example. It comes with this welcome bonus: Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Not all your expenses can be put on a credit card, and meeting the threshold may be difficult for you if you don’t regularly spend a lot of money. This is one reason why you’ll want to time your credit card application appropriately. Do you have a home renovation coming up, or maybe a payment for property taxes?

These large, one-time purchases can be an easy way to meet your spend goal without incurring additional expenses.

3. When a limited-time offer is available

Every Southwest credit card comes with a sign-up bonus, but these bonuses actually fluctuate throughout the year. Card issuers can — and do — provide limited-time elevated offers a few times each year.

Increased rates can vary, but it may offer as many as 50,000 points more than typical sign-up offers — which is significant. If you’re not desperate to acquire a Southwest card, waiting for one of these elevated offers can generate far more points than a standard bonus.

4. When you can squeeze value out of a Companion Pass

Even if you’re a frequent flyer, the Southwest Companion Pass may not have come up on your radar — but it should. The Southwest Companion Pass is one of the most generous perks passengers can earn.

The Companion Pass allows you to bring along a designated person with you, for nearly free, on all your flights. This is true whether it’s a paid ticket or you’re using award points; they’ll be able to come along for just the taxes and fees.