Examined Sep 25, 2026 Needs a Chase credit card Paid in Rapid Rewards points A Southwest Rapid Rewards referral pays the friend only by way of a Chase credit card: up to 60,000 points on a personal card, 80,000 on a business card.
Southwest's own refer-a-friend page says nothing about the new cardholder's bonus. It appears on Chase's referral page, and only once it has fully loaded. It is a card bonus, so it comes with a credit application, a credit decision and whatever annual fee the card carries. Chase's page names five cards: the Premier, Plus and Priority personal cards, and the Performance Business and Premier Business cards.
What pays what
| You, approved for a Southwest personal card through a referral URL | Up to 60,000 points |
|---|---|
| You, a business owner approved for any Southwest business card | 80,000 points, limited time |
| The Premier Business card offer | Ends 11/2/26 |
| You, joining Rapid Rewards through a friend without a card | Nothing stated |
Your friends can earn up to 60,000 points with a Southwest Rapid Rewards Personal Credit Card.
And for business owners: “For a limited-time, business owners can earn 80,000 points with any Southwest Rapid Rewards Business Credit Card. The Premier Business Credit Card offer ends on 11/2/26.”
Do this, in this order
- Decide whether you want the card, not the points. A welcome bonus is a reason to choose one card over another, not a reason to take on a card you do not want. Southwest's rules say points do not expire, but the card is a credit account with its own terms.
- Apply through the cardholder's own unique URL. Chase's terms say friends must use that URL. The friend does not have to pick the same card; any Southwest Rapid Rewards card counts.
- Read the pricing and bonus terms inside the application. The spend, the window and the annual fee are there, not on the referral page. The cardholder whose link you used will not be told whether you applied or were approved.
- If you are applying for a business card, mind the date. The Premier Business offer ends on 11/2/26. Chase adds: “This offer is subject to change and may be cancelled at any time without notice.”
What Southwest does not publish
A bonus for joining. The Rapid Rewards terms mention enrollment points only in lists of things that do not count toward A-List status or Companion Pass. No page we read offers any.
Whether a card bonus counts toward Companion Pass. The terms list promotion bonus points among points that do not count toward Companion Pass, with an exception for the Rapid Rewards Credit Cards. They do not say in so many words how a welcome bonus is treated, so ask before you count on it.
A date on the rules. The Rapid Rewards terms carry no effective or last-updated date. They do say: “Southwest reserves the right to end the program with six months' notice.” And members acquire no property rights in their points.
A minimum age. The terms set none for adults; they cover only a parent or guardian enrolling a minor.
When your points arrive. The referral page gives no timing for your bonus; Chase's public Priority page says “please allow 6 to 8 weeks for bonus to post” after you qualify.
Is it worth your time?
Only if a Southwest card is a card you want. Then applying through a cardholder's link costs you nothing extra, and your own bonus of up to 60,000 points, or 80,000 on a business card, is the headline you would chase anyway. Confirm the spend and the annual fee on the application first, because the referral page does not state them and Chase says offers vary by where you apply.
If you are not ready for a new credit card, there is no Southwest referral reward for you at all. If you do get points, the Rapid Rewards terms say: “Points do not expire. Should a Member close their account, the points in the account will be forfeited.” For a no-card bonus, Delta SkyMiles Dining, below, pays far less but asks only for a meal.
If you refer friends yourself once you hold the card, Chase may withhold your points in any month when 10 or more friends apply through your link, posts them up to 8 weeks after each approval, and may send you a Form 1099-MISC for their value.
