Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Review
Overview
The Southwest Premier Business is the mid-tier Southwest business card, and like all Southwest cards, its real draw is that credit card points count toward the Companion Pass, which lets a chosen person fly with you for just taxes and fees. For a Southwest-flying business, that perk is the prize.
The points are locked to Southwest, so the value is the welcome bonus, anniversary points, and Companion Pass progress rather than everyday earning.
Think twice if: your business does not fly Southwest, since the points are locked to their program.
Our 3.0 out of 5 rating
Each score weighs the rewards rate, value after the annual fee, welcome offer, points flexibility, and perks, with every point valued at a flat 1 cent. This is our editorial assessment to help you compare cards, not a guarantee of approval or of the value you will get.
Rewards: how it earns
You earn well on Southwest travel plus a couple of business bonuses, in locked Rapid Rewards points, with anniversary points each year and free employee cards. Do not use it for general spending, its value is the welcome bonus, the yearly points, and Companion Pass progress.
| Category | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | 3% back | Bonus category |
| Gas | 2% back | Bonus category |
| Dining and restaurants | 2% back | Bonus category |
| Everything else | 1% back | Everything else |
Every point and mile above is valued at a flat 1 cent, the same honest standard we use for every card. Run your own spending through the calculator to see what this card would actually return for you.
Pros and cons
- Helps earn the Southwest Companion Pass
- Anniversary points each year
- Solid 60,000-point welcome bonus
- Free employee cards
- Points locked to Southwest
- $149 annual fee
- Weak everyday earning outside Southwest
The welcome bonus
The welcome bonus is solid: 60,000 points after $3,000 in three months, both valuable and a boost toward the Companion Pass.
Is it worth the annual fee?
The $149 fee needs regular Southwest flying to justify, offset by anniversary points and Companion Pass potential. If your business does not fly Southwest, there is little reason to pay it.
First-year value vs ongoing value
| Welcome bonus | 60,000 points |
| To earn it | $3,000 in 3 months |
| Est. first-year value* | $1,039 |
| Est. ongoing value / yr* | $439 |
The welcome bonus makes year one the high point: roughly $1,039 in value once you count the bonus, this card’s rewards, and its credits, minus the $149 fee. After that, the honest figure is about $439 a year, so judge whether it earns its keep on the ongoing number, not the first-year headline.
*First-year value counts the welcome bonus, estimated rewards, and annual credits, minus the annual fee; ongoing value is a typical year after. Every point at a flat 1 cent, on average spending.
Benefits and protections
Beyond the rewards, the perks and protections worth knowing about include:
- 6,000 anniversary points each year
- Two EarlyBird Check-In credits per year
- No foreign transaction fees
Statement credits
This card does not come with recurring statement credits. Its value is in the rewards rate and welcome offer.
Who should get it, and who should skip it
If your business flies Southwest and wants the Companion Pass, this card helps you build toward it while earning on business spending.
If Southwest is not your airline, the locked points will not help. This is a card for Southwest-flying businesses.
Frequently asked questions
Best-card guides featuring this card
Offer details verified against issuer sources as of August 2026. Editorial opinions are our own. Cardocrat values all points at a flat 1 cent and never inflates redemptions.
