How do you decide which of Southwest Airlines’ fantastic business credit cards to apply for — the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card or the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card?
Today, we’ll look at how these two cards stack up and help you answer an important question: Which Southwest business credit card is right for you?
Related: Comparing the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority, Premier and Plus credit cards
Performance Business vs. Premier Business overview
| Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card | Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $199 | $99 |
| Sign-up bonus | Earn 80,000 points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. | Earn 60,000 points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. |
| Earning rates | 4 points per dollar spent on Southwest purchases
3 points per dollar spent on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases 2 points per dollar spent on local transit and commuting (including ride-hailing services); on social media and search engine advertising; and on internet, cable and phone services 1 point per dollar spent everywhere else |
3 points per dollar spent on Southwest purchases
2 points per dollar spent on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases, and on local transit and commuting (including ride-hailing services) 1 point per dollar spent everywhere else |
| Anniversary bonus points | 9,000 | 6,000 |
| Elite qualifying benefits | Earn 1,500 tier qualifying points for every $5,000 in purchases | Earn 1,500 tier qualifying points for every $5,000 in purchases |
| Perks and statement credits | Reimbursement for up to four A1-A15 boarding passes per anniversary year when available
Up to 365 $8 inflight Wi-Fi credits per year (covers all-day passes) Up to $120 every four years to cover enrollment fees for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus |
Two EarlyBird Check-Ins each anniversary year
25% back on inflight purchases |
Performance Business vs. Premier Business welcome bonus
With the Southwest Performance Business, new cardholders earn 80,000 points after spending $5,000 in the first three months from account opening. Meanwhile, new cardholders earn 60,000 points with the Southwest Premier Business after spending $3,000 in the first three months from account opening. Those bonuses are worth $1,080 and $810, respectively, per TPG’s March 2025 valuations.
The current offers on both cards are far from the best offers we have seen, so if you’re after a larger stash of Rapid Reward points, it might be worth waiting for a better offer.
Winner: Southwest Performance Business. The larger welcome offer makes this card an easy pick over its sibling.
Performance Business vs. Premier Business benefits
When comparing an entry-level card to its premium competition, the key question to ask yourself is, “Do the increased benefits outweigh the additional cost of the annual fee?” In this case, the Southwest Performance Business costs $100 more each year than the Southwest Premier Business, so that’s the threshold for added benefits it needs to be worth it.
The Performance Business starts strong by offering 9,000 bonus points on your account anniversary versus 6,000 with the Premier Business. As of March 2025, TPG values Southwest points at 1.35 cents each, and since Southwest uses a revenue-based award pricing model, you should be able to score this exact redemption value without any real work. The Premier Business anniversary bonus is worth $81, while the Performance Business anniversary bonus is worth $122.
The next standout benefit of the Performance Business card is the Wi-Fi credit. Essentially, you can buy an $ 8 day pass every day of the year, or at least as many days as you actually fly Southwest. For business travelers who value their time, this is a great perk that can be incredibly valuable. If you fly Southwest just eight times per year, your Wi-Fi credits would come out to $64 and almost cover the difference in the annual fee for the Performance Business card.
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If you fly more than that, the choice becomes even clearer. The Performance Business card also comes with four space-available A1-A15 priority boarding passes. As a cardholder, you purchase the upgraded boardings using your Performance Business card and are reimbursed for up to four purchases. Southwest charges between $30 and $80 per round-trip flight for these, so even on the low end, this represents $120 a year in additional savings.
Winner: Southwest Performance Business. Higher annual fees often bring greater benefits, and the Performance Business doesn’t disappoint.
Related: Are airline credit cards worth it anymore?
Earning points with the Performance Business vs. Premier Business
The Southwest Performance Business also has noticeably better bonus categories, but those only make sense if you can take advantage of them.
The Performance Business offers 4 Rapid Rewards points per dollar spent on Southwest purchases instead of the 3 points per dollar spent you’ll earn with the Premier Business, plus 3 points per dollar spent on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases instead of the 2 points per dollar spent with the Premier Business. You’ll also enjoy 2 points per dollar spent on local transit and commuting (including ride-hailing services) with both cards, though the Performance Business also offers 2 points per dollar spent on social media and search engine advertising and on internet, cable and phone services.
Of course, there’s still a compelling case to opt for the Premier Business instead. If you fly Southwest only occasionally — and don’t spend tons on social media and search engine advertising or internet, cable and phone services — you might not be able to get the full value out of the Performance Business’ earning rates.
Winner: Southwest Performance Business. Its higher earning rates and extra bonus category make it a winner against the Premier Business.
Related: Easy ways to earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points
Redeeming points with the Performance Business vs. Premier Business
The primary way to redeem Rapid Rewards points is by using them for Southwest-operated flights. Southwest has a straightforward redemption process where the cost of a flight in points aligns with its cash price. This means that no exceptional deals are available, but it ensures that you consistently receive value for your rewards.
Redeeming Southwest points is a simple online process when booking flights on the Southwest website. Instead of paying with cash, you choose the “Points” option, and the website will display the corresponding award pricing for your selected itinerary. It is important to note that, like with any airline’s award tickets, additional taxes and fees are still applicable, starting at $5.60 per way. However, tickets booked with points are fully refundable, and there are no penalties for cancellations as long as you cancel at least 10 minutes before the scheduled departure time.
Redeeming the points you earn on your Southwest business cards can unlock new opportunities for your family and your business. Thanks to Southwest Rapid Rewards points, TPG Managing Editor Erica Silverstein was able to take her family on their first big theme park trip.
While Southwest also offers international flights, hotels and car rentals through its travel portal, the rates for these options are generally not as favorable as when using your points for Southwest-operated flights.
Winner: Tie. Since both cards have the same redemption options, there’s no clear winner here.
Related: Southwest Rapid Rewards is now offering Cash + Points redemption
Should I get the Performance Business or Premier Business?
With the Southwest Performance Business’ 9,000 anniversary bonus points, Wi-Fi credits and superior priority boarding passes, the card is worth the increased annual fee if you fly Southwest regularly. However, the Premier Business is better if you are a less regular flyer since it has a lower annual fee.
Related: How to choose an airline credit card
How to switch from the Performance Business to the Premier Business
While it is possible to switch between these two cards, it’s a better idea to open both so that you aren’t missing out on bonus points from their welcome offers. That being said, if you want to switch between these two cards, you’ll need to call Chase’s customer service and request the product change. You won’t be able to do it online or through the app.
Before switching, see if you can secure an offer to upgrade your Premier Business to a Performance Business.
Related: Complete guide to downgrading and product-changing to earn sign-up bonuses on Chase Sapphire cards
Bottom line
No matter which Southwest card you decide to apply for, you should be able to earn considerable value. You’ll get great Southwest perks and earning potential with either card. The right one for you will simply boil down to your business needs and priorities.
To learn more, read our full reviews of the Southwest Performance Business and Southwest Premier Business.
Apply here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card
Apply here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card
Related: Airline credit cards vs. travel credit cards: Which are best?