Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card
- Annual Fee
- $299
- points · Welcome Bonus
- 80,000
- Highest rate (conditional)
- Up to 4X (Southwest)
Terms checked against the issuer on October 10, 2026
At a Glance
- Annual Fee
- $299
- Authorized User Fee
- $0
- Foreign Transaction Fee
- $0
- Network
- Visa Signature
- Rewards Currency
- Southwest Rapid Rewards
- Point Valuation
- 1.2–1.4 cpp (mid: 1.25)
- Credit Required
- Good to Excellent
Welcome Offer
80,000
points
Spend $5,000 in the first 3 months
Earning Rates
- 4X
Southwest
4x points on Southwest purchases including flights, inflight, gift cards, and Southwest Vacations packages
- 2X
Dining
2x points on dining purchases
- 2X
Gas Stations
2x points at gas stations
- 2X
Hotels
2x points on hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel
- 2X
Transit
2x points on local transit and commuting
- 2X
Ridesharing
Earn 2 points per $1 spent on local transit and commuting, including rideshare services
- 1X
All Other
1X points on all purchases
Benefits & Perks
Travel Benefits
7 perksFlights & Airlines
General Travel
Annual Credits & Statement Credits
1 creditsUp to
$7.50
in recurring credits (annual)
$120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS
Receive one statement credit of up to $120 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS when
$120
Every 4 years
Insurance & Protections
4 protectionsUp to $3,000 lost luggage coverage per trip
$3,000
secondary
Get reimbursed up to $3,000 per person per trip for lost, stolen, or damaged luggage when traveling with your card.
Purchase protection coverage up to $10,000
primary
Coverage for eligible purchases against theft and damage for 120 days from date of purchase
Extended warranty protection for purchases
primary
Extends manufacturer's warranty by 1 year on eligible warranties of 3 years or less
Baggage delay coverage up to $300 ($100/day)
Reimbursement up to $100/day for 3 days for essential purchases when baggage is delayed 6+ hours by the airline
Dining Out
2x at restaurants
Rapid Rewards
≈$2.50 in value on a $100 dinner, at our valuation of 1.25¢ per point
Annual fee: $299
Explore 5,512 New York restaurants with this cardStack a dining program
Rakuten Dining
5% back at 20,618 participating restaurants, on top of this card's 2x, once you join and link this card.
+$5
cash back, or ≈$5.50 as points
More on a $100 dinner
Program & Transfers
Rapid Rewards
The loyalty program that actually rewards loyalty
Southwest Rapid Rewards is the loyalty program of Southwest Airlines, offering points that never expire and no blackout dates on award travel. In January 2026, Southwest introduced major changes including assigned seating, new fare classes (Basic, Choice, Choice Preferred, Choice Extra), and checked bag fees for most fares. Southwest operates without alliance partnerships, focusing on extensive domestic coverage and select international destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America. Rapid Rewards uses a revenue-based earning model where points are earned based on ticket price and fare class. Basic fares earn 2x points while Choice Extra (formerly Business Select) earns 14x. Points can be redeemed for any available seat with no blackout dates, and award pricing uses dynamic pricing tied to cash fares. The program's signature benefit is the Companion Pass, which allows a designated companion to fly free on all flights for up to two years. Southwest partners with Chase for co-branded credit cards that provide the first checked bag free, accelerated earning, and points that count toward Companion Pass qualification. Card welcome bonuses and spending can help members quickly reach the 135,000 qualifying points needed.
Program Ratings
Recent Changes & News
Effective January 27, 2026, Southwest replaced open seating with assigned seating and renamed fare classes to Basic, Choice, Choice Preferred, and Choice Extra. Extra Legroom seats are now available on Choice Extra fares.
Starting May 28, 2025, checked bags are no longer free on most Southwest fares. Only Choice Extra fares, A-List Preferred members, and Southwest credit card holders receive free checked bags.
Southwest expanded internationally with codeshare agreements with Icelandair and China Airlines, allowing members to earn Rapid Rewards points on connecting itineraries.
Sweet Spots — Best Redemptions
| Route / Property | Points | Cabin/Type | Value / Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| US to Hawaii | 8,000–17,000 | economy | Pacific Islands |
| US Domestic Short-Haul | 3,000–5,000 | economy | United States |
| US Domestic Cross-Country | 8,000–15,000 | economy | United States |
| US to Caribbean/Mexico | 8,000–15,000 | economy | Caribbean |
| US to Central America | 12,000 | economy | Central America |
| Companion Pass Value Play | 0 | economy | Global |
Reviews & Analysis
Third-Party Rankings & Ratings
| Publication | Rating | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| PointsNav | #42 of 119 |
Category Rankings (1 category)
Pros and Cons
Pros
- +4x points on Southwest purchases maximizes rewards for loyal flyers
- +10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost annually
- +9,000 anniversary bonus points ($135+ value)
- +2x points on gas, dining, hotels booked direct, and local transit/rideshare
- +Complimentary Preferred seat selection at booking and unlimited Extra Legroom seat upgrades within 48 hours of departure, when available
- +Up to $120 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS fee credit every four years
- +Free first checked bag for cardholder and up to 8 passengers
Cons
- -Annual fee is highest among Southwest business cards
- -Points locked to Southwest Rapid Rewards program
- -No airport lounge access
- -Southwest's domestic-focused route network limits international utility
- -Only 1x on most business purchases
Who It's Best For
Best For
- Business owners who fly Southwest frequently and want maximum earning
- Companies with high gas, dining, hotel, and local transit/rideshare expenses
- Businesses working toward Companion Pass through card spend
- Frequent Southwest flyers who want Preferred seat selection at booking and unlimited Extra Legroom upgrades within 48 hours of departure
Not Ideal For
- Businesses that rarely fly Southwest
- Small businesses seeking low annual fees
- Companies wanting flexible points with transfer partners
- Those not spending enough to justify the annual fee
The Math: Is $299 Worth It?
First-year value includes $1,000 welcome bonus
Credit Utilization (60%)
Excludes earning value, lounge access, insurance, and elite status
Total Value Captured
$4.50
Annual Fee
-$299
Net Annual Value
-$294.50
Details & Terms
Application Rules
| Rule | Details |
|---|---|
| No CR | This business card will not show on your personal credit report, so it won't count against your 5/24 status |
| One new-cardmember bonus per 24 months | Chase says the new Cardmember bonus is not available to current Cardmembers of this business credit card, or to previous Cardmembers of this business credit card who received a new Cardmember bonus for it within the last 24 months. |
| 5/24 | Chase applications will be declined if 5 new cards have been added to your personal credit report in the past 24 months. |
| Chase 2/30 | You'll be declined if you apply for a third Chase card of any kind within 30 days |
| Chase 4/6 | Chase will decline your application you apply for a 5th Chase card (personal or BUSINESS) in 6 months |
Payment Terms
| Purchase APR | 19.49%–27.99% (Variable) |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | $0 |
| Authorized User Fee | $0 |
Card Family
Southwest Rapid Rewards Business family
| Card | Tier | Annual Fee | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business | mid | $149 |
Product changes available between family members without a new credit inquiry.
FAQs
Can I use my Southwest points for someone else?
You can. It’s actually better to book a flight for someone else with your points than to transfer them. Southwest charges a fee to transfer points, and it can add up quickly. Booking an award ticket for another passenger costs nothing extra and avoids those fees.
How many rewards points do you need for a free flight?
You can sometimes find Southwest award flights for as little as 3,000–4,000 points, especially during one of their frequent sales. These are usually short-haul routes in off-peak seasons, like St. Louis to Chicago, but when you find them, they deliver 2-3x the typical cents-per-point value.
Can you add Southwest Rapid Rewards after booking?
Yes. You can easily add your Rapid Rewards number after booking. Just go to “Manage Reservations” in the Southwest app or website and add your number to the traveler details. You can also call customer service and have them add it for you.
Do Rapid Rewards members get free checked bags?
Choice Extra fares and A-List Preferred members get two free checked bags. A-List members and Southwest credit card holders get their first checked bag free. All other travelers must pay for checked bags.
Does Southwest have first class?
Not in the traditional sense. With the elimination of open seating, Southwest reconfigured their planes to offer Extra Legroom Seats, which have more space in the front of the plane. But they are more like premium economy than business or first class.
Can I transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Southwest?
Yes. Chase Ultimate Rewards transfers to Southwest Rapid Rewards at 1:1, and Chase says most transfers process by the next business day (some take up to 7 business days). Chase's Southwest card terms count points from revenue flights booked through Southwest, points earned on Rapid Rewards credit cards, and base points from Rapid Rewards partners toward the Companion Pass. They do not say whether Ultimate Rewards transfers count.
Do Southwest points expire?
No. Southwest Rapid Rewards points never expire, regardless of account activity. As long as your Rapid Rewards account remains open, your points balance is safe indefinitely.
Media & Resources
Card Design
Evidence Sources
| Source | Verified | Citation |
|---|---|---|
| Chase | — | Chase |
| Chase | Chase | |
| Southwest Partner | — | Southwest Partner |
| RewardsCC API | — | RewardsCC API |
| Issuer Page | Issuer Page: Multiple card facts | |
| Chase | Chase | |
| Chase | Chase | |
| Chase Official | Chase Official | |
| Chase Official | Chase Official |
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Partner credits at
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