The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card might be on your radar if you’re a frequent Southwest flier. This card’s airline-focused perks and valuable welcome bonus make it suitable for select travelers. Plus, it could make it much easier to earn the coveted Southwest Companion Pass.
Check out this card’s features, benefits, and drawbacks to make an informed decision about whether it’s right for your wallet.
Annual fee
$299
Welcome offer
Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months
Card type(s)
Travel, Airline, Business
Ongoing Purchases APR
19.99% – 28.49% Variable
Recommended credit score
Excellent/Good
Rewards rate
4x on Southwest purchases2x at gas stations and restaurants2x on hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel2x on local transit and commuting, including rideshare3x on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners (expires Dec. 31, 2025)2x on social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable, and phone services (expires Dec. 31, 2025)1x on all other purchases
Benefits
9,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversaryFirst checked bag free for you and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation, plus enjoy unlimited upgrades to an Extra Legroom seat when available10,000 Companion Pass® qualifying points boost each year
Spending enough to earn the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Card’s welcome bonus is one of the best ways to rack up points quickly. You can earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 during your first three months as a cardmember.
The 80,000-point bonus is estimated to be worth at least $800, though its value will vary depending on your redemption. While this card has a higher annual fee than its sister card, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Card, spending enough to earn the welcome bonus will easily offset the cost in the first year.
You can also get impressive rewards when you spend with Southwest, earning 4x points. Select general business purchases also carry a higher earning rate. You’ll get 2x points at gas stations and restaurants; on hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel; and on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
There’s not much flexibility when it comes to redemptions, which is fairly common among airline credit cards. You can redeem your points for seats for yourself or a companion on Southwest-operated flights, but that’s it. Non-branded, general travel cards offer a lot more flexibility with redemptions.
You’ll get a special 9,000-point bonus for every year of card membership. This bonus will appear in your account shortly after your cardholder anniversary.
If you use your card to purchase a TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS membership, you’ll get a credit of up to $120 every four years to offset that cost.
If you’re a Southwest loyalist working toward A-List or A-List Preferred elite status, this card can help you get there faster. For basic A-List status, you’ll need to earn 35,000 tier qualifying points (TQPs) or take 20 qualifying flights in a given year. For A-List Preferred, it’s 70,000 TQPs or 40 qualifying flights.
With the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Card, you’ll earn 2,500 TQPs for each $5,000 you spend.
Some cards apply a percentage-based charge, often up to 3%, each time you make a purchase abroad, but not the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card. No matter where you travel, you don’t need to worry about foreign transaction fees when you buy things internationally.
Purchase and warranty protection
This card gives you an additional year of warranty coverage on eligible purchases. You also get 120 days of purchase protection for qualifying items, with up to $10,000 in coverage per claim or $50,000 total for your account.
If you typically fly Southwest for multiple business trips yearly, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Card could be for you. Its Southwest-focused rewards and perks can help you save on future flights, though you’ll need to use your card often enough to offset the annual fee. Earning the welcome bonus can help you recoup this cost in the first year.
Valuable welcome bonus
Can earn points toward A-List status and Companion Pass
Up to $120 TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS membership fee credit
Has a relatively high annual fee
Doesn’t offer a 0% introductory APR
Benefits are mostly Southwest-focused
Limited redemption options
There are very few limitations on where you can use your Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card, as it’s part of the Visa network. Your card will be accepted in over 200 countries and territories.
By logging into your your Chase account
Via phone: 1-800-436-7958
Through a local Chase branch
Via the Chase mobile app
By mail:
Regular:Cardmember ServicesP.O. Box 6294Carol Stream, IL 60197-6294
Overnight:Chase Card Services201 N. Walnut StreetDe1-0153Wilmington, DE 19801
Cardholders can reach Chase’s customer service team over the phone at 1-800-432-3117 or through their social media. You can also log into the Chase portal if you have questions or need help with your card.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card is an excellent option if you fly on Southwest-operated flights often. But if you don’t, one of these alternatives could be a better fit.
Annual fee
$375
Welcome offer
Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $15,000 on purchases within the first 3 months
Card type(s)
Business, Rewards
Ongoing Purchases APR
18.49% – 29.24% Variable
Recommended credit score
Excellent/Good
Rewards rate
Earn 4x Membership Rewards points on the top two eligible categories (out of 6 total categories) where your business spends the most each month. Although your top 2 categories may change each month, you will earn 4x points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these categories each calendar year, then 1x after that (only the top 2 categories each billing cycle will count towards the $150,000 cap; terms apply).3x points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com1x points on all other purchases
Benefits
Earn up to $20 in monthly statement credits (up to $240 annually) for eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and office supply storesThe Business Gold Card comes in three metal designs — Gold, Rose Gold, and White GoldYour spending limit is flexible and adjusts based on factors such as your purchase, payment, and credit history
Why we like it: The American Express Business Gold Card has a high annual fee, but hear us out: It also gives you up to $240 in annual statement credits on qualifying U.S. purchases at office supply stores, FedEx, and GrubHub, plus you’ll get monthly Walmart+ membership credits valued at up to $155 annually (select benefits require enrollment.) If you can take advantage of these benefits, that’s a total of $395 in credits, completely offsetting the card’s annual cost.
Read our full Amex Business Gold review
Annual fee
$0
Welcome offer
15,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $3,000 in first 3 months
Introductory Purchases APR
0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening
Ongoing Purchases APR
17.49% – 27.49% Variable
Recommended credit score
Excellent, Good
Rewards rate
2x points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners (applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1x after that). Terms and limitations apply.
Benefits
$0 annual fee0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months (then variable rate 17.49% – 27.49% based on your creditworthiness and other factors at account opening; APR will not exceed 29.99%)
Why we like it: If you’d prefer a card without an annual fee that offers flexible rewards, the Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express is worth a look. This card offers a valuable welcome bonus, and you’ll also get a 0% introductory APR offer on purchases.
The Blue Business Plus doesn’t offer the rewards-earning potential of some competitors, but it’s a great option if you’re planning a big business purchase and want some extra time to pay it off.
Read our full Amex Blue Business Plus review
Annual fee
$95
Welcome offer
Earn 90,000 points after spending $8,000 in first 3 months (that’s $900 cash back or $1,125 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠)
Card type(s)
Business, Travel
Ongoing Purchases APR
20.24% – 26.24% Variable
Recommended credit score
Good, Excellent
Rewards rate
3x on the first $150,000 spent each account anniversary year in the following categories: shipping purchases; advertising purchases via social media sites and search engines; internet, cable, and phone services; and travel1x on all other purchases with no earning cap
Benefits
Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and morePoints are worth up to 1.75x with the points boostCovers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account
Why we like it: Like the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Card, the Ink Business Preferred Card comes with an impressive welcome bonus. But the Ink Business Preferred also offers much more flexible redemption options, making it a better choice for offsetting general travel costs or business purchases.
Read our full Ink Business Preferred review
This article was edited by Ben Walker (CEPF, CFEI®)
Editorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. All opinions belong solely to Yahoo Finance and are not those of any other entity. The details on financial products, including card rates and fees, are accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information. This site doesn’t include all currently available offers. Credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
