Southwest Overhauls Rapid Rewards for 2027
Southwest is making some of its biggest Rapid Rewards changes yet starting in 2027, including a new elite status setup, Milestone Rewards, a new top-tier status, negative changes to Companion Pass, more ways to use points and even a new airport lounge network.
Starting January 1, 2027, A-List will become Silver, A-List Preferred will become Gold, and Southwest will add a new top tier called Platinum. Members will also start using Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) as the single qualifying points currency for elite status, Milestone Rewards and Companion Pass benefits.
Here are the new elite tiers:
Silver replaces A-List and Gold replaces A-List Preferred, while Platinum is completely new.
Southwest is also adding Milestone Rewards, so members can get something before reaching the next full status level. At 20,000 TQPs or 15 qualifying one-way flights, members can choose either 2,000 Rapid Rewards points or two Preferred Seat Certificates. At 95,000 TQPs or 75 qualifying flights, members earn three Companion Pass trips.
How Companion Pass Is Changing
This is probably the biggest change for many Southwest fans.
Through the end of 2026, you can earn the traditional Companion Pass with 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points or 100 qualifying flights. That gives you unlimited Companion Pass trips for the remainder of the year you earn it and the following year.
Starting January 1, 2027, Southwest is retiring Companion Pass qualifying points completely. Instead, Companion Pass benefits will be tied to TQPs or qualifying flights.
There will be two levels:
- 95,000 TQPs or 75 qualifying flights: Get three Companion Pass trips
- 140,000 TQPs or 100 qualifying flights: Reach Platinum and get unlimited Companion Pass trips
Each of the three Companion Pass trips can be used on either a one-way or round-trip itinerary with your designated companion.
That means the full unlimited Companion Pass gets harder on the points side, moving from 135,000 qualifying points to 140,000 TQPs. But Southwest is adding a lower tier at 95,000 TQPs that gives you three uses before you reach Platinum.
There’s another important change: several activities that currently help earn Companion Pass will no longer help toward Companion Pass starting in 2027 because they won’t earn TQPs. That includes:
- Credit card welcome bonuses
- Referral bonuses
- Anniversary points
- Bonus-category points from card spending
- Partner activity such as hotels and rental cars
Those activities can still earn regular Rapid Rewards points, but they won’t move you closer to Companion Pass.
On the other hand, all Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards will earn 1 TQP per $1 spent starting in 2027. Cardholders who reach 130,000 TQPs in 2027 will also get a 10,000-TQP boost, effectively getting them to the 140,000-TQP Platinum threshold.
Cardmembers who are approved for a Rapid Rewards Credit Card on or before Dec. 2, 2026 and meet the requirements for the new Cardmember welcome bonus will have the opportunity to have those points count as Companion Pass qualifying points, even if the spend threshold is met in early 2027.
More Ways to Use Rapid Rewards Points
Southwest is also expanding what you can do with Rapid Rewards points.
Starting in mid-November 2026, members will be able to redeem points for rental cars through Southwest’s car rental portal.
Then in spring 2027, Southwest plans to let members earn and redeem Rapid Rewards points with new international airline partners, starting with:
- Icelandair
- China Airlines
- Etihad Airways
That opens up award options well beyond Southwest’s own network.
Later in 2027, members will also be able to redeem Rapid Rewards points for seat selection, including Preferred and Extra Legroom seats.
Southwest Icon Lounges Are Coming
As we have reported previously, Southwest also confirmed plans for a new airport lounge network called Southwest Icon Lounge.
The first lounges are expected to open in late 2027, with access tied to a new premium Southwest credit card from Chase that will also launch in 2027.
Southwest has already shown a rendering of the planned lounge at Nashville International Airport.
Guru’s Wrap-Up
There’s a lot changing here.
The new Silver, Gold and Platinum setup is pretty straightforward, and the extra Milestone Rewards are a nice addition. Being able to use Rapid Rewards points with international airlines, for rental cars and eventually for seats also makes the program more useful.
But the Companion Pass changes are the big story, in a negative way. Earning the full unlimited Companion Pass is way more expensive now, as welcome bonuses, referrals, anniversary points and partner earnings will no longer help you qualify.
That’s a major shift from how people have traditionally earned Companion Pass, especially through Southwest credit card bonuses.
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