Chase
Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card
Southwest-branded business card earning rewards on flights and everyday spending, plus annual points and premium travel perks like free checked bags.
Annual fee
$149
Top rate
3x flights
Quick look
Southwest Travel Rewards
Earn points and enjoy free Southwest airline baggage and seating benefits
4.1
out of 5
Rewards
Fees
Welcome bonus
Perks
Value
Overall score is a weighted average: Rewards 20% · Fees 20% · Welcome bonus 20% · Perks 20% · Value 20%.
Ideal for
Business owners who fly Southwest at least several times a year and want to work toward the Companion Pass without paying for a premium card.
The verdict
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card makes sense if you're a business owner who flies Southwest regularly. The 3x earning on Southwest purchases, combined with 6,000 anniversary points and free checked bags, offsets the $149 annual fee for active travelers. But the fee increase from $99 to $149 in 2025 squeezed the value proposition—if you fly Southwest just a handful of times a year, you'll struggle to recoup the cost. Points lock you into Southwest travel with no transfer flexibility, and spending caps on dining and gas limit upside on everyday business expenses.
For business owners heavily dependent on Southwest for company travel, this card's Companion Pass potential (one free companion per flight after earning threshold) makes it genuinely useful. For everyone else, the Performance Business version ($299 fee) offers better rewards tiers, while smaller fliers should look at no-fee alternatives.
Pros
- 6,000 anniversary points annually help offset the $149 fee
- Free checked bags for you and up to 8 passengers (applies to all travelers on your account)
- 3x points on Southwest purchases gets you to the Companion Pass faster
- No foreign transaction fees—useful for business travel outside the U.S.
- Employee cards at no additional cost
Cons
- Annual fee jumped from $99 to $149 in July 2025, making breakeven harder
- Points only redeem for Southwest travel; no transfer partners or cash back
- 2x category bonus (gas, dining) capped at $8,000 combined spend per year
- EarlyBird Check-In discontinued in 2026; boarding now tied to fare class and seat assignment
- Limited perks compared to premium business cards—no travel credits, lounge access, or purchase protections
Reward rates
| Category | Rate | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | 3x | Earn 3 points per $1 spent on Southwest Airlines purchases |
| Gas & EV charging | 2x | Earn 2 points per $1 at gas stations (first $8,000 per anniversary year) |
| Dining & restaurants | 2x | Earn 2 points per $1 at restaurants (first $8,000 per anniversary year) |
| Everything else | 1x | Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases |
Rank 24th on flights (3x rate). That's solid for a business card but trails premium cards like United Quest (10x) and United Explorer (9x). The 2x rate on dining and gas caps at $8,000 combined annually—a deliberate limitation that discourages using this as your primary business card. Everything else earns 1x. For a business owner splitting time between Southwest and other airlines or booking platforms, this card pulls its weight only on flights.
Fees and APR
Does it pay for itself?
The $149 annual fee is steep and just got steeper. In July 2025, Chase raised it from $99. You recover ~$100-120 of that through the 6,000 annual anniversary points (valued at roughly $500-700 in Southwest's redemption marketplace, depending on route). The remaining cost relies on free checked bags and the sign-up bonus. If you fly Southwest 4-6 times a year, the fee pencils out. If you fly 1-2 times, it doesn't.
Welcome bonus
Is it worth chasing?
60,000 points is a legitimate milestone toward the Companion Pass (you need 125,000 points per calendar year to unlock it). At standard valuations, 60,000 points equals roughly $600-800 in airfare. Combined with the 6,000 anniversary points, a first-year member earns 66,000 points, bringing them halfway to Companion Pass without paying for a single ticket beyond the $149 fee and the initial $3,000 spend.
Similar cards
Higher $299 annual fee but 2x points on dining and gas (no cap) plus 3x on rideshare—better for frequent spenders
No airline lock-in; earns 3x on internet, cable, phone, and travel; flexible points that transfer to multiple programs
Frequently asked questions
Does this card get me the Southwest Companion Pass?
It accelerates the path. You need 125,000 qualifying points per calendar year to earn the Companion Pass. The card's 60,000 sign-up bonus plus 6,000 anniversary points gets you halfway without ever booking a flight. But you'll still need to earn an additional 59,000 points through regular spending or other Southwest cards.
Can I use these points to book hotels or rental cars?
Yes, but only through the Southwest Rapid Rewards mall. Points don't transfer to hotel chains or car rental partners. You're locked into Southwest's redemption rates, which fluctuate based on demand.
What happened to EarlyBird Check-In?
Southwest discontinued EarlyBird Check-In on January 27, 2026, as part of its shift to assigned seating. Boarding priority is now determined by your fare class and seat type (A-List, business select, or standard). You can purchase Priority Boarding if you want to jump the queue, but it's a separate fee.
Is the $149 annual fee worth it if I fly Southwest twice a year?
Probably not. Two round-trip flights (4 segments) earn about 24,000 points at 3x—roughly $240-320 value, leaving you underwater after the $149 fee. You'd need the checked bag savings to justify it. If your company covers the fee or you pack light and avoid baggage fees anyway, the benefit shrinks further.
Can employees use this card to book their own flights?
Employee cards work just like the primary card for earning and redeeming points. However, points earned on employee cards typically post to the primary cardholder's account, not a separate balance. Check your cardholder agreement for specifics on redemption ownership.
How does this compare to the United Explorer Business Card?
United Explorer Business Card ($69 annual fee) earns 2x on dining, gas, and office supplies with no caps, plus 2x on United travel. It's cheaper and more flexible for business expenses, but earns less on actual flights (2x vs. 3x on Southwest). Choose Southwest if you're locked into Southwest travel; choose United if you have carrier flexibility.
Reviewed by YoungerFinance Editorial · Last updated August 11, 2026