Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business

The Performance Business is Southwest's top business card, and its best argument is the 80,000-point bonus after $5,000 in spending within three months, plus 9,000 anniversary points each year to help offset the $299 annual fee. Frequent Southwest flyers get real perks: unlimited Extra Legroom seat upgrades within 48 hours of departure when available, seat selection at booking, a free first checked bag and Group 5 boarding for up to eight companions on the same reservation. It earns 4 points per dollar on Southwest purchases and 2 points on gas, dining, hotels booked direct and local transit including rideshare, and it adds a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit, a 10,000-point Companion Pass boost each year and free employee cards. The catch is that $299 is a lot for a single-airline card, and its value depends almost entirely on how often you fly Southwest. If your business only flies the airline occasionally, the cheaper Premier Business covers the basics.