Trying to decide which Southwest Airlines business credit card deserves a spot in your wallet? The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card (see rates and fees) and the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card (see rates and fees) both pack valuable perks, but each is built with a different kind of traveler in mind.
Southwest has rolled out major changes, including assigned seating, a revamped boarding process and bag fees. A cobranded Southwest credit card can offer loyalists more practical value amid these new adjustments.
Here’s a side-by-side comparison of both cards to help you choose the one that best suits your business needs.
Southwest Performance Business vs. Premier Business overview
| Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card | Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $299 | $149 |
| Welcome bonus | Earn 120,000 points after spending $10,000 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 |
|
|
| Anniversary bonus points | 9,000 | 6,000 |
| Elite qualifying benefits | Earn 2,500 tier qualifying points for every $5,000 in purchases annually | Earn 2,000 tier qualifying points for every $5,000 in purchases annually |
| Perks and statement credits |
|
|
*Benefits or earning rates ending Dec. 31, 2025.
**Benefits apply to flights operating in 2026 and beyond.
Related: Comparing the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority, Premier and Plus credit cards
Southwest Performance Business vs. Premier Business welcome bonus
Based on TPG’s October 2025 valuations, the Southwest Performance Business offer is worth $1,680.
Meanwhile, the Southwest Premier Business offer is worth $840.
Keep in mind, both cards fall under Chase’s 5/24 rule, meaning you likely won’t be approved if you’ve opened five or more personal cards in the past 24 months.
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Additionally, you won’t be eligible to receive a welcome bonus if you have received one in the past 24 months on the respective card you are applying for.
Winner: Southwest Performance Business. Its substantially higher bonus easily edges out the Premier version, offering more than double the value.
Related: Here’s how to calculate your 5/24 status
Southwest Performance Business vs. Premier Business benefits
When comparing an entry-level card to its premium counterpart, the key question is simple: Do the added perks justify the higher annual fee?
In this case, the Southwest Performance Business costs $150 more per year than the Southwest Premier Business, so the extra benefits need to make up that difference.
Benefits shared by both cards:
- Free checked bags.
- Priority boarding for flights in 2026 and beyond.
- 25% back on inflight purchases.
- $500 fee credit for points transfers per year.*
- 10,000 annual Companion Qualifying points, which get you closer to earning a companion pass.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Free employee cards.
Premier Business Benefits:
- Two Early Bird Check-Ins on flights operating in 2025.*
- 6,000 anniversary bonus points.
- Preferred seat selection within 48 hours of departure on flights operating in 2026 and beyond.
- 15% flight discount code each anniversary year (excluding Basic fares).
- 2,000 Tier Qualifying Points for every $5,000 spent on the Premier Business card in a year (with no cap on the number of TQPs you can earn). This helps you reach A-List elite status faster.
Performance Business Benefits:
- 9,000 anniversary bonus points.
- Four Upgraded Boardings on flights operating in 2025.*
- 365 $8 inflight Wi-Fi purchases as a statement credit. In other words, you could purchase an all-day inflight Wi-Fi pass every day of the year, and your card will cover it.*
- Priority boarding for you and up to eight companions on the same reservation for flights operating in 2026 and beyond. If you have A-list status, you can board with an earlier group.
- Preferred seat selection at booking for flights operating in 2026 and beyond.
- Unlimited extra-legroom upgrades within 48 hours of departures on flights operating in 2026 and beyond.
- 2,500 tier-qualifying points per $5,000 you spend on purchases in a calendar year (with no cap on the number of TQP’s you can earn).
- Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus application fee credit.
*Benefits ending December 31.
The Performance Business starts strong by offering 9,000 bonus points on your account anniversary versus 6,000 with the Premier Business. As of October 2025, TPG values Southwest points at 1.4 cents each.
The Premier Business anniversary bonus is worth $84, while the Performance Business anniversary bonus is worth $126.
The other standout benefits of the Performance Business card are geared toward the day-of travel experience. Since Southwest is shifting to assigned seating for a fee for flights starting in 2026, the Performance Business will allow customers to select preferred seating for free at booking and access unlimited extra legroom upgrades within 48 hours of departure.
The Performance Business also allows you to reach A-list status quicker through card spending and offers a statement credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus, whereas the Premier Business doesn’t.
The Premier Business card still holds appeal, particularly with its 15% annual flight discount (excluding Basic fares) and lower annual fee. But if you fly Southwest often, the Performance Business’s travel perks and elite-status boost make the $150 well worth it.
It’s also worth mentioning that both cards will lose key benefits at the end of the year, like the Wi-Fi passes and upgraded boarding with the Performance Business and the EarlyBird check-ins with the Premier Business.
Winner: Southwest Performance Business. The higher annual fee comes with a meaningful upgrade in benefits that frequent Southwest travelers will actually use.
Related: Are airline credit cards worth it anymore?
Earning points with the Southwest Performance Business vs. Premier Business
The Southwest Performance Business also has noticeably stronger earning rates — though you’ll only benefit if your spending habits align with the bonus categories.
With the Performance Business, you’ll earn:
- 4 points per dollar spent on Southwest purchases (5.6% return†)
- 3 points per dollar spent on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners* (4.2% return†)
- 2 points per dollar spent on local transit and commuting (including ride-hailing services) (2.8% return†)
- 2 points per dollar spent on hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel (2.8% return†)
- 2 points per dollar spent at gas stations and restaurants (2.8% return†)
- 2 points per dollar spent on social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable and phone services* (2.8% return†)
- 1 point per dollar spent everywhere else (1.4% return†)
†Based on TPG’s October 2025 valuations.
Meanwhile, with the Premier Business you’ll earn:
- 3 points per dollar spent on Southwest purchases (4.2% return)
- 2 points per dollar spent at gas stations and restaurants on the first $8,000 in combined purchases per anniversary year (2.8% return)
- 2 points per dollar spent on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners* (2.8% return)
2 points per dollar spent on local transit and commuting, including ride-hailing* (2.8% return) - 1 point per dollar spent everywhere else (1.4% return)
*Earning rates ending December 31.
†Based on TPG’s October 2025 valuations.
The Performance Business clearly outpaces its sibling in long-term earning potential. You’ll earn more on Southwest purchases and won’t face the $8,000 annual cap on gas and restaurant spending that applies to the Premier Business.
It’s also better for frequent travelers or small-business owners who regularly spend on hotels, advertising or internet services — all categories where it earns double points.
Additionally, the Performance Business will still earn bonus points on local transit, whereas the Premier Business is losing that category.
The Premier Business, however, still offers solid rewards for those who fly Southwest only occasionally and don’t spend heavily in bonus categories.
Both cards will lose bonus categories at the end of 2025, which is disappointing given that they both carry annual fees.
Winner: Southwest Performance Business. The higher earning rates and uncapped bonus categories make it a stronger earner overall.
Related: Easy ways to earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points
Redeeming points with the Southwest Performance Business vs. Premier Business
Both cards earn Rapid Rewards points that can be redeemed the same way — primarily for Southwest-operated flights.
Since Southwest uses a revenue-based pricing model, the number of points needed for a flight typically aligns with its cash fare. You won’t find “sweet spots, but you’ll enjoy consistent value for your redemptions.
Redeeming Southwest points is simple: when booking on the Southwest website, just select “Points” instead of “Dollars.” The website will display the corresponding award pricing for your selected itinerary.
It’s 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.
TPG credit cards writer Chris Nelson likes to use Southwest points to book nonstop flights on routes where other airlines all have a layover, such as from Portland International Airport (PDX) to St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL).
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 Airlines cuts 30 routes in pivot to add more connecting flights
Should I get the Southwest Performance Business or Premier Business?
If you fly Southwest regularly, the Southwest Performance Business Card’ is worth the higher annual fee. Between the 9,000-point anniversary bonus, unlimited Wi-Fi credits and priority boarding upgrades, it delivers a stronger set of travel perks and earning power.
If you’re a casual Southwest flyer or simply want to keep your annual fee low, the Premier Business card offers solid value with its 15% annual flight discount (excluding Basic fares) and consistent earning structure.
Related: How to choose an airline credit card
How to switch from the Southwest Performance Business to the Premier Business
You can switch between the two cards by calling Chase customer service and requesting a product change — you can’t do it online or through the app.
However, it’s often smarter to open both cards separately to take advantage of each welcome bonus. Before making the switch, check if you’re eligible for an upgrade offer from the Premier Business to the Performance Business.
Related: Don’t cancel: How to downgrade a Chase credit card
Bottom line
No matter which Southwest card you decide to apply for, you’ll enjoy valuable Southwest perks and a straightforward earning structure that makes it easy to rack up Rapid Rewards points.
The Performance Business is the clear choice for frequent Southwest travelers who’ll make the most of its premium perks and bonus categories, while the Premier Business remains a solid pick for lower annual fee seekers who still want solid value on everyday business spending.
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
