The Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Card is a top-tier option for small business owners who fly Southwest frequently. Its generous sign-up bonus and extensive perks can give you great value year after year.
While many get this card primarily to use the 80,000-point sign-up bonus toward earning the Southwest Companion Pass, its long-term perks make it worth keeping — especially if you fly Southwest multiple times per year. For a $199 annual fee, you’ll get 9,000-anniversary points, four upgraded boarding credits, 365 in-flight WiFi credits, and a suite of bonus categories to accelerate your points earning. If you fly Southwest regularly, this card gives you high-value perks that easily justify the cost.
Most people apply for this card to fast-track their path to the Companion Pass, which lets you bring a travel companion for free on all Southwest flights for up to two calendar years. But the Performance Business Card stands out not just for its sign-up bonus — it’s also loaded with benefits that deliver ongoing value for frequent Southwest flyers.
This card might not be the best fit if you rarely fly Southwest or typically fly solo, which would make the upgraded boardings less useful. Or you prefer premium cabin options — Southwest does not offer business or first class.
Southwest airlines carries the most passengers in North America.
Chase offers two Southwest co-branded business cards: the Performance Business and the Premier Business. If earning the Companion Pass is your priority, the Performance Business card is the stronger choice. Its 80,000-point sign-up bonus (after $5,000 spent in 3 months) gets you much closer to the 135,000-point requirement than the 60,000-point bonus on the Premier Business card.
Beyond the sign-up bonus, the Performance card offers more robust benefits that may justify its higher annual fee. Here's how it compares:
If your goal is earning the Companion Pass, be sure to pair this business card with one of Southwest’s three personal cards. All currently offer a 50,000-point sign-up bonus, but differ in annual fees and added benefits.
I’ll be honest — I don’t love the Southwest flying experience. The open seating can feel chaotic, and I’d prefer a more traditional boarding process. But despite that, I keep this card because the value is just too good to pass up. The points are incredibly easy to use, there are no blackout dates, and flights can often be booked or changed last-minute without fees. I’ve used the Companion Pass to bring my spouse on trips for free, and I’ve even used points to fly out friends and family to visit us — something I couldn’t justify paying for with cash. Between the generous sign-up bonus, WiFi credits, and upgraded boardings, the perks more than make up for any quirks of the Southwest experience. For someone who values flexibility and convenience, this card earns its spot in my wallet year after year.
| Bonus Points | Minimum Spend | Point Value | Annual Value | Annual Fee |
1st Year Value
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80,000 | $5,000 | 1.3 ¢ | $130 | $199 |
$1036
|
| Best Value | Differentiating Perks | Rules |
|---|---|---|
| Companion Pass, US & Caribbean Flights | 9000 bonus points annually, 4 A-list boardings, WiFi credit, TSA Credit | No CR , 24 from Bonus , 5/24 , Chase 2/30 , Chase 4/6 |
4X points
5.2¢ Per Dollar Spent
1X points
1.3¢ Per Dollar Spent
3X points
3.9¢ Per Dollar Spent
2X points
2.6¢ Per Dollar Spent
2X points
2.6¢ Per Dollar Spent
3X points
3.9¢ Per Dollar Spent
2X points
2.6¢ Per Dollar Spent
2X points
2.6¢ Per Dollar Spent
Transfer To Spouse/Partner Yes - $$
Transfer To Friends Yes
Outside Point System Southwest Rapid Rewards
1:1 81% value retained
3:1 62% value retained
5:2 31% value retained
This business card will not show on your personal credit report, so it won't count against your 5/24 status
If you've received a bonus from this card within the last 24 month, you are not eligible for another bonus.
Your application will be declined if 5 new cards are reported on your personal credit report in the past 24 months
You'll be declined if you apply for a third Chase card of any kind within 30 days
Chase will decline your application you apply for a 5th Chase card (personal or BUSINESS) in 6 months
Below is a snapshot of where this card performs best compared to the other cards in our database:
Now that we need 135,000 for Southwest companion pass' these cards give us a hefty jump to reach that goal:
- Southwest Performance Chase Business Card - 120,000 POINTS - 80,000 points after spending $5000 in 3 months + 40,000 points after spending $15,000 in 9 months - $199/annual fee.
- Southwest Premier Chase Business Card - 120,000 POINTS - 60,000 points after spending $3000 in 3 months + 60,000 after spending $15,000 in 9 months - $99/annual fee.
