Southwest Performance Business card review: Solid benefits for a manageable annual fee

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 Speedy Rewards resort and automobile rental companions and a pair of factors per greenback throughout common enterprise classes. The annual payment is manageable, and Southwest flyers will take pleasure in helpful perks. Card Ranking*: ⭐⭐⭐

*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 formidable sign-up bonus, a greater rewards construction and a pleasant array of perks that make the upper $199 annual payment properly 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.

Keep 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 associated fee if you happen to take full benefit of them — even after the primary yr of card membership.

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

4 Upgraded Boardings: Every anniversary yr, 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 enables 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 mechanically obtain 9,000 bonus factors. Meaning you are primarily getting $122 value of factors annually after the primary yr only for being an lively cardholder, based mostly 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 can buy an all-day inflight Wi-Fi go daily of the yr, and Southwest would cowl it.

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

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

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

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

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 fee than different Southwest card choices. You will earn:

• 4 factors per greenback on Southwest Airways purchases
• 3 factors per greenback on Speedy Rewards resort and automobile rental companions
• 2 factors per greenback for native transit and commuting, together with ride-hailing providers
• 2 factors per greenback for social media and search engine promoting
• 2 factors per greenback for web, cable and cellphone providers
• 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 well-liked), which you’ll be able to switch to Southwest Speedy Rewards.

Associated: 10 easy ways to earn more Rapid Rewards points

The Southwest Performance Business card earns Speedy Rewards factors, so you may get essentially the most worth once you redeem your points for award travel.

Redeeming factors for Southwest award flights is easy. 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 costs 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 usually not going to get as nice a return once you redeem factors that means. Moreover, you possibly can redeem factors on inns, automobile leases or merchandise. Nevertheless, we advocate skipping these choices and utilizing them for Southwest award flights to get essentially 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 price of two round-trip tickets. Whereas it is not at all times the perfect worth, paying with a mix of money and factors will 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 record 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 incessantly, the Southwest Performance Business card is a good choice. You will get nice worth from its Southwest-specific perks and the excessive welcome bonus.

Nevertheless, you may wish to select a distinct product if you happen to solely often fly Southwest or spend most of your corporation funds exterior the cardboard’s bonus classes.

Apply right here: Southwest Performance Business Credit Card

Associated: 9 reasons to get a business credit card