INSIDER SECRET: With a welcome bonus of 80,000 Southwest points after meeting minimum spending requirements, you’ll only need to earn 30,000 more Southwest points in a calendar year to earn the coveted Southwest Companion Pass. With the Companion Pass, you can bring along a friend or family member on any Southwest flight for just the cost of taxes and fees.
When you sign-up for the new Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card, you’ll earn a whopping 80,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. Also, the points you earn count towards Southwest Companion Pass.
This is an excellent offer! Southwest flies to more destinations than ever, including Hawaii. Because Southwest doesn’t have blackout dates, you can use your 80,000 Southwest points to travel whenever you want. Southwest points are worth about 1.5 cents each, so this welcome bonus can get you ~$1,200 in Southwest flights.
Tempting welcome bonus aside, the Southwest Performance Business Credit Card benefits and are really what set the card apart from other Southwest cards. It’s loaded with valuable perks like four upgraded boardings per year, inflight Wi-Fi credits and a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee credit.
You can apply for the new Southwest Performance Business Card here.
Southwest Performance Business Card Benefits and Perks
Apply Here: Southwest Performance Business Card
Read our review of the Southwest Performance Business Card
While you’ll probably be most interested in the 80,000 Southwest point welcome bonus from the Southwest Performance Business Card (I know I am), there a number of other great ongoing perks and benefits that make the Southwest Performance Business Card worth keeping long term.
Here are the card’s top benefits and perks:
Four Annual Upgraded Boarding Certificates
Southwest is the only major airline in the US to offer open seating. If you see an open seat when you board, you get to take it. A lot of travelers love Southwest for this reason as you avoid having to shell out cash for reserved seats.
While Southwest’s open seating can be great for travelers, it also means that your boarding position is extremely important. The new Southwest Performance Business Card comes with a benefit that’ll make scoring group A boarding a little easier and cheaper.
You can get group A boarding when you purchase Business Select fares, if you’re an elite frequent flyer, or if you pay to upgrade your boarding position at check-in or at the gate. The price to upgrade starts at $30 but can cost as much as $50. However, with the new Southwest Performance Business Card, you won’t have to worry about the cost to upgrade your boarding group as you’ll receive four upgraded boarding certificates each year.
If you make the most of this perk (four upgraded boardings x $50 per flight), you’ll get a value of $200 a year and more than offset the card’s $199 annual fee with this perk alone.
Inflight Wi-Fi Credits
If you’re like me and can’t live without Wi-Fi, then the Southwest Performance Business Card is right up your alley. You’ll receive up to 365 inflight Wi-Fi credits (worth $8 each) with the card each year.
Frequent Southwest flyers can do very well with this perk, and potentially save hundreds of dollars in Wi-Fi fees.
Earn Points Toward the Southwest Companion Pass
If there’s one thing that all Southwest flyers long for, it’s the airline’s Companion Pass. With the Southwest Companion Pass, you’ll be able to bring a companion of your choice to your paid or award ticket for just the cost of taxes and fees (usually ~$6 each way on domestic flights)
The points you earn from the Southwest Performance Business Card can help qualify you for the Southwest Companion Pass – even the whopping 80,000 point welcome bonus counts! To earn Companion Pass, you’ll need to earn 110,000 qualifying Southwest points in a calendar year. If you earn the 80,000-point welcome bonus, you’ll just need 30,000 more points in a calendar year to earn the Companion Pass.
Earn Tier-Qualifying Points Toward Elite Status
The Southwest Performance Business Credit Card can give you a boost toward Southwest Elite status (A-List and A-List Preferred).
With the Southwest Performance Business Card, you’ll earn 1,500 tier-qualifying points (TQPs) for each $10,000 in purchases, up to $100,000 in purchases per year (which equals 15,000 TQPs).
This could be a big help if you’re just short of qualifying for elite status for the year. points threshold for the year. Having Southwest elite status means you get bonus points on paid flights, priority check-in and boarding and free same-day standby (A-List Preferred members also get free inflight WiFi), and you’ll need to earn a certain number of points in a calendar year to qualify:
- A-List: 35,000 tier-qualifying points in a calendar year (or 25 qualifying one-way flights)
- A-List Preferred: 70,000 tier qualifying points in a calendar year (or 50 qualifying one-way flights)
9,000 Anniversary Points
As if 80,000 bonus points weren’t enough, Southwest Performance Business Card holders also receive 9,000 Southwest points (worth ~$135 in Southwest flights) each account anniversary when they renew the card.
Though 9,000 points might not sound like a lot (especially compared to the 80,000 points welcome bonus), you’ll be surprised to find out just how far the annual anniversary points can get you on Southwest. Here’s just one example:
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Application Credit
With the Southwest Performance Business Card, you’ll receive up to a $100 statement credit every four years towards the application fee of either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
I highly recommend (as long as you have a valid passport) that you use your $100 statement credit for Global Entry. Not only will you be able to bypass long lines at immigration but Global Entry also comes with TSA PreCheck. So, when you’re approved for Global Entry, you’ll receive expedited immigration and expedited airport security. Plus, if you apply for Global Entry, you’ll be maximizing the $100 statement credits.
Protect Your Purchases
In addition to a variety of travel benefits and perks, you’ll also be eligible for purchase protections. These benefits are especially valuable for pricey new items and items that feature short warranty protections.
Purchase Protection
The Southwest Performance Business Card protects eligible new purchases for up to 120 days against damage or theft. Coverage is available up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
Extended Warranty Coverage
When you use your Southwest Performance Business Card for the full cost of an item, you might be eligible to receive extended warranty coverage. The card can extend a manufacturer’s warranty by an additional year on eligible warranties of three years or less.
This benefit provides coverage of up to $10,000 per claim and up to $50,000 per year. Extended warranty coverage is great for pricey new purchases like a new laptop or appliance.
Travel Coverage
The Southwest Performance Business Card also comes with the benefit of peace of mind when you’re out on the road. Southwest’s newest credit card offers an extensive list of travel coverage and protections. Here’s what you’ll get:
Travel Accident Insurance
When you use your card for the full amount of the cost of a ticket offered by a common carrier (airline, train, bus service, cruise) you’ll be eligible for travel accident insurance should the unthinkable happen.
The Southwest Performance Business Card offers this coverage to the cardholder, their immediate family and employees. The card’s travel accident insurance covers accidental death, dismemberment, and loss of speech, sight and hearing.
Lost Luggage Reimbursement
If you, an employee, or a member of your immediate family loses carry-on or checked baggage or you receive your luggage damaged, you’ll be covered up to $3,000 per passenger as long as you use your card to pay for the full amount of the fare. Coverage is available up to $500 for each insured person for items like jewelry, watches, camera equipment and other electronics.
Baggage Delay Insurance
When you pay for the full amount of the fare with your card, you, your immediate family, and employees are eligible to receive reimbursement for the essentials like toiletries and clothing when bags are delayed for six hours or more. You’ll be covered up to $100 per day for a maximum of three days.
Travel and Emergency Assistance Services
If something comes up while you’re out on the road, the Southwest Performance Business Card offers travel and emergency assistance services. Simply call the Benefits Administrator (available 24/7) and you’ll be able to receive medical or legal referrals and relay messages back home.
This benefit also provides assistance with emergency travel arrangements, ticket replacements, locating lost luggage, prescription refills and more. Keep in mind that this is just a referral service and you’ll be responsible for any costs incurred using this benefit.
Rental Car Coverage
When you rent a car for business travel and pay for the entire rental using your Southwest Performance Business Card you may be eligible for primary rental insurance coverage. Coverage will kick in when you decline the rental car company’s collision damage waiver. If you’re renting in the US for personal travel, coverage is secondary.
However, if you don’t have your own insurance or you’re traveling outside the US, you’ll receive primary coverage.
The rental car coverage offered by the Southwest Performance Business Card covers damage to the vehicle due to collisions and theft. However, you will not receive liability coverage so you’ll need to ensure you have your own coverage to cover liabilities.
This benefit can potentially save you thousands of dollars in the unfortunate event that you need to file a claim. Million Mile Secrets’ own Harlan Vaughn found out just how valuable car rental coverage is after begin billed almost $700 for a small dent on the passenger side door.
Roadside Assistance
For a small flat service fee per call, you’ll be able to receive assistance when you’re out on the road and experience a common mishap like:
- Towing – up to five miles included
- Tire Changing – must have good, inflated spare
- Jump-Starting – battery boost
- Lockout Service (no key replacement)
- Fuel Delivery – up to five gallons (cost of fuel not included)
- Winching (within 100 feet of paved or county maintained road only)
While you’re responsible for the cost of any services used, it’s extremely helpful if you’re out and about, unfamiliar with the area, and experience car trouble.
Employee Cards at No Additional Cost
The new Southwest Performance Business Card is a small business card. For small businesses, issuing multiple employee credit cards can often become quite expensive. However, with the Southwest Performance Business Card, employee cards are available at no additional cost.
Small business owners will also be eligible to earn points from purchases made by employees with the Southwest Performance Business Card.
Bottom Line
If you use all of the benefits and perks that come with the new Southwest Performance Business Card, you won’t have any trouble justifying the $199 annual fee. Even if you already have a card that offers statement credits for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, the card’s numerous other perks can more than make up for the annual fee.
The four upgraded boarding certificates you’ll receive each year can save you up to $200, plus you’ll be among the first to board which means snagging your favorite seat. The Southwest Performance Business Card also earns points toward the Companion Pass which can save you thousands in airfare each year. And you’ll receive up to 365 inflight Wi-Fi credits (worth $8 apiece) each year.
I highly recommend the new Southwest Performance Business Card, not just for the card’s welcome bonus of 80,000 Southwest points (worth ~$1,200 in airfare) after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of opening an account.
You can apply here for the Southwest Performance Business Credit Card here.
To learn more about Southwest points, check out these posts:
- Southwest Points Value
- How to Earn Southwest Points
- How to Use Southwest Points
- How to Setup a Southwest Account
- Best Ways to Use Southwest Points
- Southwest Status
- Everything to Know About the Southwest Companion Pass
- How to Use the Southwest Companion Pass
- Do Southwest Points Expire?
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Review
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