Is the Southwest Premier Business worth the annual fee?

Small business owners who regularly fly Southwest might consider applying for one of the airline's two business cards.

If this sounds like you, now might be a good time to get the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card (see rates and fees). This card features a solid welcome bonus and decent perks for Southwest loyalists who run a business.

Here's what else you need to know if you want to add it to your wallet.

Welcome bonus

Currently, the Southwest Premier Business card is offering 60,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.

TPG's August 2025 valuations peg these 60,000 bonus points at $810. This is the standard offer we typically see on this card.

Related: The best time to apply for these Chase cards based on offer history

Earning

The Southwest Premier Business card earns in multiple bonus categories, including:

• 3 points per dollar spent on Southwest purchases
• 2 points per dollar spent at gas stations and restaurants on the first $8,000 in combined purchases per anniversary year
• 2 points per dollar spent on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners*
• 2 points per dollar spent on local transit and commuting, including ride-hailing*
• 1 point per dollar spent everywhere else

*These earning rates end on December 31.

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Beyond Southwest purchases, this card is far from the most valuable earner available. Having the gas and restaurant bonus categories added is a nice touch, but having a spending cap seems unnecessary.

If you spend a large portion of your business budget on specific business expenses beyond travel, you'll likely benefit more from the earning structure on one of our other favorite business cards.

Plus, with some bonus categories being removed at the end of the year, you want to look at where you spend the most and see if this card makes sense for you.

Related: 10 considerations for your small-business credit card strategy

Other benefits

With the Southwest Premier Business card, you'll get these Southwest-specific perks:

• 6,000 points every year on cardmember anniversary
• Free checked bag
• Two Early Bird check-ins per year*
• $500 fee credit for points transfers*
• Priority boarding**
• Preferred seat selection within 48 hours of departure**
• Earn 2,000 tier qualifying points toward A-List status for every $5,000 spent in purchases annually
• 10,000 TQP points annually toward a Companion Pass
• 25% back on inflight purchases
• 15% flight discount code each anniversary year (excluding Basic fares)

TPG's August 2025 valuations the 6,000-anniversary points at $81, and the two Early Bird check-ins are worth at least $30 (and up to $198). These two benefits alone can make the $149 annual fee worth paying, even before you take advantage of any status-earning opportunities or inflight purchase discounts.

Plus, if you regularly transfer your points to other accounts, the $500 transfer fee credit will be especially valuable. Although many of these benefits are ending, you can still take advantage of them before the year ends

Additionally, on flights operating next year, you'll receive priority boarding and preferred seat selection within 48 hours of departure. Since Southwest has announced it's implementing seat assignments, this benefit can help you save some money.

Lastly, depending on how expensive the ticket you book is, the 15% flight discount promo code can also help you recoup some of your annual fee cost.

*Benefits ending Dec. 31, 2025.

**Benefits apply to flights operating on January 27, 2026, and beyond.

Additionally, you can get employee cards at no additional cost.

This card also doesn't charge foreign transaction fees, which is helpful if you find yourself abroad. Even so, given Southwest's limited international routes, you'll likely want to build loyalty with a different airline if you travel internationally often.

Related: Maximizing the Rapid Rewards program

Alternatives

Of course, no one card is right for everyone. If you want more Southwest perks or flexible rewards, a different card may better suit your business.

If you frequently fly Southwest and want a card that offers additional perks, the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card (see rates and fees) might be a better choice.

It has a higher $299 annual fee but also offers a stronger earning structure and perks like 9,000 anniversary points, 365 $8 inflight Wi-Fi credits (ending December 31), unlimited extra-legroom seat upgrades within 48 hours of departure (for flights operating after January 27, 2026) and a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit every four years.

For more details, check out our full review of the Southwest Business Performance card.

If you want to earn bonus points on business expenses as well as travel, you may prefer the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card.

It carries a similar $95 annual fee and earns 3 points per dollar spent on the first $150,000, then 1 point per dollar spent yearly on travel, shipping, internet, cable, phone services, and advertising with social media and search engines. It earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which you can transfer to Southwest or any of Chase's other travel partners.

For more details, check out our full review of the Ink Business Preferred.

The information for the Ink Business Preferred has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Related: Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Chase Ink Business Preferred

Bottom line

If you're a small-business owner who flies Southwest regularly, the Southwest Premier Business card's 6,000-anniversary points, free checked bag, and two Early Bird check-ins (ending December 31) provide enough value to offset the $149 annual fee.

For more details, please see our full review of the Southwest Premier Business credit card.

Apply here: Southwest Premier Business