The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card rewards Southwest loyalty with triple points on airline purchases and valuable anniversary bonuses. While the card’s benefits are modest compared to premium travel cards, it serves well as an entry-level airline business card.
This credit card review will cover everything you need to know about this card to determine if you should add this card or a different card to your wallet. Let’s dive right in.
Welcome Bonus
The Southwest Premier Business currently offers the following welcome bonus: bonus_miles_full
One great aspect of this welcome bonus is that it counts toward earning the highly sought-after Southwest Companion Pass. For business owners who already fly Southwest regularly, this bonus can provide significant savings on future travel.
You won’t be eligible for this bonus if you currently have this specific card or if you’ve received a welcome bonus from this card in the past 24 months. However, if you hold other Southwest credit cards, including personal cards or the Performance Business card, you can still qualify for this offer.
Earning Points
The Southwest Premier Business allows cardmembers to earn points at the following rates: Spending on a Southwest credit card helps you earn A-List elite status. For every $5,000 spent in purchases annually, you earn 1,500 TQPs toward A-List status.
This card’s earning structure works best for frequent Southwest flyers who want to maximize their airline purchases. While the 2x categories add some versatility, the base earning rate makes it less competitive for everyday spending compared to other business cards with transferable points.
Pair this with a card offering higher rewards on general purchases to earn more value. For travel spending specifically, cards that earn transferable points generally provide better earning rates and more flexibility for redemptions.
Annual Fee
The Southwest Premier Business has a $99 annual fee, which is offset by 6,000 anniversary points, two EarlyBird check-ins, 25% in-flight savings, and travel protections.
Additional employee cards can be added at no extra cost, and business owners can set spending limits on these cards. The employees’ spending will earn points for the primary cardholder.
Benefits of the Southwest Premier Business
The Southwest Premier Business offers the following benefits:
6,000 Anniversary Points: You will receive 6,000 bonus Rapid Rewards points each year on your cardmember anniversary. This is worth about $80 to $90 in flights on Southwest, which helps offset the annual fee.
2 EarlyBird Check-Ins: This card offers two EarlyBird check-ins each year, providing automatic check-in 36 hours before the flight’s scheduled departure time, which allows you to have a better chance of grabbing your preferred seat.
Companion Pass Boost: Get a 10,000 point head start each year toward the coveted Southwest Companion Pass, though keep in mind all qualifying activity counts, not just credit card spend
$500 Fee Credit: When you use your Rapid Rewards Credit Card to transfer points to another Rapid Rewards Member, fees associated with the transfer will be reimbursed–up to $500 in statement credits per anniversary year.
25% In-Flight Savings: When you use your card for inflight drinks or Wi-Fi, you’ll receive 25% back as a statement credit.
Baggage Delay Insurance: Missing luggage doesn’t have to derail your trip – this coverage steps in to reimburse you for essential purchases when your checked bags are delayed by airlines, trains, or other carriers. You can grab the necessities you need, from a fresh outfit to personal care items, while waiting for your bags to arrive.
Lost Luggage Reimbursement: Your checked luggage gets extra protection against loss, theft, or damage beyond the basic compensation offered by carriers when you pay for travel with this card.
Secondary Rental Car Insurance: This card provides backup protection for rental car damage or theft when you charge the full rental to your card.
Extended Warranty Protection: Your purchases gain an extra year of warranty protection when bought with this card, extending manufacturer warranties of three years or less without the inflated prices of store warranty plans.
120-Day Purchase Protection: Get 120 days of protection against damage, theft, and even loss of your purchases – one of the longest windows available. This premium coverage automatically applies when you pay with your card.
No Foreign Transaction Fees: You’ll save money on every purchase while traveling internationally since this card doesn’t add the typical 3% surcharge that many other cards impose.
Redeeming Southwest Rapid Rewards Points
Southwest Rapid Rewards offers a flexible and straightforward way to redeem points for flights. The program’s simplicity is one of its key strengths, and its value is fairly onsistent across different fare types and destinations. Our data study found that the value of Southwest Rapid Rewards points is 1.37 cents per point, making it easy for members to gauge the worth of their rewards. Redemptions are seamless on Southwest’s website, where you can book any available seat without blackout dates. One of the program’s standout features is its generous change and cancellation policy. You can modify or cancel award bookings without fees, with points returned to your account and taxes refunded to your original form of payment. While Southwest primarily serves domestic routes, it also flies to select international destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America. The airline’s extensive U.S. network makes it a popular choice for domestic travelers, despite not belonging to a major alliance. For maximum value, focus on redeeming points for Wanna Get Away fares, which often provide the best return. Avoid using points for gift cards, hotels, or rental cars, as these options typically offer significantly lower value than the 1.37 cents per point average for flights. The Southwest Companion Pass is a potential game-changer for frequent travelers. This benefit allows a designated companion to fly with you for just the cost of taxes and fees on both paid and award tickets, effectively doubling the value of your points when traveling together.
Pros and Cons
Here are the advantages and disadvantages of this card:
Pros:
Companion Pass Qualification: The welcome bonus counts toward Companion Pass qualification, making it easier to earn this valuable benefit that lets a companion fly free (plus taxes) for up to two years.
Anniversary Points Value: The 6,000 anniversary points you receive each year nearly offset the annual fee, making the card’s other benefits essentially free after accounting for the points’ value.
Cons:
Limited Premium Benefits: The card lacks premium travel perks like airport lounge access or statement credits for travel purchases that are common on other business travel cards.
Basic Southwest Perks: Only includes two EarlyBird Check-Ins annually, which is relatively modest compared to other airline cards that offer more extensive airline-specific benefits.
Alternatives to Southwest Premier Business
Now that you know about this credit card’s various benefits and pros and cons, it’s time to see its alternatives.
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card
The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card (review) stands out by offering free Wi-Fi on every Southwest flight and four Upgraded Boardings each year. Business travelers will appreciate additional perks including anniversary bonus points, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck reimbursement, and the ability to transfer points between accounts without fees. Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full Earn Rewards: 4x points on Southwest Airlines purchases; 3x points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners; 2x points on local transit, commuting (including rideshare), social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable, and phone services; and 1x points on all other purchases. Card Benefits: 9,000 bonus points each year after your Cardmember anniversary, Four upgraded boardings per year, up to 365 In-flight Wi-Fi credits per year, up to a $500 fee credit for points transfers to another Rapid Rewards Member each year, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS application fee credit of up to $120 every four years, no foreign transaction fees, lost luggage reimbursement, baggage delay insurance, extended warranty, and purchase protection.
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (review) offers great rewards for small business owners. With bonus points on travel, shipping, advertising, and communication services, plus valuable travel protections, it’s a solid choice for companies looking to maximize their everyday spending. Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full Earning Rewards: 3x points on travel, shipping, advertising made with social media sites and search engines, and internet, cable and phone services on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases in the following categories each account anniversary year; 1x points on all other eligible purchases. Card Benefits: Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel, no foreign transaction fees, primary rental car insurance, trip cancellation insurance, cell phone protection, purchase protection, and extended warranty. Transfer Partners: Aer Lingus, Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways, Emirates, Air France KLM Flying Blue, Hyatt, IHG, Iberia, JetBlue, Marriott, Singapore KrisFlyer, Southwest, United, and Virgin Atlantic.
Is the Southwest Premier Business Worth It?
The Southwest Premier Business is a solid choice if you’re a small business owner who flies Southwest regularly and wants to earn valuable Rapid Rewards points. You’ll get a generous welcome bonus that can help you earn the coveted Companion Pass, plus ongoing perks like two EarlyBird Check-ins annually and 6,000 anniversary points that help offset the $99 annual fee.
The card’s earning structure gives you triple points on Southwest purchases and double points on transit and partner hotels/car rentals, making it useful for both travel and everyday business expenses.
While the card offers good value, you might want to consider the more premium Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card for an extra $100 annually to get additional benefits like upgraded boardings and inflight WiFi credits.
For loyal Southwest flyers looking to maximize their rewards and work toward elite status or Companion Pass, this card can be a worthwhile addition to your wallet, though those seeking more flexible rewards may prefer a general travel card that earns transferable points.
