Southwest Performance Business Card Review: Semi-Premium Price, Semi-Premium Perks
The airline's most expensive credit card is also its most lucrative for cardholders.
Overview
The bottom line:
Somewhere between a regular travel product and a premium one, this card offers good benefits for Southwest fans.
Credit card details
Annual fee
$299
Regular APR
19.49%-27.99% Variable APR
Intro APR
N/A
Rewards rate
1x-4x
Earn 4X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2x points on gas station and restaurant purchases. Earn 2x points on hotel accommodations booked directly with hotel. Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.
Points
Foreign transaction fee
$0
Intro offer
80,000
Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Points
Pros & Cons
Pros
High rewards rate
No reward caps
Anniversary bonus points
Credits for upgraded boarding, in-flight Wi-Fi
Statement credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS
New cardholder bonus offer
Cons
Rewards have limited flexibility
Does not include lounge access
More details from Chase
- Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 9,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary.
- Earn 4X pts on Southwest® purchases.
- Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and restaurants
- Earn 2X points on hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel
- Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
- First checked bag free for Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation.
- Cardmembers and up to 8 passengers in the same reservation will board with Group 5 giving them earlier access to overhead bins.
- Member FDIC
Credit card comparison
Compare to other cards
4.8
NerdWallet rating
Annual fee
$299
Annual fee
$149
Annual fee
$795
Regular APR
19.49%-27.99% Variable APR
Regular APR
19.49%-27.99% Variable APR
Regular APR
Flex for Business Variable APR: 17.99%-25.99%
Intro APR
N/A
Intro APR
N/A
Intro APR
N/A
Need more options? Check our picks for best business credit cards of 2025
Chase refreshed the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card in July 2025. It got a sizable bump in annual fee, from $199 to $299. But maybe not enough of an upgrade in ongoing perks to offset that new higher cost. And unlike Southwest's consumer cards (whose fees also rose), there's no limited time welcome offer as part of the relaunch.
The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card is the most expensive Southwest card to carry. That's even more so after this update. It is the most lucrative in terms of rewards-earning ability, though. Plus, you get useful perks, including annual anniversary points, free checked bags and a statement credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck programs.
But the card doesn't match the luxury experience of other premium airline credit cards. There's no airport lounge access, for instance. And while its annual fee remains less than those, the gap has narrowed.
If you frequently fly Southwest, weigh this card against the issuer's cheaper Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card (annual fee $149) to find the best fit. After this latest round of changes, we rate rate both cards' value almost equally. (Jump to comparison.)
This card is best for:
✔️ Serious Southwest spenders.
✔️ Earning Southwest status.
Not a fit? Consider these business credit cards
Fly Southwest a lot, but it's not a habit? Consider the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card instead. The rewards rates aren't as good. But you'll still get a number of travel-related benefits, like a free checked bag and complementary Preferred seats.
Chase has had a summer of premium cards. In addition to the changes it made to its co-branded Southwest cards, the issuer introduced the Sapphire Reserve for Business℠. This card comes with a far heftier annual fee ($795). But if you're eyeing a massive sign-up bonus, it's hard to beat: Earn 200,000 bonus points after you spend $30,000 on purchases in your first 6 months from account opening.
At a glance: Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card
💳 Card type: Business travel card
💲 Annual fee: $299.
💰 Sign-up bonus: Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
🎉 Rewards:
- Earn 4X per $1 spent on Southwest® purchases.
- Earn 2X points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and restaurants.
- Earn 2X points on hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel.
- Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
- Earn 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Available through Dec. 31, 2025:
- Earn 4X points on Southwest cruises.
- Earn 3X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners.
- Earn 2X points on social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable, and phone services.
📈 APR: The ongoing APR is 19.49%-27.99% Variable APR.
📍 Minimum credit limit: $5,000.
💷 Foreign transaction fee: None.
🎆 Other benefits:
- 9,000 bonus points each account anniversary year.
- First checked bag free for cardmembers and up to eight additional passengers in the same reservation.
- Statement credit of up to $120 every four years towards Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS application fee.
Available through Dec. 31, 2025:
- Four upgraded boardings (when available).
- In-flight Wi-Fi credits.
Coming in 2026:
- Free unlimited upgrades to an Extra Legroom seat within 48 hours prior to departure (when available).
- Free Preferred or Standard seat for cardmembers and up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation (when available).
- Cardmembers and up to eight passengers in the same reservation will board with Group 5.
Benefits and perks
A strong sign-up bonus
Chase's introductory offer remains more than competitive: Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
That gets you nearly to the 135,000 points required for a coveted Southwest Companion Pass
Card holders also receive a bonus 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points every year.
Plenty of opportunities to earn points, plus a path to status
Aside from a rewards structure that's more generous than any other Southwest Airlines card, this card gives you 9,000 bonus points after every cardmember anniversary. You can also earn 2,500 tier qualifying points toward A-List and A-List Preferred status for every $5,000 spent in qualifying Southwest purchases. Either status can offer benefits such as more bonus points, priority check-in and free same-day standby, to name a few.
Ideal features for international travel, plus perks
The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card is well-equipped to travel anywhere as part of the Visa network, which is widely accepted by merchants abroad. Plus, since it doesn't charge foreign transaction fees, you’ll also save money on purchases abroad. And thanks to its Visa Signature benefits, the card is packed with many travel protections, including lost luggage reimbursement, baggage delay insurance and travel accident insurance, among others.
The card's Global Entry or TSA Precheck perk can also help you speed through airport security. Every four years, you’re reimbursed up to $120 when you use the card to pay the application fee for one of these programs. You can also choose a Preferred seat at booking, as well as unlimited upgrades to Extra Legroom seats — both for no additional charge.
Drawbacks and alternatives
More redemption flexibility
Like any co-branded card, the is Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card offers the best value for spending — and saving — on Southwest purchases. If you want more flexibility, consider the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
That card lets you redeem points for cash, gift cards, travel and qualifying products or services. Points are more valuable when redeemed through the Chase Ultimate Rewards®
The card earns 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, internet, cable, phone services and advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year. Lyft rides earn 5 points through 9/30/27. All other purchases earn 1 point per $1 spent. It has a $95 annual fee.
A lower annual fee
If the $299 annual fee doesn’t fly with you, the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card vs. the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card
Southwest and Chase offer two main small-business credit cards. The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card has the lower annual fee and is better suited for less frequent travelers. Frequent flyers can get more value in the form of higher rewards and reimbursements with the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card.
Here's a side-by-side comparison of the two cards:
| Annual fee | $149 | $299 |
| Rewards |
|
|
| Sign-up bonus | Earn 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. | Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. |
| Anniversary points | 6,000 bonus points. | 9,000 bonus points. |
| Foreign transaction fees | None. | None. |
| APR | The ongoing APR is 19.49%-27.99% Variable APR. | The ongoing APR is 19.49%-27.99% Variable APR. |
| Tier qualifying points | Up to 2,000 tier qualifying points for each $5,000 spent on qualifying purchases (no annual limit). | Up to 2,500 tier qualifying points for each $5,000 spent on qualifying purchases (no annual limit). |
| Credits/reimbursements | N/A | Statement credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck programs. |
How we evaluated the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card
NerdWallet's business credit card experts compared the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card to other business travel cards, evaluating how the card's rewards, perks, fees and features stack up to its peers. We also surveyed Chase, the card's issuer, gathering information about employee cards, spending controls, credit limits and how often cardholders are considered for a credit limit increase.