Benefit Activation Checklist
Step-by-step guide to activate and maximize every benefit on this card.
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Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card
Welcome Offer
bonus_miles
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How to Earn Rewards
4x
Points on Southwest® purchases (flights, inflight, Southwest gift cards, Getaways by Southwest packages)
3x
Points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners
2x
Points at gas stations and restaurants, on local transit and commuting (including rideshare), and on hotel accommodations booked directly with hotel — no annual cap
1x
Points on all other purchases
Key Benefits
Tap any benefit to see details.
9,000 Bonus Points on Each Cardholder Anniversary
Receive 9,000 Rapid Rewards bonus points each cardmember anniversary year. Worth approximately $126. Highest anniversary points across all Southwest cards.
10,000 Companion Pass Qualifying Points Boost (Annual)
Earn one boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points each calendar year. Deposited by January 31st each calendar year. Major Companion Pass accelerator (CP requires 135,000 qualifying points per current rules).
2,500 Tier Qualifying Points Per $5,000 Spent (Annual)
Earn 2,500 Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) toward A-List status for every $5,000 spent in purchases annually. Major A-List status acceleration — A-List requires 35,000 TQPs or 20 one-way flights per calendar year.
Preferred Seat Selection at Booking + Extra Legroom Upgrades 48hr Before Departure
Select a Preferred or Standard seat at booking, when available, for cardholder + up to 8 passengers on same reservation. Plus, free upgrade to Extra Legroom seat within 48 hours prior to departure when available. (For flights operating in 2026 and beyond.) Especially valuable since Southwest's January 27, 2026 transition to assigned seating.
$120 Global Entry / TSA PreCheck® / NEXUS Statement Credit
Statement credit of up to $120 every 4 years as reimbursement for the application fee for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS charged to your card.
First Checked Bag Free for Cardholder + 8 Passengers
First checked bag free for cardmember and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation. Per Southwest's April 9, 2026 fee update, first bag is now $45 (was $35) — making this benefit more valuable. (Southwest ended its long-standing free-bags-for-all policy on May 28, 2025.)
Group 5 Boarding for Cardholder + 8 Passengers
Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers traveling on the same reservation board with Group 5 (or earlier if they qualify based on tier status, fare type, or seat type/location).
25% Back on Southwest Inflight Purchases (Drinks & WiFi)
Earn 25% back as statement credits on Southwest inflight purchases of drinks and WiFi.
No Foreign Transaction Fees
No foreign transaction fees on international purchases.
Extended Warranty + Purchase Protection + Travel Coverage
Extended warranty: +1 year coverage on eligible purchases. Purchase protection: 120 days, up to $10K/claim or $50K total per account (per Yahoo Finance). Plus auto rental CDW (secondary), lost/delayed luggage reimbursement, travel and emergency assistance, and travel accident insurance.
Doesn't Report to Personal Credit (5/24 Friendly)
As a Chase business card, this does NOT automatically report to your personal credit report — does NOT count toward Chase's 5/24 rule once approved (though it counts when you APPLY).
Katie's Take
Why this card might (or might not) be right for you.
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Katie's Take
Why this card might (or might not) be right for you.
I thought the fee was inflated on this card back when it was $199. At $299 it's a tough calculation to justify keeping long term. But since it typically has a higher welcome offer than the Premier Business card, a lot of people may end up with this one for at least a year to help earn a Companion Pass. It does have perks like the credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck or Nexus. Do your own calculation with our benefits calculators on all the Southwest cards.
The ability to select a preferred seat for free at booking is valuable for some people though you could get the same perk with the personal Priority card for a lower annual fee. If you spend a lot with Southwest, the 4x earning rate is a good way to rack up a lot of Southwest points.
Overall, this card really helps make it so easy to get a Southwest Companion Pass. Just pay close attention to your timing when applying if you're trying to maximize the Companion Pass.
Benefits Calculator
What's the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card worth to you? Get a personalized estimate.
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Benefits Calculator
What's the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card worth to you? Get a personalized estimate.
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card Benefits Calculator
Enter your personal estimated annual value for each benefit to see a customized calculation of the card's worth.
Receive 9,000 Rapid Rewards bonus points each cardmember anniversary year. Worth approximately $126. Highest anniversary points across all Southwest cards.
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Statement credit of up to $120 every 4 years as reimbursement for the application fee for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS charged to your card. ($120 every 4 years = $30/yr)
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First checked bag free for cardmember and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation. Per Southwest's April 9, 2026 fee update, first bag is now $45 (was $35) — making this benefit more valuable. (Southwest ended its long-standing free-bags-for-all policy on May 28, 2025.) (per-use benefit — value depends on how often you'll use it)
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Your Total Annual Value
$0
Annual Fee: annual_fees
Your Net Value / Cost
$0
Offer History
See past welcome bonuses to gauge whether the current offer is elevated.
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Offer History
See past welcome bonuses to gauge whether the current offer is elevated.
| Offer | Spend Req. | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 80,000 Bonus PointsCurrent | $5,000 in 3 months | Standard (current as of May 1, 2026) |
| 80,000 Bonus Points | $5,000 in 3 months | Long-running standard since launch |
| 120,000 Bonus Points + Promotional Companion PassElevated | $10,000 in 3 months | Peak elevated; ran in Spring 2025 and Spring 2026 |
