Is the Southwest Premier Business Card worth its annual fee?

Southwest Airlines has plenty to love: complimentary checked bags, no change fees, and straightforward cancellations for added flexibility. If you’re a small-business owner who frequently travels and enjoys these distinctive benefits, you may be contemplating whether a Southwest business card is the right choice for you.

If you’ve been thinking about it, now could be an excellent opportunity to consider the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card. Besides the initial bonus, does the Southwest Premier Business offer enough perks to justify the $99 annual fee?

Here’s what you should know before you decide to add it to your collection.

Sign-up bonus

Currently, the Southwest Premier Business Card offers 60,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first three months of opening your account.

As of September 2024, TPG estimates these 60,000 bonus points to be worth $840.

Rewards

The Southwest Premier Business Card earns 3 points for every dollar spent on Southwest purchases, 2 points per dollar on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental expenses, local transit, and commuting (including ride-hailing), and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.

While it offers good rewards for Southwest purchases, it's not the most lucrative option out there. If a significant portion of your business expenses lies outside of travel, you might find better earning potential with one of our other recommended business cards.

Additional perks

With the Southwest Premier Business Card, you'll enjoy these Southwest-exclusive benefits:

• 6,000 points awarded each year on your cardmember anniversary
• Two Early Bird check-ins each year
• Earn 1,500 tier qualifying points toward A-List status for every $5,000 spent
• $500 fee credit for transferring points
• 25% rebate on inflight purchases

TPG estimates that the 6,000 anniversary points are worth about $84, and the two Early Bird check-ins have a value of at least $30 (potentially up to $198). These benefits alone can justify the $99 annual fee, even before considering any status-earning options or inflight discounts. Additionally, if you frequently transfer your points, the $500 transfer fee credit can be particularly beneficial.

Furthermore, you can obtain employee cards at no extra cost.

This card also does not impose foreign transaction fees, which is advantageous for international travel. However, due to Southwest's limited international routes, you may prefer to establish loyalty with another airline if you travel abroad frequently.

Alternatives

Naturally, no single card fits everyone’s needs. If you’re looking for more Southwest benefits or flexible rewards, another card might be a better fit for your business.

If you regularly fly with Southwest and desire a card that offers extra benefits, the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card could be a more suitable option. It has a higher annual fee of $199 but features a more lucrative earning structure along with perks like inflight Wi-Fi credits and a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit every four years.

For further information, take a look at our comprehensive review of the Southwest Business Performance card.

If you’re looking to earn bonus points on both business and travel expenses, you might prefer the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card.

It has a comparable $95 annual fee and rewards 3 points per dollar on the first $150,000 spent annually on travel, shipping, internet, cable, phone services, and advertising through social media and search engines. It accrues Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which can be transferred to Southwest or any of Chase's other travel partners.

For additional information, check out our comprehensive review of the Ink Business Preferred.

Conclusion

If you’re a small-business owner who frequently flies Southwest, the Southwest Premier Business Card offers enough value with its 6,000-anniversary points and two Early Bird check-ins to justify the $99 annual fee. This could make it a worthy addition to your wallet, especially considering the valuable welcome bonus. However, if a significant portion of your spending is in business categories outside of Southwest travel, you might find greater value in a different business credit card.

For further information, please refer to our comprehensive review of the Southwest Premier Business credit card.