Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Review: For Frugal Loyalists
This is a cost-effective option for Southwest fans. But super-frequent flyers may do better with another card.
Overview
The bottom line:
For small-business owners loyal to Southwest Airlines, the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card is a cost-effective way to earn points and perks on their favorite airline.
Credit card details
Annual fee
$149
Regular APR
19.99%-28.49% Variable APR
Intro APR
N/A
Rewards rate
1x-3x
Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2X points at gas stations and restaurants on the first $8,000 in combined purchases per year. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.
Points
Foreign transaction fee
$0
Intro offer
60,000
Earn 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
Points
Pros & Cons
Pros
Anniversary perk
No reward caps
Cons
Has annual fee
Rewards have limited flexibility
Spending caps on bonus rewards
More details from Chase
- Earn 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
- 6,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary.
- Earn 3X points on Southwest Airlines® purchases.
- Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and restaurants on the first $8,000 in combined purchases per year
- First checked bag free for Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation.
- Select a Standard or Preferred seat within 48 hours prior to departure, when available.*
- Cardmembers and up to 8 passengers in the same reservation will board with Group 5 giving them earlier access to overhead bins.*
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Member FDIC
Chase refreshed its co-branded Southwest lineup in July 2025. The changes cement the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card a solid pick for small-business owners loyal to Southwest Airlines.
The card increased its annual fee, from $99 to $149. It juggled its rewards as well — gone (eventually) are bonus points for rideshares, as well as for Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners. In are boosts for gas stations and restaurants (on the first $8,000 in combined purchases per year). We think that's a net positive for most business owners.
The card still offers an automatic pile of anniversary points every year. Plus, you get Southwest-specific perks, like free Preferred seats and checked bags. It also has a good sign-up bonus that gives you a leg up toward a coveted Southwest Companion Pass
The big decision point for Southwest business travelers is whether to get this card or the pricier Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card (annual fee $299). After the most recent changes, we rate their value equally. Weigh the two to see if spending more will get you more. (Jump to comparison.)
This card is best for:
✔️ Southwest fans.
✔️ Less frequent fliers.
Not a fit? Consider these business credit cards
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card.
IN THiS REVIEW
At a glance: Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card
💳 Card type: Business travel card
💲 Annual fee: $149.
💰 Sign-up bonus: Earn 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
🎉 Rewards:
- Earn 3X points on Southwest Airlines® purchases.
- Earn 2X points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and restaurants on the first $8,000 in combined purchases per year.
- Earn 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Available through Dec. 31, 2025:
- Earn 3X points on Southwest cruises.
- Earn 2X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners.
- Earn 2X points per $1 spent on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
📈 APR: The ongoing APR is 19.99%-28.49% Variable APR.
📍 Minimum credit limit: $5,000.
💷 Foreign transaction fee: None.
🎆 Other perks:
- 6,000 bonus points after every cardmember anniversary year.
- 2,000 tier qualifying points for each $5,000 spent on qualifying purchases.
- 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points every year.
- First checked bag free for Cardmembers and up to eight additional passengers in the same reservation.
Available through Dec. 31, 2025:
- 2 EarlyBird Check-In® each year.
Coming in 2026:
- Select a Standard or Preferred seat within 48 hours prior to departure, when available.
- Cardmembers and up to eight passengers in the same reservation will board with Group 5.
Benefits and perks
Generous welcome offer
The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card starts with a generous sign-up bonus: Earn 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. That's a great headstart to earning a Southwest Airlines Companion Pass
The Companion Pass allows you to choose someone to fly with you for free (you pay taxes and fees) for the rest of the calendar year in which you've earned it, plus the entire following calendar year. Snagging a Companion Pass requires earning 135,000 Rapid Rewards
This card comes with 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points every year as well.
Valuable anniversary points
Even if you never set foot on a plane, you'll earn 6,000 bonus points after every cardmember anniversary, worth roughly $84, based on NerdWallet's valuations. On its own, that's more than halfway toward making up for the annual fee of $149. And that's on top of the card's rewards for ongoing spending.
A path toward A-List status
A-List status can offer benefits like bonus points, priority check-in and free same-day standby, among other benefits. With this card, you’ll have the opportunity to snag unlimited tier qualifying points annually toward this status.
You earn 2,000 tier-qualifying points for every $5,000 spent in qualifying Southwest purchases. To earn A-List status, you need 35,000 tier qualifying points or 20 one-way flights per calendar year.
Ideal features and protections for travelers
The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card makes for a good travel companion, thanks to its lack of foreign transaction fees and the fact that it runs on the widely accepted Visa payment network. Using the card to book travel also means you'll get travel benefits like lost luggage reimbursement and travel accident insurance, which can save you money.
Drawbacks and alternatives
Lacks redemption flexibility
The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card doesn’t offer cash redemptions. The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Points are more valuable when redeemed through the Chase Ultimate Rewards®
The card rewards common business expenses, offering 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel and select business expenses (shipping purchases; internet, cable, phone services; and advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines) each account anniversary year. All other purchases earn 1 point per $1 spent. It has a $95 annual fee.
Other Southwest cards may be a better fit
While the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card has a lot to offer for business owners who occasionally fly Southwest, the consumer version of this card can provide similar benefits at a lower annual fee of $99.
It's called the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card ,
And unlike with Southwest business cards, Chase amped up its welcome offer for new applicants: Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
There are no rules against using a personal credit card for business purposes. You'll just want to make sure you keep your spending separate.
How it compares to the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card
Southwest and Chase offer another small-business credit card: the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card.
The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card has the lower annual fee, but its rewards and perks aren't nearly as robust as those found on the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card.
Frequent Southwest flyers will likely come out ahead with the more expensive card, given the value it can return in the form of higher rewards, as well as reimbursements, tier-qualifying points and credits. For instance, that card includes a $120 credit every four years for Global Entry or TSA Precheck that the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card lacks.
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 120,000 points after you spend $10,000 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 19.99%-28.49% Variable APR. | The ongoing APR is 19.99%-28.49% 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® Premier 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.