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The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card is one of two Southwest co-branded business credit cards offered by Chase targeted towards avid Southwest flyers. The card comes with great benefits for business owners and their employees, including a sizeable welcome offer of 60,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points, EarlyBird Check-In, fee credits for transferring points to another Rapid Rewards member and no foreign transaction fees. And with a modest $99 annual fee, it makes the card a great fit for many business owners trying to save on airfare. Below, Select breaks down the rewards, benefits and fees associated with the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card to help you decide if it’s right for your needs.
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Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business credit card review
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card Learn More On Chase’s secure site Rewards Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases; 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare; 2X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car partners; 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome bonus Earn 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
Annual fee $99
Intro APR None
Regular APR 15.99% to 22.99% variable
Balance transfer fee 5%, minimum $5
Foreign transaction fees None
Credit needed Excellent/Good Terms apply.
Welcome bonus
The welcome bonus for the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card offers great value for Southwest flyers. You can earn 60,000 Rapid Rewards points after you spend $3,000 in the first three months of card membership. So once you hit the $3,000 spending threshold, you’ll have a minimum of 63,000 Southwest points. Rapid Rewards points have a rough value of 1.3 cents each, meaning this bonus worth about $819, or a 27% return on your initial spend. This alone more than justifies the $99 annual fee. But, there are even more benefits to the card outside of the initial welcome bonus.
Benefits and perks
Outside of the welcome offer, the card comes loaded with benefits for your next Southwest flight, and when you land. With the Premier Business Card, you’ll get: 6,000 bonus points each year after your cardmember anniversary
Two EarlyBird Check-In’s each year, meaning you’ll board earlier than other passengers and able to more easily secure the seat of your choice.
25% back on Southwest in-flight purchases when you use the Premier Business card
1,500 tier qualifying points toward A-List status for every $10,000 spent – with no limit on TQP’s you can earn. TQPs are what you need to earn elite status with Southwest.
Up to $500 in statement credits for transferring Rapid Rewards points to other Rapid Rewards members. This is a great benefit if you want to send Rapid Rewards points to employees or clients
Lost luggage reimbursement and baggage delay insurance
Purchase protection
DoorDash benefits including free DashPass membership, which includes unlimited $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees on orders over $12 from thousands of participating restaurants, grocery and convenience stores nationwide
No foreign transaction fees This is an outstanding value for the $99 annual fee. The annual bonus points alone are worth nearly $80 and the statement credits for transferring your Rapid Rewards points is a solid perk. Plus, if you order from DoorDash even a few times per year, the DashPass benefit can help you save on food delivery costs. Earning miles for spending When you spend on the card, you’ll earn: 3X Rapid Rewards points per dollar spent on purchases with Southwest Airlines®
2X Rapid Rewards points per dollar spent on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners
2X Rapid Rewards points per dollar spent on local transit and commuting, including rideshare services
1X Rapid Rewards point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases Select calculated how many points the average American can earn in a year when using their Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card. We worked with the location intelligence firm Esri, who provided us with a sample annual spending budget of $22,126. The budget includes six main categories: groceries ($5,174), gas ($2,218), dining out ($3,675), travel ($2,244), utilities ($4,862) and general purchases ($3,953). Here’s what the average consumer would earn using this card: Groceries: 5,174 Southwest Rapid Rewards points
Gas: 2,218 Southwest Rapid Rewards points
Dining out: 3,675 Southwest Rapid Rewards points
Travel: 6,732 Southwest Rapid Rewards points (Assuming all travel dollars are spent with Southwest Airlines).
Utilities: 4,862 Southwest Rapid Rewards points
General purchases: 3,953 Southwest Rapid Rewards points With all spending considered, this would give a cardholder 26,614 Southwest Rapid Rewards points in the first year, and if you include the 60,000-point welcome bonus, this would yield 86,614 Rapid Rewards points. Over a five year period, cardholders could potentially earn 193,070 Southwest Rapid Rewards points — although the total amount will depend on an individual’s and/or business’ annual spending habits.
How to earn and redeem Southwest Rapid Rewards miles
Earning Southwest Rapid Rewards points If you want to earn Southwest points, there are a few ways to do that: spend on one of the many consumer of small business Southwest credit cards, fly with the airline or shop with one of Southwest’s partners. Even with several Southwest credit cards there are only so many you can have, as Chase has their 5/24 rule, which means you’ll be denied any Chase card if you’ve been approved for five or more credit cards (from any bank) in the last 24 months. Additionally, you can only earn one welcome bonus every two years with a Southwest business credit card. If you want to hoard Southwest points, you may consider a card with transferable rewards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. These cards earn Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, which are transferable to a list of airline and hotel loyalty programs — including Southwest Rapid Rewards at a 1:1 ratio. So as you earn on these cards, you can send your points over to Southwest Rapid Rewards to redeem for flights. But you’ll also have the option to redeem those points for other travel, cash back and more. If you still think a Southwest credit card is your preferred option but aren’t sure about the Premier Business Card, take a look at the other Southwest cards here: Personal Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card Business Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card Redeeming Southwest Rapid Rewards points After earning enough points for a free flight, redeeming your points is quite simple with Southwest. To use your miles, simply log into your Southwest Rapid Rewards account and when you search for a flight, click “points” rather than “dollars”. Southwest points have a fixed value of around 1.3 to 1.4 cents apiece and prices for award flights are dependent on the current cash price of the ticket. So if a flight costs $100 you can expect to pay 6,000 to 7,000 points for that flight. Keep in mind that when you redeem your miles, you’ll still need to pay taxes and fees. The amount is dependent on where you’re flying. If your flight is within the U.S., it will be $5.60 for each one-way flight. Flights outside the United States have varying taxes and fees.
Rates and fees
The card has a $99 annual fee. It doesn’t have any foreign transaction fees. Late payment fees can be up to $40.
Card comparison
While the Southwest Premier Business credit card is a solid pick for small business owners who fly with Southwest regularly, how does it compete against other business travel credit cards? Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card vs. CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® The CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is a business credit card for American Airlines flyers. When you apply for the card, you can earn 65,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in the first four months of card membership. The card gives cardholders a free checked bag for up to four other companions on the same itinerary, preferred boarding, 25% off in-flight purchases and a Companion Certificate for domestic travel after you spend $30,000 or more in purchases each cardmember year. As you spend on the card, you’ll earn: 2X miles for every dollar spent on cable and satellite providers, eligible American Airlines purchases, purchases at gas stations, telecommunications merchants and car rentals
1X mile for every dollar spent on all other purchases. The card comes with a $99 annual fee, but is waived for the first 12 months of card membership. If you’re stuck between the two cards, it’s important to analyze your flying habits. Do you have specific travel destinations in mind? Or do you repeatedly fly to the same cities for work? Keep in mind that Southwest Airlines primarily flies within the U.S. with a few international destinations. American Airlines on the other hand has both international and domestic flight options. Analyze where you plan on flying and what airlines have the best and most frequent flights to those destinations. In addition, do you want to earn status within American Airlines which has First Class seating, or would you rather have the Southwest Companion Pass to fly with someone? If you’d prefer to fly in upper class seats, the American Airlines card can help get you there. If you don’t mind an all-economy plane with no assigned seats, the Southwest Airlines card would be a solid fit. Lastly, you could consider grabbing the American Airlines card for the first year since the annual fee is waived. And then if you decide to switch your loyalty to Southwest, you can choose to cancel the card before the annual fee posts and grab the Southwest card to replace it.
CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® Learn More Rewards 2X miles on every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases, cable and satellite providers, at gas stations, select telecommunication merchants and car rentals. 1X miles on every $1 spent on all other eligible purchases.
Welcome bonus Earn 65,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening
Annual fee $99, waived for the first 12 months
Intro APR None
Regular APR 16.24% – 25.24% variable
Balance transfer fee N/A
Foreign transaction fees None
Credit needed Good/Excellent See our methodology, terms apply. Pros 25% savings on eligible in-flight purchases
Preferred boarding for eligible credit cardmembers
First checked bag free
Priority boarding Cons No special 0% financing offers
No airport lounge access Learn More View More
Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card vs. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is a luxury travel card with a seemingly never-ending list of benefits. First, you’ll earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months of card membership. These points can be transferred to a number of different airline and hotel loyalty programs. Unfortunately, Southwest is not one of them. In addition, you’ll earn: 5X points for every dollar spent on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com
1.5X points for every dollar spent on eligible purchases at US construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year
1X points for each dollar spent on all other eligible purchases The card also comes with a long list of additional features and benefits, including: Comprehensive travel insurance*
Complimentary Amex concierge
Widespread airport lounge access, including access to Amex Centurion lounges, Delta Skyclubs when flying Delta and Priority Pass lounges
Up to $200 airline fee credit
Up to $400 Dell credit
Up to $120 wireless credit
$179 CLEAR credit
Fee credit for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck
Complimentary elite status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy Terms Apply. However, the card comes with a steep $695 annual fee. (See rates and fees) So if you’re unsure of which card to choose, it’s best to reflect on your travel needs. If you’re looking for a luxury experience with plenty of benefits, the Business Platinum card from Amex is a great choice. However, be weary of the large annual fee before applying. If you’re looking for a simple travel credit card for your business, and you prefer to only fly with Southwest, the Premier Business card is likely a better fit.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express Learn More On the American Express secure site Rewards Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases. Also, earn 1.5X points on eligible purchases at US construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
Welcome bonus Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of card membership
Annual fee $695
Intro APR 0% Intro APR for 12 months from the date of the account opening on purchases eligible for Pay Over Time
Regular APR 14.49% – 22.49% variable
Balance transfer fee N/A
Foreign transaction fee None
Credit needed Excellent/Good See rates and fees and our methodology, terms apply. Pros Enroll to receive up to $400 in annual statement credits on Dell purchases (up to $200 semi-annually), up to $360 with Indeed, up to $150 with Adobe and up to $120 on wireless telephone purchases
Get 35% points back when you use points to purchase all or part of an airline fare, up to 500,000 bonus points back per calendar year
American Express Global Lounge Collection
Breeze through security with CLEAR® where available and get up to $179 back per year on your membership when you use your card
Up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year toward baggage fees and more at one qualifying airline Cons $695 annual fee
No introductory 0% financing offers for balance transfers Learn More View More
Who the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card is best for
The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card is a great choice for a small business owner who flies Southwest at least a few times a year and is ok with earning rewards solely tied to the airline. The benefits when flying, like EarlyBird Check-In certificates and 25% back on Southwest in-flight purchases, can help you save money and have a more comfortable travel experience. With the card, all authorized users get a card for no additional annual fee, making company expenses simple to keep in one place. In addition, this card is great for someone who doesn’t want to fuss with complex airline loyalty programs. Southwest keep things very simple: earn points and spend them with the airline. Other airlines have more elaborate reward programs with airline alliances, different classes to redeem your points for and more. So for those who want simplicity, this card is a good match.
Bottom line
The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card is worth considering for any small business owner who enjoys a no-frills flying experience and likes to travel with Southwest. With a valuable welcome bonus, solid spending categories and a modest annual fee, the card presents a good value for small businesses to earn rewards on their expenses as well as save on their future airfare costs. However, before signing up for any credit card, it’s vital to check your budget to ensure your business in a position to have a company credit card.
Catch up on Select’s in-depth coverage of personal finance, tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date. For rates and fees of the Business Platinum Card® from American Express, click here. Information about the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication. *Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.