Link: Apply now for the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card
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Southwest Performance Business Card offering 80K points
The Southwest Performance Business Card has a welcome offer where you can earn 80,000 Rapid Rewards bonus points after spending $5,000 within the first three months. Rapid Rewards is a revenue-based frequent flyer program, and personally, I value Rapid Rewards points at 1.2 cents each. So to me, the 80,000 points are worth $960.
Who is eligible for the Southwest Performance Business Card?
Who is eligible for the welcome bonus on the Southwest Performance Business Card? Southwest Airlines and Chase have several co-branded credit cards. As far as Southwest credit card eligibility requirements go, you’re not eligible for the bonus on this card if you currently have it, or if you’ve received a new cardmember bonus on this exact card in the past 24 months.
That means you’re eligible for the bonus on the card even if you have Southwest’s other business card, the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card (review)
Chase’s standard credit card application policies apply.
Why the Southwest Performance Business Card is worth it
The Southwest Performance Business Card has a $299 annual fee, so it’s the highest annual fee card that Southwest has. However, I’d argue that the perks more than justify it, especially if you fly Southwest frequently. The card offers the following, among other things:
- 9,000 Rapid Rewards bonus points on your account anniversary every year, which should get you roughly $108 worth of airfare on Southwest
- 25% savings on inflight Wi-Fi and drink purchases, when you charge those purchases to your card
- A Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS fee credit, once every four years (up to $120 as of 10/1/24)
- A rewards structure as such where you’ll:
- Earn 4 points for every $1 you spend on Southwest Airlines® purchases.
- Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and restaurants.
- Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend on hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel.
- Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend on local transit and commuting, Including rideshare.
- Earn 1 point for every $1 you spend on all other purchases.
- The ability to have your spending count toward A-List elite status, as you earn 2,500 Tier Qualifying Points toward A-List for every $5,000 you spend on the card
The following benefits are available through December 31, 2025:
- Up to $500 in fee credits for points transfers every cardmember year; Southwest ordinarily charges one cent per point to transfer rewards to another member, so this allows you to transfer 50,000 Rapid Rewards points per year to someone else
- Four Upgraded Boardings per anniversary year, which can get you one of the earliest boarding positions; this would ordinarily cost $30-149, so that’s potentially a $120-596 value
- Up to 365 Wi-Fi credits per year for Southwest flights; Southwest ordinarily charges $8 per flight for Wi-Fi, and you can use that up to 365 times per year, which is amazing
The following bonus points / earn rates are available through December 31, 2025:
- Earn 3 points for every $1 you spend on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners.
- Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend on social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable, and phone services.
This card is an absolute no-brainer, if you’re a frequent flyer with Southwest. The anniversary bonus points, Upgraded Boardings, and Wi-Fi credits, should more than justify the annual fee.
Read a full review of the Southwest Performance Business Card.
Bottom line
The Southwest Performance Business Card has a welcome bonus that can earn 80,000 Rapid Rewards bonus points after spending $5,000 within the first three months.
While this is the Southwest card with the highest annual fee, it’s also the card that’s easiest to get a return on, in my opinion, thanks to the exceptional rewards.
Do you plan on picking up the Southwest Performance Business Card with 80K bonus points?
@lucky - mid January 2025 I'll be eligible for another bonus for this card, do I have to wait until then to apply to get another bonus or can I apply next month and meet the bonus spend after my eligibility date?
I forgot to be clear in the previous comment: Finish the spend for the SUB AFTER the December statement cuts but BEFORE three months after approval (should be mid December if you are approved mid September).
It might be helpful to outline the play that would get you the companion pass for all of 2024 & 2025. The idea being, apply for the card now. Once approved, message Chase and ask that your “Due date” be moved to the first of the month. That way, your last statement of the year will cut December 1st. Finish off the spend for the SUB AFTER the December statement cuts so ALL the points post in January 2024.
love these cards and the ability to potentially earn companion pass however the timing is once again not ideal, the first 90 day bonus points period ends mid december so there is no way to have those points post to your account just after the first of the year. seems deliberate so not many people actually earn companion pass from these bonus offers.
I called Chase about the 24-month waiting period to be eligible for the SUB again on this card, and it's not just about when you received the bonus, but they told me it's a "cooling off period" that starts the month after you previously canceled the card. So, I'm ineligible for this 120k point deal for several more months unfortunately.
Considering they are changing their boarding process in 2025, should you include Upgraded Boarding to the value of the card? I wonder how Southwest is going to replace that value on all of their cards. To me, it's the majority of the value of my Southwest card.
I agree, although I heard it wouldn't be rolled out until September, so plenty of time to use those prior. If it's like other airlines, it would be a "free upgrade coupon" to use, based on status and availability.
Waiting for a Southwest review....