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This strategy walks you through how two people can open cards, refer each other, and take advantage of elevated welcome offers to build a huge points balance of up to one million. Always begin with the best offers available at the time. Move through the cards at your own pace (90 days between personal cards is recommended for beginners) and only put everyday spending on them—never more than you normally would. The only time-sensitive pieces are elevated welcome offers and the timing needed to earn the Southwest Companion Pass.

Be sure to check out my FAQs before closing any cards if you have additional questions. Business cards are an essential part of this strategy, and you’ll find them included below.

January – Start with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Credit Card

• Open: Chase Sapphire Preferred®Credit Card
• Welcome Bonus: Earn 75,000 points after spending $5,000 in 3 months
• Annual Fee: $95
• Points Earned: 80,000
• Points Total: 80,000

February – Refer & Double the Bonus

• Refer: Send your spouse a referral link for Chase Sapphire Preferred®Credit Card → earn 15,000 points
• Spouse Earns Welcome Bonus: Earn 75,000 points after spending $5,000 in 3 months
• Annual Fee: $95
• Points Earned: 95,000
• Points Total: 175,000

April – Add an Ink Business® Cash Credit Card

• Open: Ink Business Cash®
• Welcome Bonus: Earns 75,000 points after spending $6,000 in 3 months
• Annual Fee: $0
• Points Earned: 81,000
• Points Total: 256,000

Related: How Almost Anyone Can Apply for a Business Card

May – Refer & Double Again

• Refer: Spouse applies via Ink referral → earn 20,000 points
• Spouse Earns Welcome Bonus: Earn 75,000 points after spending $6,000 in 3 months
• Annual Fee: $0
• Points Earned: 81,000
• Points Total: 357,000

July – Expand to Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

• Open: Capital One Venture X® (or Venture®)
• Welcome Bonus: Earn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 in 3 months
• Annual Fee: $395 (Venture X) or $95 (Venture)
• Points Earned: 83,000
• Points Total: 440,000

August – Spouse Opens Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

• Refer: Spouse applies via Ink referral → earn 20,000 points
• Welcome Bonus: Earn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 in 3 months
• Annual Fee: Same as above
• Points Earned: 103,000
• Points Total: 543,000

September – Add Another Chase Ink Business®

• Open: Chase Ink Business Unlimited®Credit Card (After 10/7/25, you can only earn the referral bonus for new customers)
• Welcome Bonus: Earn 75,000 points after spending $6,000 in 3 months
• Annual Fee: $0
• Points Earned: 84,000
• Points Total: 627,000

October – Add Another Chase Ink Business®

• Open: Spouse opens Ink Business Unlimited®Credit Card (After 10/7/25, you can only earn the referral bonus for new customers)
• Welcome Bonus: Earn 75,000 points after spending $6,000 in 3 months
• Annual Fee: $0
• Points Earned: 84,000
• Points Total: 711,000

November/December – Secure the Southwest Companion Pass

• Open: Southwest business card with the highest offer, wait to meet the spend until the beginning of the next year
• Referral: Refer spouse to a Southwest personal card at the very end of December/early January.
• Referral: Refer spouse to open Southwest business card in February/March
• Annual Fees: $69–$199, depending on the cards
• Result: Earn two Southwest Companion Passes after hitting minimum spends, valid for the rest of the year you earned it AND all of the following year
• Points Total: 250,000+ (plus unlimited BOGO flights for almost two years)

Each year, the strategy changes depending on Southwest’s elevated card offers. Grab my free Southwest Guide here.

Keep Momentum Going

At this point, you’re already well on your way to 1,000,000 points. Continue by:

• Referring each other for additional cards as new offers rise
• Opening cards with elevated bonuses
• Prioritizing business cards
• Considering branching out to other programs like American Express for Membership Rewards®, CitiBank, and Bank of America, cobranded Airline and Hotel Cards

✨ Key Tips:

• Always meet minimum spends responsibly (use everyday expenses, not overspending).
• Elevated offers change—grab them when they’re at their highest.
• Referrals are a secret weapon for multiplying points.
• The Southwest Companion Pass is one of the best travel deals for families—don’t miss it.

As always, you can find all the current top deals on my Best Offers page. Using my affiliate links costs you nothing extra, but it makes a huge difference for me—and I truly appreciate the support!

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