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Based on recent AwardWallet member redemptions, those points are worth around $1,200 toward award travel. Here’s what to know about this limited-time deal and the card’s ongoing perks to help you decide if now’s the right time to apply for the Southwest Premier Business Card.
- Earn 80,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
- 6,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary.
- Earn 3X points on Southwest Airlines® purchases.
- Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and restaurants on the first $8,000 in combined purchases per year
- First checked bag free for Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation.
- Select a Standard or Preferred seat within 48 hours prior to departure, when available.
- Cardmembers and up to 8 passengers in the same reservation will board with Group 5 giving them earlier access to overhead bins.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Member FDIC
- 3X points per $1 spent on Southwest® purchases
- 2X points per $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants on the first $8,000 in combined purchases per year
- 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Southwest Premier Business Card Offer: 80K Points!
There’s no better time to apply for a card than when the welcome offer is elevated. Right now, the only Southwest business credit card with a boosted bonus is the Southwest Premier Business Card.
Here's the full Southwest Premier Business Card offer: Earn 80,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
What is the Southwest 80k welcome offer worth?
On average, AwardWallet users redeem Rapid Rewards points for 1.52¢ apiece. That makes the Southwest Premier Business Card‘s 80,000 points offer worth around $1,200 toward award travel on Southwest!
However, the sign-up bonus is likely worth much more, since the points you earn from the offer qualify for the Companion Pass. The Southwest Companion Pass is one of the best perks in award travel. Unfortunately, you can't earn the Companion Pass from this offer alone, but you can use this offer to jumpstart your progress.
If you apply for the card in mid-October, you could wait until after January 1, 2027, before completing the spending requirement.
That way, you'll earn 80,000 points in 2027. Add on the 10,000 bonus Companion Pass-qualifying points that Southwest cardmembers receive each calendar year, and you'll start the year with 90,000 qualifying points, plus some of the points you earn from meeting the minimum spending requirement. Then, you'll need just 45,000 more qualifying points to enjoy one of the most valuable perks in travel for all of 2027 and 2028!
Keep in mind that timing is key here. If you want to employ this strategy, you'll need to wait to apply until you can earn the welcome bonus in January 2027. If you apply too early and you only have three months to earn the bonus, you won't be able to push it into 2027.
Welcome offer restrictions
There are two things to consider before you apply for the Southwest Premier Business Card:
- Are you under 5/24? Chase issues Southwest's business
credit cards - Have you received a sign-up bonus on the card you're applying for within the last 24 months? If so, you'll be ineligible to receive another bonus. You'll see the same language on both Southwest business credit card applications:
“This new Cardmember bonus offer is not available to either (i) current Cardmembers of this business credit card, or (ii) previous Cardmembers of this business credit card who received a new Cardmember bonus for this business credit card within the last 24 months.”
Which Southwest Business Credit Card Should I Get?
Southwest offers two business credit cards — the Southwest Premier Business Card and the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card (Rates & Fees). Right now, only the Southwest Premier Business Card comes with an elevated welcome offer. But that might not automatically make it the best fit for you.
Here’s a side-by-side look at Southwest’s two business cards to help you decide which one makes the most sense.
Southwest Premier Business Card
- Annual fee: $149
- Earning rates: Receive 6,000 anniversary points each year. Enjoy benefits including 3X points on Southwest Airlines® purchases, First checked bag free, 10,000 Companion Pass® qualifying points boost each year, and more.
- Key perks: First checked bag free for you and up to 8 companions, 25% back on inflight purchases, no foreign transaction fees, a 15% flight discount each year on your cardmember anniversary (excluding Basic fares), 2,000 A-List qualifying points for every $5,000 spent to help you earn status faster, complimentary Preferred seat selection within 48 hours of departure when available, 6,000 anniversary points each year, and Group 5 boarding for you and up to 8 companions.
- Earn 80,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
- 6,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary.
- Earn 3X points on Southwest Airlines® purchases.
- Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and restaurants on the first $8,000 in combined purchases per year
- First checked bag free for Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation.
- Select a Standard or Preferred seat within 48 hours prior to departure, when available.
- Cardmembers and up to 8 passengers in the same reservation will board with Group 5 giving them earlier access to overhead bins.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Member FDIC
- 3X points per $1 spent on Southwest® purchases
- 2X points per $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants on the first $8,000 in combined purchases per year
- 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Related: Southwest Premier Business Card Full Review
Southwest Performance Business Card
- Annual fee: $299
- Earning rates: Earn 4 points per $1 spent on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2 points per $1 spent on gas station and restaurant purchases. Earn 2 points per $1 spent on hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel. Earn 2 points per $1 spent on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Key perks: First checked bag free for you and up to 8 companions, 25% back on inflight purchases, up to $120 credit every 4 years for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS, 2,500 A-List qualifying points for every $5,000 spent, 9,000 anniversary points each year, complimentary Preferred seat selection at booking, Extra Legroom upgrades within 48 hours of departure when available, and Group 5 boarding for you and up to 8 companions.
- Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 9,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary.
- Earn 4X pts on Southwest® purchases.
- Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and restaurants
- Earn 2X points on hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel
- Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
- First checked bag free for Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation.
- Cardmembers and up to 8 passengers in the same reservation will board with Group 5 giving them earlier access to overhead bins.
- Member FDIC
- 4X points per $1 spent on Southwest® purchases
- 2X points per $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants
- 2X points per $1 on hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel
- 2X points per $1 spent on rideshare
- 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Related: Southwest Performance Business Card Full Review
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re looking to stock up on Rapid Rewards points, get closer to the Companion Pass, or just enjoy extra perks when flying Southwest — or all of the above — now’s a great time to apply for the Southwest Premier Business Card. On top of the card’s ongoing benefits, you’ll earn 80,000 points after meeting the minimum spending requirement.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card (Rates & Fees), and Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card (Rates & Fees)
