Southwest Airlines says it will overhaul Rapid Rewards on January 1, 2027, adding a Platinum status tier and changing how members qualify for Companion Pass benefits. Under the announced rules, credit card welcome bonuses generally will no longer count toward earning those benefits.
The changes, announced on October 15, 2026, tie Companion Pass qualification to tier qualifying points (TQPs) or qualifying flights. Southwest also plans broader points redemptions and a fleetwide Starlink Wi-Fi rollout.
Companion Pass qualification and transition rules
Under the 2026 rules, members qualify for unlimited Companion Pass travel with 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points or 100 qualifying one-way flights. The benefit lets a designated companion travel with the member, subject to seat availability and taxes and fees starting at $5.60 one way.
From January 2027, Southwest says unlimited trips will be included with Platinum status, requiring 140,000 TQPs or 100 qualifying one-way flights. Members reaching 95,000 TQPs or 75 qualifying flights will receive three Companion Pass trips, each usable for a one-way or round-trip itinerary.
The airline identifies several sources of redeemable points that will not earn TQPs under the new rules:
- New cardmember welcome bonuses.
- Referral bonuses and anniversary points.
- Bonus points from credit card spending categories.
- Points earned through partner spending, such as hotel stays and car rentals.
All Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards will instead earn one TQP per dollar of eligible purchases. Eligible primary cardholders who reach 130,000 TQPs in 2027 will receive a one-time 10,000-TQP boost toward Platinum. Their card account must remain open and not in default when the boost is awarded.
Southwest says existing Companion Pass benefits will remain valid until their stated expiration dates. Members who qualify under the standard 2026 rules can retain unlimited trips through December 31, 2027.
The airline also provides a welcome-bonus transition exception: cardholders approved on or before December 2, 2026, who meet their offer requirements can have welcome-bonus points count toward Companion Pass qualification even if they meet the spending threshold in early 2027.
Silver, Gold and Platinum replace the two-tier structure
Southwest says members who earned A-List or A-List Preferred status for 2027 will automatically transition to Silver or Gold, respectively. Its announced annual qualification thresholds are:
| Tier | Tier qualifying points | Or qualifying one-way flights |
|---|---|---|
| Silver | 35,000 | 25 |
| Gold | 65,000 | 50 |
| Platinum | 140,000 | 100 |
Beyond unlimited Companion Pass trips, Platinum will include:
- Up to three free checked bags, subject to size and weight limits.
- Boarding before Gold members and Group 1.
- A 120% points-earning bonus on qualifying flights.
Gold’s standard flight-points bonus will be 60%, compared with A-List Preferred’s 100%. However, members who earn A-List Preferred for 2027 through their 2026 activity will retain the 100% bonus through December 31, 2027.
A separate milestone at 20,000 TQPs or 15 qualifying flights will offer a choice between 2,000 Rapid Rewards points and two Preferred Seat Certificates.
Expanded redemptions, lounges and Starlink Wi-Fi
Southwest plans to add rental-car redemptions in November 2026. International loyalty partnerships with Icelandair, China Airlines and Etihad Airways are scheduled to support earning and redeeming points for travel in spring 2027. Seat-selection redemptions are planned for later that year.
The airline’s first Icon Lounges are planned for Austin, Baltimore, Honolulu and Nashville, with openings expected to begin in late 2027. Southwest envisions at least seven additional locations. A premium Chase-issued Rapid Rewards credit card planned for 2027 will include lounge access; the announced access details do not specify eligibility through elite status or day passes.
Southwest also says it expects to complete its fleetwide Starlink Wi-Fi rollout in fall 2027, with free access for Rapid Rewards members.
