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Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card

Earns Rapid Rewards

Welcome Offer

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How to Earn Rewards

4x Points on Southwest® purchases

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.

10,000 Companion Pass Qualifying Points Boost (Annual)

10,000 points will be added to your Companion Pass tracker each year by January 31 (or 30 days from account opening). These aren't points you can spend but do reduce the number you need to earn for a Companion Pass.

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.

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.

Up to $120 Global Entry / TSA PreCheck® / NEXUS Statement Credit

Statement credit of up to $120 every 4 years as reimbursement when you pay for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS application fee.

First Checked Bag Free

First checked bag free for cardmember and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation.

Group 5 Boarding

Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers traveling on the same reservation board with Group 5, giving them earlier access to overhead bins.

Katie's Take

Why this card might (or might not) be right for you.

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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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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.

9,000 Bonus Points on Each Cardholder Anniversary Receive 9,000 Rapid Rewards bonus points each cardmember anniversary year. Worth approximately $126.

Up to $120 Global Entry / TSA PreCheck® / NEXUS Statement Credit Statement credit of up to $120 every 4 years as reimbursement when you pay for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS application fee. ($120 every 4 years = $30/yr)

First Checked Bag Free First checked bag free for cardmember and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation. (per-use benefit — value depends on how often you'll use it)

Your Total Annual Value

Annual Fee: $299

Your Net Value / Cost

Offer History

See past welcome bonuses to gauge whether the current offer is elevated.

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Offer	Spend Req.	Date
80,000 Bonus Points	$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