Chase
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card
Key Features
| Annual Fee | $299.00 |
| Sign-up Bonus | Earn 80,000 points |
| Rewards Rate | 1x-4x points |
| Regular APR | 19.24Min. of (6.75+12.49) and 29.99%–27.74Min. of (6.75+20.99) and 29.99% variable APR. |
About this card
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card earns a strong 'Good' overall rating of 3.8. This card is a powerhouse for its specific target audience: business owners who are loyal and frequent flyers of Southwest Airlines and are adept at maximizing co-branded travel rewards. Its value proposition for this niche is exceptional, driven by an outstanding rewards program and a suite of valuable travel benefits. However, significant drawbacks, particularly its uncompetitive APR and the specialized nature of its rewards, prevent it from achieving a higher universal rating. Its strengths include an exceptionally strong Rewards Rating (4.8/5.0), boasting a generous sign-up bonus, high earning rates on Southwest purchases and key business categories, substantial anniversary points, and critical boosts towards the highly coveted Southwest Companion Pass and A-List status. These are further complemented by a strong reputation, excellent fit for its target audience, and the significant benefit of no foreign transaction fees. Conversely, its weaknesses are primarily driven by a poor APR Rating (1.5/5.0), characterized by no introductory APR and a high variable regular APR (19.24%-27.74%), making it unsuitable for carrying a balance. Additionally, the $299 annual fee, while justifiable for frequent Southwest travelers, is substantial for others, and the rewards flexibility is limited exclusively to Southwest Airlines. In conclusion, while an excellent, specialized tool for Southwest-centric business travelers who pay their balance in full each month, its uncompetitive APR and lack of rewards flexibility make it a suboptimal choice for businesses that need to carry a balance or prefer diversified travel rewards. The 3.8 rating reflects this strong niche appeal offset by its universal financial limitations.
Pros & Cons
What's great
- Generous sign-up bonus
- High rewards rate on travel and business purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
- Valuable airline-specific travel benefits
- Pathway to airline elite status
- Comprehensive travel and purchase protections
Things to consider
- High annual fee
- High regular APR
- No intro APR period
What this card offers
Sign-up bonuses
- Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Rewards
- 4 points: You'll earn 4 points for each $1 spent on purchases made directly with Southwest Airlines®, including flight, inflight, Southwest® gift cards, and Southwest Vacations® or Getaways by SouthwestTM packages.
- Until December 31, 2025, you'll earn 4 points for each $1 spent on Southwest Cruises purchases.
- 3 points: Until December 31, 2025, you'll earn 3 points for each $1 spent on purchases at participating Rapid Rewards® hotel and rental car partners.
- 2 points: You'll earn 2 points for each $1 spent on purchases in the following rewards categories: gas stations; dining at restaurants; hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel.
- 2 points: You'll earn 2 points for each $1 spent on purchases in the local transit and commuting rewards category.
- 2 points: Until December 31, 2025, you'll earn 2 points for each $1 spent on purchases in the following rewards categories: social media and search engine advertising; internet, cable, and phone services.
- 1 point: You'll earn 1 point for each $1 spent on all other purchases.
Other features
- Complimentary Preferred seat at booking - Select a Preferred seat at booking, at no additional charge, when available. For flights operating with assigned seating in 2026 and beyond.
- First checked bag free - Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation can check their first bag at no additional cost. For a group of 4 this would be a savings of up to $360 roundtrip ($45 per bag per trip).
- Extra Legroom seat upgrade - Enjoy unlimited upgrades to an Extra Legroom seat within 48 hours prior to departure, at no additional charge, when available. For flights operating with assigned seating in 2026 and beyond.
- Boarding benefit - Cardmembers and up to 8 passengers in the same reservation will board with Group 5 giving them earlier access to overhead bins. For flights operating with assigned seating in 2026 and beyond.
- 25% back on inflight purchases.
- 9,000 anniversary points each year - Receive 9,000 bonus points each year after your Cardmember anniversary.
- Earn 2,500 tier qualifying points (TQPs) toward A-List status for every $5,000 spent in purchases annually accelerating your way to A-List status.
- 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost each year.
- Employee cards at no additional cost and earn points on employee spending.
- Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS fee credit up to $120 every 4 years - 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 you use your card.
- You will pay no foreign transaction fees when you use your card for purchases made outside the United States.
- Lost Luggage Reimbursement - Provides reimbursement up to $3,000 per covered traveler for the cost to repair or replace checked or carry-on baggage that is lost, damaged or stolen during a covered trip.
- Baggage Delay Insurance - Reimburses you up to $100 a day for up to 3 days for essential purchases like toiletries and clothing when baggage is delayed over 6 hours.
- Extended Warranty Protection - Extends the time period of the manufacturer's U.S. warranty by an additional year, on eligible warranties of three years or less, up to four years from the date of purchase.
- Purchase Protection - Covers your eligible new purchases for 120 days from the date of purchase against damage or theft up to $10,000 per item.
- Contactless - Just Tap To Pay - For fast, easy and secure checkout simply tap to pay where you see the Contactless symbol.
- Chase Pay Over Time lets eligible Chase business card customers break up credit card expenses into manageable payments. Pay off an eligible purchase you've already made of $100 or more in smaller, equal monthly payments. No interest - just a fixed monthly fee with plan durations that range from 3-24 months.
- No blackout dates and unlimited reward seats apply to flights booked with points.
- Unlimited reward seats to more than 100 destinations in the U.S., Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean
- Earn points on every purchase with no limits