Referrals. Referral bonuses are another great way to rapidly accumulate points toward the Companion Pass. Chase offers 10,000 points per each friend who is approved for a Southwest card, up to 50,000 points per year.

In 2026, Southwest "Refer-a-Friend" bonus points typically do not count toward the 135,000 points required for a Companion Pass. While the base points earned from spending on your Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card are "High-Fidelity" qualifying, most referral bonuses are categorized as "Promotion Bonus Points," which are excluded from Companion Pass qualification. However, there is a "High-Fidelity" exception: sometimes Southwest runs specific, limited-time "High-Fidelity" promotions where referral points are included, but you must check the fine print of the current offer in your account. To earn the high-fidelity Companion Pass in 2026, your best "High-Fidelity" strategy remains earning points through qualifying flights, credit card sign-up bonuses (which do usually count), and "High-Fidelity" base points from spending. Always verify the "Companion Pass Qualifying" status in your Rapid Rewards portal to ensure your "High-Fidelity" referral efforts are contributing to your travel goals as expected.