Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card

If you’re a business owner who frequently flies with Southwest Airlines and wants to earn valuable travel rewards, the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card might be the perfect fit. This card offers excellent rewards on your business expenses, valuable travel perks, and a range of other benefits. In this review, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card, including its features, benefits, pros, cons, and whether you should apply for it.

What is the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card?

The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card is a business credit card designed specifically for Southwest Airlines travelers. It helps you earn Southwest® Rapid Rewards® points on your everyday business purchases, which you can use for flights, upgrades, and other travel-related expenses. This card is ideal for business owners who frequently travel with Southwest Airlines and want to maximize their rewards.

Welcome Bonus

Earn up to 80,000 points

APR

21.49%–28.49% variable APR

Annual Fee

$199

Pros and Cons of the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance

Pros

Generous Welcome Offer: Earn up to 80,000 points.

High Earning Rates: Accumulate points quickly on business-related purchases in key categories.

Valuable Southwest Travel Benefits: Enjoy perks like upgraded boarding, inflight Wi-Fi credits, and travel credits.

Companion Pass® Qualification: Points earned count towards earning the Southwest® Companion Pass®, allowing a companion to fly with you for free.

Travel and Purchase Protections: Benefit from travel insurance, purchase protection, and extended warranty coverage.

No Foreign Transaction Fees: Avoid extra charges on purchases made outside the U.S.

Cons

High Annual Fee: A high annual fee of $199 is applied to the first billing statement. However, the benefits and rewards can often outweigh this cost.

Limited to Southwest Airlines: The travel benefits are primarily valuable for those who frequently fly with Southwest Airlines. If you prefer other airlines, you might get less value from this card.

Spending Requirement for Welcome Offer: Some small businesses may have a high initial spending requirement of $5,000 in the first 3 months to earn the welcome bonus.

Benefits of the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card

  • Generous Welcome Offer

    One of the main attractions of the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card is its generous welcome offer.

    Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. This welcome bonus can give you a great head start on earning points for your next trip.

  • High Earning Rates on Business Categories

    The card offers impressive earning rates on purchases in key business categories, such as:

    • Southwest Purchases: Earn 4 points per dollar spent directly with Southwest® purchases.
    • Travel: Earn 3 points per dollar spent on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partner purchases.
    • Social Media and Search Engine Advertising: Earn 2 points per dollar spent on purchases of social media and search engine advertising.
    • Internet, Cable, and Phone Services: Earn 2 points per dollar spent on Internet, cable, and phone services.
    • All Other Purchases: Earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.

    These earning rates can help you rack up points quickly, especially if your business has significant expenses in these categories.

  • Southwest Travel Benefits

    The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card offers several valuable travel benefits for Southwest Airlines travelers:

    • Upgraded Boarding: When available, receive four upgraded boardings per year. This allows you to board earlier and choose your preferred seat.
    • Inflight Wi-Fi Credits: Get up to 365 $8 credits per year for inflight Wi-Fi on Southwest flights.
    • Travel Credits: Earn travel credits for various travel expenses, such as seat upgrades and in-flight purchases.
    • Free Checked Bags: Enjoy free checked bags for you and your companions on the same reservation.
  • Cardmember benefits

    Earn 1,500 tier qualifying points toward A-List status for every $5,000 spent – with no limit on the amount of TQPs you can earn. $500 Fee credit for points transfers when you use your Rapid Rewards® Business Credit Card to transfer points to another Rapid Rewards® Member; fees associated with the transfer will be reimbursed – up to $500 in statement credits per anniversary year.

  • Companion Pass® Qualification

    One of the standout features of the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card is that the points you earn count towards qualifying for the Southwest® Companion Pass®. The Companion Pass® allows a companion to fly with you for free (excluding taxes and fees) for up to two years once you earn 125,000 qualifying points in a calendar year. This benefit can save you a lot of money on flights.

  • Travel and Purchase Protections

    The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card provides a range of travel and purchase protections, including:

    • Travel Insurance: Coverage for trip cancellations, interruptions, and delays, as well as baggage delay insurance.
    • Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver: Use your card to pay for your car rental, and you can decline the rental company’s collision insurance and be covered for theft and collision damage.
    • Purchase Protection: This policy covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft, up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
    • Extended Warranty: Extends the U.S. manufacturer’s warranty period by an additional year on eligible warranties of three years or less.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees

    The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card offers a significant advantage: no foreign transaction fees for businesses that conduct international transactions or travel frequently. This means you won’t be charged extra fees when purchasing abroad, helping you save on international expenses.

Is the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card Right for Your Business?

The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card is a strong contender for business owners who frequently travel with Southwest Airlines and want to earn valuable rewards. However, whether it’s the right card for your business depends on your needs and spending habits.

Consider the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card if:
  • You Frequently Fly with Southwest Airlines: The card’s travel benefits, such as upgraded boarding and inflight Wi-Fi credits, are particularly valuable for Southwest travelers.
  • You Spend a Lot in Key Business Categories: If your business has significant expenses in categories like travel, social media advertising, and internet services, you can earn points quickly.
  • You Want to Earn the Companion Pass®: The points you earn with this card count towards qualifying for the Southwest® Companion Pass®, which can provide significant savings.
  • You Value Travel and Purchase Protections: The card’s travel insurance, purchase protection, and extended warranty benefits can provide peace of mind.
  • You Don’t Want Foreign Transaction Fees: Avoid extra charges on purchases made outside the U.S.
Look for Other Options if:
  • You Prefer Other Airlines: If you don’t frequently fly with Southwest Airlines, you might not get as much value from this card’s travel benefits.
  • You Want a No-Fee Card: If you’re uncomfortable paying an annual fee, you might want to consider a card with no annual fee, although it may offer fewer benefits.
  • Your Spending Doesn’t Align with the Card’s Categories: If your spending doesn’t fall into the high-earning categories, you might not get as much value from the card.

Final Thoughts

The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card is an excellent choice for business owners who frequently travel with Southwest Airlines and want to maximize their rewards. With its generous welcome offer, high earning rates on business categories, valuable Southwest travel benefits, Companion Pass® qualification, and no foreign transaction fees, this card can be a powerful tool for managing your business expenses and enjoying your travels.

Consider your business’s spending patterns, travel preferences, and expense management needs to determine if the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card fits you. With the right strategy, this card can help you earn points, save on travel expenses, and enjoy premium services that support your business’s growth and success in 2024 and beyond.

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Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card

Editorial Disclosure

Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.

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