Southwest Performance vs. Premier: Which is right for you?

Attempting to resolve which Southwest Airlines business credit card deserves a spot in your pockets? The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card (see rates and fees) and the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card (see rates and fees) each pack priceless perks, however every is constructed with a special type of traveler in thoughts.

Southwest has rolled out main adjustments, together with assigned seating, a revamped boarding process and bag fees. A cobranded Southwest credit card can provide loyalists extra sensible worth amid these new changes.

Here is a side-by-side comparability of each playing cards that will help you select the one which most accurately fits your online business wants.

Associated: Comparing the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority, Premier and Plus credit cards

Based mostly on TPG’s October 2025 valuations, the Southwest Performance Business provide is value $1,680.

In the meantime, the Southwest Premier Business provide is value $840.

Remember, each playing cards fall beneath Chase’s 5/24 rule, which means you seemingly will not be permitted if you happen to’ve opened 5 or extra private playing cards up to now 24 months.

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Moreover, you will not be eligible to obtain a welcome bonus in case you have acquired one up to now 24 months on the respective card you might be making use of for.

Winner: Southwest Efficiency Enterprise. Its considerably increased bonus simply edges out the Premier model, providing greater than double the worth.

Associated: Here’s how to calculate your 5/24 status

On this case, the Southwest Performance Business prices $150 extra per 12 months than the Southwest Premier Business, so the additional advantages must make up that distinction.

Advantages shared by each playing cards:

• Free checked baggage.
• Precedence boarding for flights in 2026 and past.
• 25% again on inflight purchases.
• $500 charge credit score for factors transfers per 12 months.*
• 10,000 annual Companion Qualifying factors, which get you nearer to incomes a companion cross.
• No international transaction charges.
• Free worker playing cards.

Premier Enterprise Advantages:

• Two Early Chook Examine-Ins on flights working in 2025.*
• 6,000 anniversary bonus factors.
• Most well-liked seat choice inside 48 hours of departure on flights working in 2026 and past.
• 15% flight low cost code every anniversary 12 months (excluding Fundamental fares).
• 2,000 Tier Qualifying Factors for each $5,000 spent on the Premier Enterprise card in a 12 months (with no cap on the variety of TQPs you’ll be able to earn). This helps you attain A-List elite status quicker.

Efficiency Enterprise Advantages:

• 9,000 anniversary bonus factors.
• 4 Upgraded Boardings on flights working in 2025.*
• 365 $8 inflight Wi-Fi purchases as a press release credit score. In different phrases, you could possibly buy an all-day inflight Wi-Fi cross day by day of the 12 months, and your card will cowl it.*
• Precedence boarding for you and as much as eight companions on the identical reservation for flights working in 2026 and past. When you have A-list standing, you’ll be able to board with an earlier group.
• Most well-liked seat choice at reserving for flights working in 2026 and past.
• Limitless extra-legroom upgrades inside 48 hours of exits on flights working in 2026 and past.
• 2,500 tier-qualifying factors per $5,000 you spend on purchases in a calendar 12 months (with no cap on the variety of TQP’s you’ll be able to earn).
• Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus software charge credit score.

*Advantages ending December 31.

The Efficiency Enterprise begins sturdy by providing 9,000 bonus factors in your account anniversary versus 6,000 with the Premier Enterprise. As of October 2025, TPG values Southwest factors at 1.4 cents every.

The Premier Enterprise anniversary bonus is value $84, whereas the Efficiency Enterprise anniversary bonus is value $126.

The opposite standout advantages of the Efficiency Enterprise card are geared towards the day-of journey expertise. Since Southwest is shifting to assigned seating for a charge for flights beginning in 2026, the Efficiency Enterprise will permit prospects to pick most well-liked seating without cost at reserving and entry limitless additional legroom upgrades inside 48 hours of departure.

The Efficiency Enterprise additionally permits you to attain A-list standing faster by means of card spending and affords a press release credit score for International Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus, whereas the Premier Enterprise does not.

The Premier Enterprise card nonetheless holds enchantment, significantly with its 15% annual flight low cost (excluding Fundamental fares) and decrease annual charge. However if you happen to fly Southwest typically, the Efficiency Enterprise’s journey perks and elite-status increase make the $150 nicely value it.

It is also value mentioning that each playing cards will lose key advantages on the finish of the 12 months, just like the Wi-Fi passes and upgraded boarding with the Efficiency Enterprise and the EarlyBird check-ins with the Premier Enterprise.

Winner: Southwest Efficiency Enterprise. The upper annual charge comes with a significant improve in advantages that frequent Southwest vacationers will truly use.

Associated: Are airline credit cards worth it anymore?

The Southwest Performance Business additionally has noticeably stronger incomes charges — although you may solely profit in case your spending habits align with the bonus categories.

With the Efficiency Enterprise, you may earn:

• 4 factors per greenback spent on Southwest purchases (5.6% return†)
• 3 factors per greenback spent on Speedy Rewards lodge and automotive rental companions* (4.2% return†)
• 2 factors per greenback spent on native transit and commuting (together with ride-hailing providers) (2.8% return†)
• 2 factors per greenback spent on lodge lodging booked instantly with the lodge (2.8% return†)
• 2 factors per greenback spent at fuel stations and eating places (2.8% return†)
• 2 factors per greenback spent on social media and search engine promoting, web, cable and telephone providers* (2.8% return†)
• 1 level per greenback spent in all places else (1.4% return†)

†Based mostly on TPG’s October 2025 valuations.

In the meantime, with the Premier Business you may earn:

• 3 factors per greenback spent on Southwest purchases (4.2% return)
• 2 factors per greenback spent at fuel stations and eating places on the primary $8,000 in mixed purchases per anniversary 12 months (2.8% return)
• 2 factors per greenback spent on Speedy Rewards lodge and automotive rental companions* (2.8% return)
  2 factors per greenback spent on native transit and commuting, together with ride-hailing* (2.8% return)
• 1 level per greenback spent in all places else (1.4% return)

*Incomes charges ending December 31.

†Based mostly on TPG’s October 2025 valuations.

The Efficiency Enterprise clearly outpaces its sibling in long-term incomes potential. You may earn extra on Southwest purchases and will not face the $8,000 annual cap on fuel and restaurant spending that applies to the Premier Enterprise.

It is also higher for frequent vacationers or small-business homeowners who repeatedly spend on inns, promoting or web providers — all classes the place it earns double factors.

Moreover, the Efficiency Enterprise will nonetheless earn bonus factors on native transit, whereas the Premier Enterprise is dropping that class.

The Premier Enterprise, nonetheless, nonetheless affords strong rewards for many who fly Southwest solely often and do not spend closely in bonus classes.

Each playing cards will lose bonus classes on the finish of 2025, which is disappointing provided that they each carry annual charges.

Winner: Southwest Efficiency Enterprise. The upper incomes charges and uncapped bonus classes make it a stronger earner total.

Associated: Easy ways to earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points

Each playing cards earn Rapid Rewards points that may be redeemed the identical method — primarily for Southwest-operated flights.

Since Southwest makes use of a revenue-based pricing mannequin, the variety of factors wanted for a flight usually aligns with its money fare. You will not discover “candy spots, however you may get pleasure from constant worth to your redemptions.

Redeeming Southwest factors is easy: when reserving on the Southwest web site, simply choose “Factors” as a substitute of “{Dollars}.” The web site will show the corresponding award pricing to your chosen itinerary.

It is vital to notice that, like with any airline’s award tickets, extra taxes and charges are nonetheless relevant, beginning at $5.60 per method.

Nevertheless, tickets booked with factors are totally refundable, and there aren’t any penalties for cancellations so long as you cancel a minimum of 10 minutes earlier than the scheduled departure time.

Redeeming the factors you earn in your Southwest enterprise playing cards can unlock new alternatives for your loved ones and your online business.

TPG bank cards author Chris Nelson likes to make use of Southwest factors to ebook nonstop flights on routes the place different airways all have a layover, equivalent to from Portland Worldwide Airport (PDX) to St. Louis Lambert Worldwide Airport (STL).

Whereas Southwest additionally affords worldwide flights, inns and automotive leases by means of its journey portal, the charges for these choices are typically not as favorable as when utilizing your factors for Southwest-operated flights.

Winner: Tie. Since each playing cards have the identical redemption choices, there is no clear winner right here.

Associated: Southwest Airlines cuts 30 routes in pivot to add more connecting flights

In case you fly Southwest repeatedly, the Southwest Performance Business Card’ is well worth the increased annual charge. Between the 9,000-point anniversary bonus, limitless Wi-Fi credit and precedence boarding upgrades, it delivers a stronger set of journey perks and incomes energy.

In case you’re an off-the-cuff Southwest flyer or just need to hold your annual charge low, the Premier Enterprise card affords strong worth with its 15% annual flight low cost (excluding Fundamental fares) and constant incomes construction.

Associated: How to choose an airline credit card

Nevertheless, it is typically smarter to open each playing cards individually to make the most of every welcome bonus. Earlier than making the swap, verify if you happen to’re eligible for an improve provide from the Premier Business to the Performance Business.

Associated: Don’t cancel: How to downgrade a Chase credit card

To be taught extra, learn our full evaluations of the Southwest Performance Business and Southwest Premier Business.

Apply right here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card
Apply right here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card