Southwest Refer-a-Friend Bonus Offers on Credit Cards

Southwest cardholders can earn up to 100,000 Rapid Rewards points through this offer.
Elina Geller
Meghan Coyle
By Meghan Coyle and  Elina Geller 
Updated
Edited by Meg Lee

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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. The bonus points are only available once the referred applicant is approved.

The Southwest family of cards is part of Chase’s refer-a-friend program. Here’s how the program works.

Southwest credit cards with referral

The following cards participate in the refer-a-friend bonus offer:

Your friends do not have to get the exact same card that you have. As long as it’s one of the Southwest credit cards above, you will receive bonus points for their approved applications.

Get up to 80,000 bonus points with our favorite Southwest cards
Check out our nerdy picks for the best Southwest credit cards and find the right card for you.

How to refer a friend to a Southwest credit card

Go to chase.com/referafriend/swafamily to find the referral offer. Input your last name, zip code and the last four digits of your credit card, then click the “Continue” button.

Then you will be able to send your friends a referral email or provide them with your unique referral link. You can also refer friends through Chase’s mobile app, which is available on the App Store and Google Play. You will receive bonus points if your friends are approved for a card.

How long does it take to get Southwest bonus points?

The points should post to your account within eight weeks after your friend is approved. These bonus points accelerate your earnings to get award flights and possibly the coveted Southwest Companion Pass, which allows a buddy to fly with you for only the price of taxes and fees.

If you were to max out your friend referrals for the year, the 100,000 bonus points you’d receive would get you almost to the 135,000 Rapid Rewards points you need for a Southwest Companion Pass.

Final thoughts on the Southwest refer-a-friend bonus

If you're a Southwest credit card holder and have friends or family who are looking to apply for a Southwest card, taking advantage of this promo is a good idea. Especially with the high cap (100,000 points), this is probably one of the easiest ways to earn Southwest points.


How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2023, including those best for:

Southwest Cards from our Partners
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

on Chase's website

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
4.2
NerdWallet Rating
Rewards rate

1x-3x

Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services, and select streaming. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.

Points

Intro offer

75,000

Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Points
Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card

on Chase's website

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
5.0
NerdWallet Rating
Rewards rate

1x-5x

Enjoy benefits such as a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases, plus more.

Points

Intro offer

60,000

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

Points
Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

on Chase's website

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
4.2
NerdWallet Rating
Rewards rate

1x-2x

Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services, and select streaming. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.

Points

Intro offer

75,000

Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Points
See more Southwest cards
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