Compare the Features and Benefits of Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card and
IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card

Small business owners that occasionally fly Southwest should consider getting the Southwest Premier Business Credit Card. You’ll get a solid earning rate on Southwest Airlines purchases, your first checked bag free for you and 8 additional passengers in the same reservation, an annual 15% promo code each anniversary year (excludes Basic fares), a complimentary Standard or Preferred seat within 48 hours prior to departure, when available, plus 25% back on inflight purchases.

You can also earn 2,000 tier qualifying points (TQPs) toward A-List status for every $5,000 spent in purchases annually accelerating your way to A-List status. (Note that on the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card you earn these quicker, at 2,500 per $5,000 in spend.)

In addition to the bonus points earned after account opening, cardholders earn points at a rate of 3x Rapid Rewards points on Southwest purchases plus 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and restaurants on your first $8,000 in combined purchases per anniversary year.

When you earn points through the Southwest Premier Business Credit Card, they count toward earning the Southwest Companion Pass.

You can boost your point earnings by adding employee cards at no additional cost and, of course, there are no foreign transaction fees when you travel abroad.

When you go to redeem points, Southwest offers a simple rewards structure which values the points around 1.25 cents each. The actual redemption varies a bit, with redemptions closer to the date of travel tending to get a bit more value per point. While there are no blackout dates, that also means there’s no way of getting more value from your Rapid Rewards points.

Although the Southwest Premier Business Card is a solid card, Southwest frequent travelers should strongly consider getting the Southwest Performance Business Credit Card instead.

For a $299 annual fee, you’ll earn 4x bonus points on Southwest purchases, plus you’ll be able to upgrade to Extra Legroom seat for free within 48 hours prior to departure when available. That’s after you can select a complimentary Preferred seat at booking at no additional charge, when available.

Lastly, this card is great for getting 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 IHG Rewards Premier Business Credit Card is IHG’s small business credit card. And, for small business owners who even occasionally travel, it’s easily worth its annual fee. That’s because the free night certificate earned each account anniversary year should easily save you more than the $99 annual fee.

Other card perks just add to the card’s value: bonus points on wide-ranging purchases, Platinum Elite status, and the fourth night free on rewards stays.

Purchases made using the IHG Rewards Premier Business Credit Card earn 10 IHG points per dollar at hotels participating in the IHG Rewards program, 5x IHG points per dollar on travel, dining, social media and search engine advertising, office supply stores, and gas stations. All other purchases charged to the IHG Rewards Premier Business Credit Card earn 3 points per dollar.

IHG point earnings are further boosted by the IHG Platinum Elite status that comes as a perk of the IHG Rewards Premier Business Credit Card. Platinum Elite members earn 60% bonus points on top of the base earning rate of 10 points per dollar. That nets a total of 26 IHG points per dollar at IHG hotels.

Big spenders can rack up additional rewards on the IHG Rewards Premier Business Credit Card. Receive a $100 statement credit plus 10,000 bonus points after spending $20,000 in a calendar year. Then, upgrade to Diamond Elite status after spending $40,000 in purchase in a calendar year. Finally, earn another free night award by spending $60,000 in purchases (plus one additional purchase) in one calendar year using your IHG Rewards Premier Business Card.

Small business owners can also earn points on employee spending. There’s no additional annual fee to add employee cards.

IHG Rewards members can redeem points for a reward night at any hotels participating in the IHG portfolio. That spans everything from luxury InterContinental Hotels to practical Holiday Inn hotels.

Even better, when you redeem IHG Rewards points for a stay of at least four consecutive nights, you’ll get a free night through the IHG Rewards Premier Business Credit Card’s fourth reward night free benefit.

IHG Rewards Premier Business Card cardholders get a free night award each year. This certificate can be redeemed for an IHG hotel night stay costing up to 40,000 IHG Rewards points. Sure, that’s not going to get you an overwater villa in Bora Bora, but that free night will cover a stay at many IHG hotels.