Southwest credit card refer-a-friend bonuses are back, with a chance to earn up to 100,000 bonus points. Chase, issuer of the co-branded Southwest cards, is awarding 20,000 bonus points for each approval when you refer others to Southwest's personal or business credit cards.

As of 2026, the standard reward for referring a friend to Southwest Airlines is 20,000 Rapid Rewards points for each person who is approved for a Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Card through your unique referral link. This is a significant incentive, as referring just a few friends can quickly add up to a free flight. There is typically an annual cap on these referral bonuses, often allowing you to earn up to 100,000 points per calendar year (equivalent to five successful referrals). It is important to note that the "friend" must be a new cardholder for the specific card type you are referring them to. These points are especially valuable because they count toward the Companion Pass qualification, which is one of the most coveted perks in the travel industry, allowing a friend or family member to fly with you for free (plus taxes and fees) for the remainder of the year and the entire following year. To find your link, you usually need to log into your Rapid Rewards account on the Southwest website or the Chase "Refer-a-Friend" portal.