The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card 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.
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.
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- 4X Points on Southwest Airlines
- 2X Points in Ridesharing, Transit, Social Media and Search Engine Advertising, Internet, Cable, & Phone
- 9,000 Bonus Points for Each Cardmember Anniversary
- 4 Upgraded Boardings Per Year
- 365 InFlight WiFi Credits Each year
- $199 Annual Fee
Welcome Bonus of Southwest Performance Business
The Southwest Performance Business currently offers the following welcome bonus: bonus_miles_full
To qualify for the Southwest Performance Business Card’s welcome bonus, you can’t currently have this specific card or have received a welcome bonus from it in the past 24 months. Having other Southwest cards won’t affect your eligibility.
Keep in mind Chase’s 5/24 rule when applying – you won’t be approved if you’ve opened 5 or more personal credit cards from any bank in the past 24 months. While your business cards generally don’t count toward this limit, you must be under 5/24 to qualify for this Southwest card.
Earning Points with Southwest Performance Business
The Southwest Performance Business offers the highest rewards earning rate for Southwest credit cards, allowing you to earn: 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.
The 4x earning on Southwest purchases is a strong rate that rewards loyal Southwest flyers. Outside of Southwest purchases, this card falls short for everyday spending – you’ll want to look at cards earning transferable points that give you more flexibility with redemptions.
The business-focused 2x categories are useful but not competitive enough to make this a primary spending card. This card makes most sense if you’re chasing Southwest-specific perks rather than maximizing rewards on daily purchases.
Annual Fee for Southwest Performance Business
The Southwest Performance Business has a $199 annual fee, which represents the highest annual fee among Southwest’s credit card lineup. Fortunately, you’ll receive valuable perks that can easily offset this cost, including 9,000 anniversary points (worth ~$108), four upgraded boardings per year, 365 Wi-Fi credits annually worth $8 each, and a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit. Plus, the card offers a $500 fee credit for points transfers each anniversary year.
When it comes to authorized users, the card charges no additional fees to add them to your account, and you’ll earn points on their spending. You can also set spending limits on employee cards by contacting cardmember services.
Benefits of the Southwest Performance Business
The Southwest Performance Business offers the following benefits: 9,000 Anniversary Points: Every cardmember anniversary you will receive 9,000 points for holding on to your Southwest Performance Business credit card, helping you offset the annual fee. Four Upgraded Boardings: Get reimbursed for up to four A1-A15 boarding positions per anniversary year. You can purchase these upgraded boarding positions in advance or at the gate, with prices ranging from $30-149 per upgrade. Reimbursement typically posts within eight weeks of purchase. Wi-Fi Credits: Receive up to 365 Wi-Fi credits of $8 each annually. Credits automatically post when you charge the Wi-Fi fee to your card. Multiple credits can be used on the same day for different devices. 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 Transfer Credit: Southwest will cover up to $500 in fees associated with point transfers each year. Transferring Rapid Rewards points to another member typically costs $10 per 1,000 points. This allows you to transfer up to 50,000 points every year without paying additional fees (after reimbursement). Global Entry / TSA PreCheck / Nexus Credit: Receive an application fee credit of up to $120 every four years for either TSA PreCheck (expedited airport security), Global Entry (expedited airport security and customs), or NEXUS (expedited crossing between the US and Canada)for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®. These trusted traveler programs can save you time and hassle at the airport. 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. 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. Extended Warranty Protection: You’ll receive an additional year of coverage on eligible purchases that come with a U.S. manufacturer’s warranty of three years or less. This benefit can help protect your business investments beyond the standard warranty period.
Redeeming Southwest 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:
Free Wi-Fi: This card offers 365 Wi-Fi credits per year at $8 each, which you can use multiple times per day across different devices. This benefit alone could save frequent flyers thousands of dollars annually.
Strong Anniversary Benefits: You’ll receive 9,000 anniversary points (worth approximately $108) plus four upgraded boardings per year, which helps offset the annual fee significantly.
Elite Status Boost: Earn unlimited Tier Qualifying Points toward A-List status through card spending, with 1,500 TQPs earned for every $5,000 spent.
Companion Pass Earning Power: Welcome bonus and regular spending count toward the valuable Southwest Companion Pass qualification, making it easier to earn unlimited 2-for-1 travel for the remainder of the year plus the following year.
Cons:
Higher Annual Fee: The $199 annual fee is the highest among Southwest credit cards, making it less appealing for occasional Southwest flyers.
Category Bonuses: While the card offers multiple bonus categories, they’re not particularly strong outside of Southwest purchases, making other business cards potentially more rewarding for everyday spending.
No Premium Travel Benefits: Lacks premium travel perks like airport lounge access or hotel elite status that other business cards at this price point typically offer.
Alternatives to the Southwest Performance 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® Premier Business Credit Card
The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card (review) 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. Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full Earn Rewards: 3x points on Southwest Airlines purchases; 2x points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases, local transit and commuting (including rideshare services); 1x points on all other purchases. Card Benefits: 6,000 bonus points each year after your Cardmember anniversary, 2 EarlyBird Check-Ins each year, 25% back on inflight purchases, up to a $500 Fee credit for points transfers to another Rapid Rewards Member each year, 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 Performance Business Worth It?
The Southwest Performance Business is a standout option that’s worth serious consideration if you regularly fly Southwest for business travel. Between the impressive welcome bonus and the incredibly generous Wi-Fi benefit that covers up to 365 daily passes per year, you’ll quickly offset the $199 annual fee.
You will enjoy practical perks like four upgraded boardings annually and 9,000 anniversary bonus points, which help make your Southwest travel experience more comfortable.
The earning structure is solid for business expenses, with 4x points on Southwest purchases and useful multipliers on common business categories like internet services and advertising.
If you’re a frequent Southwest flyer who can make use of the Wi-Fi credits and upgraded boarding passes, this card is practically a must-have for your business.
Learn How to Apply: Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card.
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- 4X Points on Southwest Airlines
- 2X Points in Ridesharing, Transit, Social Media and Search Engine Advertising, Internet, Cable, & Phone
- 9,000 Bonus Points for Each Cardmember Anniversary
- 4 Upgraded Boardings Per Year
- 365 InFlight WiFi Credits Each year
- $199 Annual Fee
