Compare the Features and Benefits of Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card and
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card should be the go-to card for Southwest frequent travelers that own a small business. Don’t let the $299 annual fee scare you off. This card comes packed with perks that can easily justify that fee.

Southwest-specific perks include the ability to earn 2,500 TQPs toward A-List status for every $5,000 spent in purchases annually, the ability to choose a standard or preferred seat within 48 hours prior to departure when available and to choose a Preferred Seat right at booking when available. You will also be able to upgrade to Extra Legroom seat within 48 hours prior to departure when available – for you and up to 8 companions on the same reservation.

Don’t forget you get a free first checked bag for Cardmembers and up to 8 additional Passengers on the same reservation. For a group of 4 this would be a savings of up to $360 roundtrip ($45 per bag per trip).

Plus, cardholders get premium travel perks like a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee statement credit once every 4 years. This includes the option of the Canadian NEXUS program.

Cardholders earn 4x Rapid Rewards points on Southwest Airlines purchases. That’s a higher rewards earning rate on Southwest purchases than you’ll find on any other Southwest business credit card.

Cardholders will earn 2,500 tier qualifying points toward A-List status for every $5,000 spent on purchases annually. While you probably don’t want to put that much spending on the card, you can conceivably spend all the way to A-List Preferred status by spending alone.

The biggest downside to this card is the limited redemption options. The best way to redeem Rapid Rewards points is for Southwest flights. And since the Rapid Rewards structure is a fixed-value program, you won’t get more value from some flights than others. The good news is that means there are no blackout dates when you want to redeem points.

You can add employee cards for no additional cost, meaning you can be rewarded for employee spending.

Lastly, this card is great for getting more than halfway to a Southwest Companion Pass with the bonus offer. Read our guide on earning a Southwest Companion Pass for up to two years via new account bonuses.

The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is perfect for someone that wants a simple cash back card (no need to remember which card to use for which bonus category and does a lot of international travel. While the Citi Double Cash card earns 2% cash back on everything, the Double Cash carries a foreign transaction fee of 3% of your purchase.

With Quicksilver, you will never pay any foreign transaction fees or annual fees, and you’ll earn a simple 1.5% cash back on everything. If you book travel via the Capital One Travel portal, you’ll earn 5% on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars (1.5% if booked outside of Capital One Travel).

Plus, you’ll get a small cash bonus when you meet the terms of the Early Spend Bonus with your new Quicksilver card.

PRO TIP:

If you have another credit card which earns Capital One Miles, like the Capital One Venture X, Capital One Venture, Capital One VentureOne, or Capital One Spark Miles for Business, you can transfer your cash from your Quicksilver to those cards, turning them into Capital One Miles – transferable to airline and hotel partners. $10 = 1,000 Miles.

Here’s a list of Capital One Miles airline and hotel transfer partners