Chase
Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card
Large welcome offer worth an estimated $750
- Annual fee
- $199
- Welcome offer
- ~$750
- Annual benefits value
- -$86.50
- Est. 1st-year value
- $663.50
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Our review
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card is the premium business card in Southwest's co-branded lineup, aimed at business owners who fly Southwest often and want the richest set of business-card perks. It carries the highest fee among the Southwest business cards and pairs it with a generous batch of anniversary points, a Companion Pass qualifying-point boost, and extras geared toward frequent travel.
It ranks as the top Southwest business card because it layers the most valuable annual benefits onto the same Southwest-centric value proposition. For a business owner who is loyal to Southwest and pursuing the Companion Pass, the higher anniversary points and additional travel perks can justify the premium over the Premier Business card.
The card earns elevated rewards on Southwest purchases along with bonus rewards on common business categories, and it delivers anniversary points and a Companion Pass qualifying-point boost each year. As with all Southwest cards, the airline reworked its boarding and seating during 2025 and 2026, so confirm the current benefit details shown above and in the card terms before applying.
We like this card for high-spending, Southwest-loyal business owners who will use its travel perks and want to accelerate the Companion Pass through business spending. Its annual benefits, including an application-fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck when offered, can recover a meaningful share of the fee.
This card is best suited for business owners who fly Southwest frequently and value the extra travel perks. Owners who want flexible rewards, or who fly a variety of airlines, are usually better served by a transferable-points business card.
Why we like it
- Business spending earns toward the Southwest Companion Pass, and the card adds a yearly boost of Companion Pass qualifying points.
- The most generous anniversary points among the Southwest business cards, credited without a spending requirement.
- Additional travel perks geared toward frequent flyers, shown above, which can smooth out business travel on Southwest.
- Rapid Rewards points are easy to redeem for Southwest flights with no blackout dates.
- No foreign transaction fees, which is valuable for business travel abroad.
Who it's best for
- High-spending business owners who fly Southwest frequently and want the richest business-card perks.
- Owners actively pursuing or maintaining the Southwest Companion Pass through business spending.
- Cardholders who will use the added travel perks enough to justify the higher fee.
Welcome bonus
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card offers a welcome bonus of Rapid Rewards points after you meet a minimum spending requirement in the first few months. The exact terms change over time, so confirm the current offer and the estimated value shown above before applying.
The welcome bonus counts toward the Companion Pass, so a well-timed application combined with business spending can build toward the pass quickly.
Using your rewards
Points are redeemed for Southwest flights with no blackout dates, and award prices generally track the cash fare.
Points earned on this card, including welcome and anniversary bonuses, count toward the Southwest Companion Pass.
Rapid Rewards points cannot be transferred to other loyalty programs, so their value is tied to Southwest. Points moved in from Chase Ultimate Rewards do not count toward the Companion Pass.
Airport lounge access
None. This card does not include airport lounge access.
Foreign transaction fees
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card charges no foreign transaction fees, so it is a practical card for international business purchases.
Major credits & annual benefits
The most generous batch of anniversary Rapid Rewards points among the Southwest business cards, credited without a spending requirement.
A yearly boost of Companion Pass qualifying points, shown above, that shortens the path to the pass.
An application-fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck and additional travel perks, shown above. Because Southwest changed its boarding and seating during 2025 and 2026, review the current terms to confirm how the seating and boarding perks apply today.
Employee cards are typically available, which can concentrate business spending toward rewards and the Companion Pass. Confirm current employee-card terms with the issuer.
Insurance & protections
As a Chase-issued Visa business card, it generally includes select travel and purchase protections, which may include cell phone protection when you pay your bill with the card.
Coverage requires paying with the card and meeting the benefit terms, and specific limits and exclusions apply. Review the current benefit guide before relying on any protection.
Fees & tradeoffs
This is the most expensive Southwest business card, so it only makes sense if you will use the added travel perks and the elite-status boost enough to justify the premium over the Premier Business card.
Rewards are useful only for Southwest, and there is no lounge access, so owners who want flexibility should look at a transferable-points business card.
Final verdict
For a high-spending, Southwest-loyal business owner, the Performance Business card can pay for itself through generous anniversary points, an application-fee credit, and a fast track to the Companion Pass, with the welcome bonus adding first-year value. The estimated value shown above helps illustrate that.
Owners who want flexible rewards or fly multiple airlines are usually better served by a transferable-points business card that can still move points to Southwest.
Card details change often. Verify current rates, fees, welcome offers, credits, and benefit terms with the issuer before applying.
Is this card worth it for you?
Check the benefits you’d realistically use and see your personalized total value below. This is a personal estimate — actual value depends on your spending. Verify terms with the issuer.
- Selected benefits
- $342.50
- Welcome offer
- $750
- Annual fee
- −$199
- Estimated first-year net
- +$893.50
Welcome offer
Welcome offer value
Earn 60,000 points after $3,000 in spend within 3 months
$750
Spend requirements apply. Verify current offer with the issuer. How we calculate this
Benefits & credits
Total benefits & credits value
Estimated annual value of all tracked perks
$112.50
| Benefit | Frequency | Est. annual value |
|---|---|---|
9,000 Anniversary Points 9,000 bonus Rapid Rewards points each cardmember anniversary. | Annual | $112.50 |
10,000 Companion Pass Qualifying Points 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points each calendar year, counting toward earning the Southwest Companion Pass. | Annual | $0 |
First Checked Bag Free First checked bag free for the cardholder and up to 8 others on the same reservation. Estimated value ~$35 per checked bag (Southwest's published first-bag fee). | per_visit | $35 |
Complimentary Preferred Seat at Booking Select a Preferred or Standard seat at booking at no additional charge, when available, for the cardholder and up to 8 others on the same reservation. Estimated value ~$30 per segment (typical Southwest Preferred seat fee, selectable at booking). | per_visit | $30 |
Extra Legroom Seat Upgrades Unlimited complimentary upgrades to an Extra Legroom seat within 48 hours of departure, when available, for the cardholder and up to 8 others on the same reservation. Estimated value ~$45 per segment (typical Southwest Extra Legroom seat fee). | per_visit | $45 |
$120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS Credit Up to $120 statement credit for a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee, once every four years. | One-time | $120 |
Earning rates
Who it's for
Consider it if
- Large welcome offer worth an estimated $750
Maybe skip it if
- Ongoing benefits may not cover the annual fee on their own
Fees & details
- Annual fee
- $199
- Foreign transaction fee
- None
- Card network
- Varies
- Recommended credit
- Good to Excellent (690+)
- Rewards currency
- Southwest Rapid Rewards
- Last updated
- 2026-07-25
Details are estimates and may be out of date. View issuer terms. Verify all rates, fees, and offers with the issuer before applying.
How it compares
| Annual fee | $199 | $895 | $895 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome offer | ~$750 | ~$3,000 | ~$3,000 |
| Est. 1st-year value | $663.50 | $5,160.40 | $4,684 |
| Annual benefits value | -$86.50 | $2,160.40 | $1,684 |
| Editor rating | 3.7 / 5 | 5.0 / 5 | 5.0 / 5 |
| Points earning structure |
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| Transfer partners | |||
| Lounge access | |||
| No foreign txn fee | |||
| Recommended credit | Good to Excellent (690+) | Good to Excellent (690+) | Good to Excellent (690+) |
