Southwest Performance Business card review: Solid ...

The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card is Southwest Airways’ top-tier enterprise bank card. It earns 4 factors per greenback on Southwest Airways purchases, 3 factors per greenback on Fast Rewards lodge and automotive rental companions and a couple of factors per greenback throughout well-liked enterprise classes. The annual payment is manageable, and Southwest flyers will get pleasure from helpful perks. Card Score*: ⭐⭐⭐

*Card rating relies on the opinion of TPG’s editors and isn’t influenced by the cardboard issuer.

The Southwest Performance Business card is a step up from the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card, providing a powerful sign-up bonus, a greater rewards construction and a pleasant array of perks that make the upper $199 annual payment effectively value paying for loyal Southwest flyers.

The really helpful credit score for this product is 670 or above.

Let’s dive into the professionals and cons of this enterprise card.

Proper now, the Southwest Performance Business card is providing new candidates 80,000 factors after they spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

TPG’s March 2025 valuations peg Southwest miles at 1.35 cents every, which means this bonus is value $1,080.

Bear in mind to test your eligibility earlier than making use of for this card. It’s topic to the Chase 5/24 rule, and there are restrictions on how typically you possibly can earn a Southwest welcome bonus.

Associated: How to quickly earn the Southwest Companion Pass

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The Southwest Performance Business card comes with a $199 annual payment, however the perks accompanying the cardboard make up for the fee if you happen to take full benefit of them — even after the primary 12 months of card membership.

Free checked bag: Southwest has introduced that it’s going to start charging for checked bags starting Could 28, however Southwest cardholders will still receive one free checked bag.

4 Upgraded Boardings: Every anniversary 12 months, you may be reimbursed for as much as 4 A1-A15 boarding passes, which let you be among the many first to board. As a result of Southwest doesn’t assign seats, Upgraded Boarding allows you to guarantee you possibly can seize the seat you need (and have room within the overhead bins). Upgraded Boarding passes are topic to availability.

9,000 anniversary bonus factors: Every year after your account anniversary, you may robotically obtain 9,000 bonus factors. Which means you are basically getting $122 value of factors every year after the primary 12 months only for being an lively cardholder, primarily based on TPG’s March 2025 valuations.

Inflight Wi-Fi credit: Southwest will reimburse you for as much as 365 $8 inflight Wi-Fi purchases as a press release credit score. In different phrases, you possibly can buy an all-day inflight Wi-Fi cross daily of the 12 months, and Southwest would cowl it.

Standing Increase: You may earn 1,500 tier-qualifying factors per $5,000 you spend on purchases in a calendar 12 months that can assist you reach elite status faster. There is no restrict on the variety of TQPs you possibly can earn.

World Entry or TSA PreCheck: As soon as each 4 years, you possibly can obtain a press release credit score (as much as $120) in your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee.

Free worker playing cards: You pay no payment for added worker playing cards and can earn factors on worker spending. You may set spending limits on worker playing cards by calling cardmember companies.

$500 payment credit score for factors transfers per 12 months: Switch factors to a different Fast Rewards member, and as much as $500 in charges related to the switch can be reimbursed every account anniversary 12 months.

Associated: Is the Southwest Performance Business Card worth the annual fee?

Because the extra premium enterprise card, the Southwest Performance Business card has a better incomes price than different Southwest card choices. You may earn:

• 4 factors per greenback on Southwest Airways purchases
• 3 factors per greenback on Fast Rewards lodge and automotive rental companions
• 2 factors per greenback for native transit and commuting, together with ride-hailing companies
• 2 factors per greenback for social media and search engine promoting
• 2 factors per greenback for web, cable and telephone companies
• 1 level per greenback for all different eligible purchases

That is a 5.4% return on Southwest purchases and a 2.7% return on eligible enterprise purchases.

Nonetheless, you may be higher off utilizing the Chase Sapphire Reserve® or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card for normal journey past Southwest Airways purchases. Each playing cards earn 3 Chase Ultimate Rewards factors per greenback on journey purchases (as much as the primary $150,000 in mixed purchases for the Ink Enterprise Most popular), which you’ll be able to switch to Southwest Fast Rewards.

Associated: 10 easy ways to earn more Rapid Rewards points

The Southwest Performance Business card earns Fast Rewards factors, so you may get probably the most worth whenever you redeem your points for award travel.

Redeeming factors for Southwest award flights is straightforward. Simply log in to your account, put in your search parameters on Southwest’s web site, select your required obtainable flight and comply with the on-screen steps to take a look at. You will have to pay extra taxes and charges on worldwide routes, however Southwest is clear about these all through the search course of.

Southwest has a journey portal for worldwide flights on different carriers, however you are sometimes not going to get as nice a return whenever you redeem factors that approach. Moreover, you possibly can redeem factors on resorts, automotive leases or merchandise. Nonetheless, we advocate skipping these choices and utilizing them for Southwest award flights to get probably the most worth out of your factors.

TPG senior author Tarah Chieffi used Southwest factors to pay for a portion of the price of her journey to Orlando by redeeming 37,000 factors to complement her out-of-pocket value of two round-trip tickets. Whereas it is not at all times the very best worth, paying with a mixture of money and factors might be an effective way to successfully use a smaller variety of Southwest factors.

Associated: How to redeem Southwest Rapid Rewards points

Even if you happen to’re a Southwest-loyal enterprise proprietor, the Southwest Performance Business card is probably not your best choice.

For extra particulars, see our full checklist of best business credit cards and best airline credit cards.

Learn extra: How to get a business credit card

For those who’re a enterprise proprietor who flies Southwest continuously, the Southwest Performance Business card is a superb choice. You may get nice worth from its Southwest-specific perks and the excessive welcome bonus.

Nonetheless, you may need to select a unique product if you happen to solely sometimes fly Southwest or spend most of your small business finances outdoors the cardboard’s bonus classes.

Apply right here: Southwest Performance Business Credit Card

Associated: 9 reasons to get a business credit card