Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card from Chase is designed for business owners who are Southwest Airlines frequent flyers. It’s an excellent travel rewards card if you want to enjoy travel perks like free checked bags and reward flights with no blackout dates. It charges a low annual fee and no foreign transaction fees but doesn’t offer a 0% introductory annual percentage rate (APR).
If you wish to compare one card over another, choose a maximum of three cards on this page and click Add to compare to view the details in a side-by-side comparison.
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card
BEST FOR:
Those who fly Southwest Airlines frequently
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
21.49% - 28.49% Variable
Annual Fee
$99
Credit Needed
- Earn 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
- 6,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary.
- Earn 3X points on Southwest Airlines® purchases.
- Earn 2X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners.
- Earn 2X points on rideshare.
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
- 2 EarlyBird Check-In® each year.
- Member FDIC
Pros
- Offers the best rewards for Southwest purchases as compared to other Southwest cards
- Does not charge foreign transaction fees
- With sign-up bonus
Cons
- Charge high annual fees
- No 0% introductory period on purchases and balance transfers
- Baggage delay insurance: Get covered if your checked luggage is delayed or misdirected by a carrier for more than six hours. You and your immediate family members will be eligible for a $100-per-day benefit for up to three days.
- Purchase protection: Get covered against damage or theft for new purchases for 120 days—coverage is up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
- Extended warranty protection: Extends warranty to up to one additional year on warranties of three years or less.
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
21.49% - 28.49% Variable
Annual Fee
$99
Credit Needed
- Earn 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
- 6,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary.
- Earn 3X points on Southwest Airlines® purchases.
- Earn 2X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners.
- Earn 2X points on rideshare.
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
- 2 EarlyBird Check-In® each year.
- Member FDIC
Pros
- Offers the best rewards for Southwest purchases as compared to other Southwest cards
- Does not charge foreign transaction fees
- With sign-up bonus
Cons
- Charge high annual fees
- No 0% introductory period on purchases and balance transfers
- Baggage delay insurance: Get covered if your checked luggage is delayed or misdirected by a carrier for more than six hours. You and your immediate family members will be eligible for a $100-per-day benefit for up to three days.
- Purchase protection: Get covered against damage or theft for new purchases for 120 days—coverage is up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
- Extended warranty protection: Extends warranty to up to one additional year on warranties of three years or less.
When evaluating travel rewards business credit cards like the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card, we first consider the ongoing rewards, introductory rewards, and additional features. We then look into the annual fee, as well as introductory and ongoing APRs.
Grading Criteria | Card Score | Highest Possible Score |
|---|---|---|
Ongoing Rewards | 15 | 25 |
Introductory Rewards | 25 | 25 |
Additional Features | 20 | 20 |
Annual Fee | 7 | 10 |
Introductory APR | 0 | 10 |
Ongoing APR | 5 | 10 |
Total Score | 72 | 100 |
Who the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card Is Best For
- Those who fly with Southwest Airlines frequently: It offers premium rewards on purchases made directly with Southwest Airlines, and rewards can be redeemed for free flights.
- Those who often have checked luggage: You can take advantage of free check-in for the first and second bags.
If this card isn’t what you’re looking for, check out our recommended alternatives below.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card Rewards
Introductory Bonus
- 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
- 1 point for each dollar of the first $15,000 on balance transfers made during the first 90 days from your account opening
Regular Rewards
- 3x points per dollar spent directly on Southwest Airlines® purchases (including flight, inflight, Southwest gift cards, and Southwest Vacations® package purchases)
- 2x points per dollar spent on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners as well as on local transit and commuting, including rideshare services
- 1x points per dollar spent on all other purchases
- 6,000 bonus points every year on your membership anniversary
- 1,500 tier qualifying points (TQPs) toward A-List status after spending $10,000, with no limit on the number of TQPs you can earn
- $500 fee statement credit as reimbursement for fees associated with using your card to transfer points to another Rapid Rewards® member or a preselected charity chosen by Southwest with an active Rapid Rewards® account
- 25% back on inflight purchases
- 2 EarlyBird Check-In® every year when you fly with Southwest Airlines
Rewards Explained
You can redeem your points for an available seat on any Southwest Airlines flight. The number of points needed for a flight depends on the fare and will vary based on your destination, schedule of travel, demand, and fare type. You’ll be responsible for paying all taxes and fees levied by the government on plane tickets.
Aside from Southwest Airlines flights, you can use your points for hotel stays and car rentals, Rapid Rewards Access Events, gift cards, merchandise, and international flights. To redeem your points, either go to southwest.com or call Southwest Airlines at (800) I-FLY-SWA.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card Features
Travel
- Bags Fly Free®: When you pay for your Southwest Airlines ticket with this card, you can check in your first and second bags for free. Note that weight and size limits apply.
- Southwest® EarlyBird Check-In®: Each anniversary year, you’ll be reimbursed for the purchase of up to two EarlyBird Check-In® services. Each service means a purchase made for EarlyBird Check-In® one-way, per passenger.
- Savings on Inflight Purchases: Through a credit card account statement credit, receive 25% back on Southwest Airlines inflight purchases for drinks and Wi-Fi.
Protection Coverage
- Baggage delay insurance: Reimburses you for essential purchases like toiletries and clothing for baggage delays over six hours; up to $100 a day for three days.
- Lost luggage reimbursement: Checked or carry-on luggage that’s lost or damaged while on a flight or traveling with another covered carrier, such as a passenger train, is eligible for reimbursement. Coverage of up to $3,000 per passenger shall be provided. Check your customer agreement for more information.
- Purchase protection: Chase provides coverage on your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft of up to a maximum of $500 per claim and $50,000 per account.
- Extended warranty protection: Chase will extend the original manufacturer’s warranty by an additional year on warranties of three years or less.
Partner Benefits
Receive a one-year complimentary DashPass, a membership for both DoorDash and Caviar, which provides unlimited deliveries with no delivery fees and lower service fees on selected orders. Note that you’ll need to activate DashPass by Dec. 31. 2024.
Card Management
Create employee cards to set individual spending limits and earn rewards faster at no additional cost.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card Fees
APR
- Introductory: None
- Ongoing and balance transfers: 21.49% to 28.49% variable, which adjusts with the prime rate
- My Chase LoanSM: 21.49% to 28.49% variable, which adjusts with the prime rate
- Cash advance: 29.99% variable, which adjusts with the prime rate
- Default: Up to 29.99% variable, which adjusts with the prime rate, and will be applied to your account when you do one of the following:
- Failed to make a minimum payment by the date and time that it’s due
- Made a payment that was returned
Fees
- Annual: $99
- My Chase PlanSM Fee (fixed finance charge): Monthly fee of 1.72% of the amount of each eligible purchase or amount selected to create a My Chase Plan
- Balance transfer: $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
- Foreign transaction: None
- Cash advance: $15 or 5% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater
- Late and returned payments: $40
- Return check: None
Your due date is at least 20 days after the close of each billing cycle.
How To Make Payments
- Online or Chase Mobile® App: Go to chase.com/paycard to sign in and make a payment online. You can also enroll in automatic payments through the website or mobile app. When you enroll, specify the deposit account from which your payment will be deducted and how much you’d like to pay, such as the full statement balance, minimum payment due, or any fixed amount.
- Phone: Call the automated phone service at (800) 436-7958.
- Western Union: Use the Code City WALNUT when you pay via Western Union. Note that it may take up to seven days for the payment to be reflected in your account.
- In-person: Find a Chase ATM or branch near you.
- Mail or money order: Include your name and full account number on your check or money order—and don’t send cash. Mail your payment to the following address:
Cardmember Services
PO Box 6294
Carol Stream, IL 60197-6294
Alternatively, you can send your payment via overnight mail to the following address:
Chase Card Services
201 N. Walnut St.
Del-0153
Wilmington, DE 19801
When To Consider Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card Alternatives
You Want an Alternative Chase Travel Business Credit Card
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card’s premium rewards are locked on making purchases on Southwest Airlines. If you want an alternative Chase card that lets you earn premium rewards apart from travel, consider Chase Ink Business Preferred®.
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
BEST FOR:
Maximizing travel rewards at a lower annual fee
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
21.24%-26.24% Variable
Annual Fee
$95
Credit Needed
- Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
- Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
- Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
- Member FDIC
Pros
- Reward points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® card
- Comprehensive travel and purchase protection
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- No interest-free financing option on both purchases and balance transfers
- With annual fee
- Need to make extremely large purchases to qualify for the sign-up bonus
- Cellphone protection: Get up to $1,000 per claim in cellphone protection against covered theft or damage for you and your employees listed on your monthly cellphone bill
- Purchase protection: Can cover your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft of up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account
- Extended warranty protection: You can extend the period of the United States manufacturer’s warranty by an additional year, on eligible warranties of three years or less.
- Fraud monitoring: Chase will help keep your accounts safe with account alerts―and you can choose how you’d like to receive them
- Free employee cards: You can create employee cards at no additional cost, and lets you set individual spending limits―helping you earn rewards even faster
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
21.24%-26.24% Variable
Annual Fee
$95
Credit Needed
- Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
- Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
- Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
- Member FDIC
Pros
- Reward points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® card
- Comprehensive travel and purchase protection
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- No interest-free financing option on both purchases and balance transfers
- With annual fee
- Need to make extremely large purchases to qualify for the sign-up bonus
- Cellphone protection: Get up to $1,000 per claim in cellphone protection against covered theft or damage for you and your employees listed on your monthly cellphone bill
- Purchase protection: Can cover your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft of up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account
- Extended warranty protection: You can extend the period of the United States manufacturer’s warranty by an additional year, on eligible warranties of three years or less.
- Fraud monitoring: Chase will help keep your accounts safe with account alerts―and you can choose how you’d like to receive them
- Free employee cards: You can create employee cards at no additional cost, and lets you set individual spending limits―helping you earn rewards even faster
Key Features:
- Offers 3x points per dollar spent on the first $150,000 on travel and select business categories each anniversary year, then 1x points per dollar spent after the cap is met
- Does not charge foreign transaction fees
- Has no 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers
- Charges an annual fee of $95
Its fixed rewards, low annual fee, and no foreign transaction fees are why it earned a spot in our roundups of the top credit cards for new businesses with no credit history and leading limited liability company (LLC) credit cards.
See our list of the best Chase business credit cards for more options from the provider.
You Want to Earn Premium Rewards Beyond Airline Purchases
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card only offers premium rewards on purchases made with Southwest Airlines and 1x points per dollar on purchases made on other purchases. If you travel frequently and want to earn premium rewards when booking hotels and rental cars, we recommend Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business.
Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business
BEST FOR:
Unlimited 2x miles with every swipe
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
26.24% variable
Annual Fee
$0 intro for first year; $95 after that
Credit Needed
Excellent
- Earn a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
- Unlimited 2x miles on every purchase, with no blackouts or seat restrictions and no minimum miles to redeem
- 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Issue employee cards for free
Pros
- With sign-up bonus
- Offers fixed-rate miles rewards on all purchases
- Does not charge balance transfer and foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Does not have a 0% introductory period on purchases and balance transfers
- Charges an annual fee after the first year
- Airport security screening reimbursement: Either a $100 statement credit for Global Entry or an $85 statement credit for TSA PreCheck® once every four years.
- Payment flexibility: Capital One lets you choose your monthly due date, enabling your business to control when to pay.
- Capital One Lounge: Cardholders get two free visits per year to the Capital One Lounge, which offers luxurious amenities and fresh, local food and beverage options.
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
26.24% variable
Annual Fee
$0 intro for first year; $95 after that
Credit Needed
Excellent
- Earn a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
- Unlimited 2x miles on every purchase, with no blackouts or seat restrictions and no minimum miles to redeem
- 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Issue employee cards for free
Pros
- With sign-up bonus
- Offers fixed-rate miles rewards on all purchases
- Does not charge balance transfer and foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Does not have a 0% introductory period on purchases and balance transfers
- Charges an annual fee after the first year
- Airport security screening reimbursement: Either a $100 statement credit for Global Entry or an $85 statement credit for TSA PreCheck® once every four years.
- Payment flexibility: Capital One lets you choose your monthly due date, enabling your business to control when to pay.
- Capital One Lounge: Cardholders get two free visits per year to the Capital One Lounge, which offers luxurious amenities and fresh, local food and beverage options.
Key Features:
- Offers 5x unlimited reward miles on hotels and rental cars through Capital One Travel, unlimited 2x miles on any business purchase, and up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Allows you to get two free visits to a Capital One airport lounge each year
- Charges an annual fee of $95, waived for the first year
It is our leading business credit card for miles and one of our best business credit cards for travel.
You Need a Travel Rewards Business Credit Card That Gives You Access to Luxury Travel Perks
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card does not offer luxury travel perks such as airport lounge access, airline fee credits, and upgraded status to selected hotels. If you need a card that has these benefits, look into American Express Business Platinum Card®.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
BEST FOR:
Gaining access to unrivaled travel rewards and luxury travel perks like airport lounge access
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
19.49% - 27.49% Variable
Annual Fee
$695
Credit Needed
Good, Excellent
- Welcome Offer: Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
- 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
- Earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on each eligible purchase 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.
- Unlock over $1,000 in annual statement credits on a curation of business purchases, including select purchases made with Dell Technologies, Indeed, Adobe, and U.S. wireless service providers.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year for incidental fees charged by your one selected, qualifying airline to your Card.
- $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Use your card and get up to $189 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Business Platinum Card®.
- The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market as of 03/2023.
- $695 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
Pros
- Premium travel rewards
- Free access to more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Balance is due in full monthly
- High annual fee
- American Express lounges: Free access to American Express’ network of Centurion lounges located in slightly less than a dozen United States airports.
- Other airport lounges: Priority Pass Select membership, which gets you free access to more than 1,300 lounges worldwide for you and two guests.
- Airport screening: Either a $100 statement credit for Global Entry every four years or an $85 statement credit for TSA PreCheck® once every 4 1/2 years.
- Travel credit: Up to $200 annual statement credit toward air travel expenses like baggage fees and inflight food and drink.
- Rental status: Elite status at a number of car rental agencies.
- Free Wi-Fi: 10 annual free Gogo inflight Wi-Fi passes.
- Rebate for redeemed points: 35% points rebate if you book a business or first-class flight, up to 500,000 bonus points per calendar year.
- Dell statement credit: Up to $400 in statement credits annually for Dell purchases.
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
19.49% - 27.49% Variable
Annual Fee
$695
Credit Needed
Good, Excellent
- Welcome Offer: Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
- 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
- Earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on each eligible purchase 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.
- Unlock over $1,000 in annual statement credits on a curation of business purchases, including select purchases made with Dell Technologies, Indeed, Adobe, and U.S. wireless service providers.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year for incidental fees charged by your one selected, qualifying airline to your Card.
- $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Use your card and get up to $189 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Business Platinum Card®.
- The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market as of 03/2023.
- $695 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
Pros
- Premium travel rewards
- Free access to more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Balance is due in full monthly
- High annual fee
- American Express lounges: Free access to American Express’ network of Centurion lounges located in slightly less than a dozen United States airports.
- Other airport lounges: Priority Pass Select membership, which gets you free access to more than 1,300 lounges worldwide for you and two guests.
- Airport screening: Either a $100 statement credit for Global Entry every four years or an $85 statement credit for TSA PreCheck® once every 4 1/2 years.
- Travel credit: Up to $200 annual statement credit toward air travel expenses like baggage fees and inflight food and drink.
- Rental status: Elite status at a number of car rental agencies.
- Free Wi-Fi: 10 annual free Gogo inflight Wi-Fi passes.
- Rebate for redeemed points: 35% points rebate if you book a business or first-class flight, up to 500,000 bonus points per calendar year.
- Dell statement credit: Up to $400 in statement credits annually for Dell purchases.
Key Features:
- Offers luxury travel perks such as access to more than 1,400 airport lounges worldwide and airline free credit
- Lets you redeem a minimum of 5,000 points to book on American Express Travel and receive 35% of your points back
- Offers Pay Over Time, where eligible purchases made can be so long as it is within your assigned limit
- Does not have 0% introductory APR
- Charges an annual fee of $695
Despite its high annual fee and lack of 0% introductory APR, its luxury travel perks and premium rewards points are why it landed on our lists of the best business credit cards for travel and top-recommended small business credit cards.
Bottom Line
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card is best for business owners who travel with Southwest Airlines frequently and want to enjoy travel perks. You can even earn rewards that can be redeemed for free flights. It’s important to note that it doesn’t offer a 0% introductory APR period on both purchases and balance transfers.
