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Southwest Airlines has changed a lot in just two years. Now the airline has assigned seating, checked bag fees, and is even building airport lounges.
On October 15, the airline turned its attention to the
Here's everything we learned about the future of Southwest's Rapid Rewards program.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Changes
New Southwest status tiers
Let's start with the biggest news: A-List and A-List Preferred status are going away. Southwest has unveiled new elite status tiers: Silver, Gold, and Platinum.
Silver replaces A-List, Gold replaces A-List Preferred, and Platinum is a new top tier that includes the coveted Companion Pass. This is a huge change for the program, which has granted A-List status since the last major program overhaul in 2011.
Although Southwest is keeping its status qualification model in place — earn status by flying qualifying one-way flights or by earning enough Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) — the thresholds are changing for each status level:
| Tier | 2027 Requirement | 2026 Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Silver | 25 flights or 35,000 TQPs | 20 flights or 35,000 TQPs (for A-List) |
| Gold | 50 flights or 65,000 TQPs | 40 flights or 70,000 TQPs (for A-List Preferred) |
| Platinum | 100 flights or 140,000 TQPs | 100 flights or 135,000 TQPs (for Companion Pass) |
A few things stand out. The number of flights required for Silver and Gold is increasing, but the TQPs required to reach Gold are decreasing. Platinum adds 5,000 TQPs to the old Companion Pass threshold, though a new credit card boost (covered below) will more than offset that increase in 2027. Plus, Platinum adds benefits beyond the Companion Pass, so it makes sense it is a little harder to reach.
Benefits at each tier are changing, too. Current A-List members get a 25% bonus on qualifying flights, but Silver members will get a 40% bonus. That's a great change. However, A-List Preferred members earn a 100% Rapid Rewards points bonus on flights. Once the status becomes Gold in 2027, the bonus falls to 60%. That's a huge reduction.
Platinum members will earn a 120% bonus on flights. So, if you earn a Companion Pass each year, your Rapid Rewards points earnings will increase substantially.
Here's a breakdown of each new status tier:
Companion Pass Qualifying Points are gone
The Companion Pass has always been the crown jewel of Rapid Rewards, and one of the most valuable perks in any award program. Southwest has essentially created a new top tier with the Companion Pass as one of its perks. Platinum members get unlimited two-for-one travel for a designated companion, plus up to three free checked bags.
The good news? The pass itself isn't changing.
The bad news? Earning it will be a lot tougher.
For years, Southwest tracked Companion Pass progress with a separate metric called Companion Pass Qualifying Points, which was admittedly confusing to have separate from Tier-Qualifying Points. In 2027, Companion Pass Qualifying Points are gone, and you'll earn a Companion Pass based purely on the TQPs you earn.
This simplifies the program, but it's a major hit for anyone who uses
You could still fly 100 qualifying flights, but you will need 140,000 TQPs in 2027 to earn Platinum status, and by extension, a Companion Pass. Southwest co-branded cardholders who reach 130,000 TQPs in 2027 will receive a 10,000 TQP boost, earning Platinum status.
New milestone rewards
Like other airline programs, Southwest is adding milestone awards that offer perks as you work toward the next status tier.
In 2027, members who reach 15 qualifying flights or 20,000 TQPs — before reaching Silver status — can choose between 2,000 bonus Rapid Rewards points or two preferred seat coupons.
The more valuable milestone sits between Gold and Platinum. At 75 flights or 95,000 TQPs, members receive three Companion Pass trips. Each one works like a single-use Companion Pass, good for one two-for-one booking. For a member who won't reach Platinum, three free companion flights could be worth several hundred dollars on their own.
Southwest credit card updates
Starting January 1, 2027, every Southwest-branded credit card will earn 1 Tier Qualifying Point per dollar spent. Today, only some cards earn TQPs, and none earn a full TQP on every dollar.
That includes the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card, the entry-level personal card, which currently earns no TQPs toward status. Under the new rules, everyday spending on any Southwest card counts toward Silver, Gold, Platinum, the milestone rewards, and the Companion Pass.
Combined with the 10,000 TQP Companion Pass boost for cardholders, this is the clearest signal in the announcement that Southwest wants spending on its Chase cards to be the main road to status. It also follows other programs, like
In addition, Southwest will launch a new premium co-branded card with Chase at some point in 2027. We don't have details yet, but we do know it will grant access to Southwest lounges.
Introducing partner award redemptions
This is the change many of us have been waiting on since Southwest began signing international partnerships in 2025. Beginning in “spring 2027,” Rapid Rewards members will be able to earn and redeem points on three partner airlines:
- Icelandair for Reykjavik and connections across Europe
- Etihad Airways for Abu Dhabi and the Middle East, Asia, and beyond
- China Airlines for Taipei and onward travel in Asia
Southwest has not yet released award charts or pricing for partner redemptions. Until those details are made public, we can't assess whether this program will be good for booking awards on those partners. Still, this is the first time Rapid Rewards points will unlock long-haul international travel, and it might change the math on whether to transfer
New Southwest Icon Lounges and fleetwide Wi-Fi
We've known Southwest is building a lounge network, starting in Austin, Baltimore, Honolulu, and Nashville. Now, we have a name: Icon Lounges. As previously announced, Rapid Rewards members who hold the premium credit card Southwest is developing with Chase will get access.
Finally, Southwest announced plans to put Starlink Wi-Fi on every aircraft by fall 2027. More than 40 planes already have the service, and the airline expects to be the first U.S. carrier with Starlink on its entire fleet.
What These Southwest Changes Mean
If you have historically spent a lot on a Southwest credit card to earn a Companion Pass each year, you'll probably be happy with these changes, as the airline has unsurprisingly focused on its credit card program to reward big spenders with status. Those who used card bonuses and other earning methods to earn Companion Passes in the past (like I have) will likely be sad to see those options close.
Making Companion Pass part of a status level and simplifying how to earn one is a win for members, in my opinion. However, I suspect Platinum status will become increasingly hard to reach in future years.
With the addition of partners that let you redeem Rapid Rewards points outside Southwest, we'll see more interest in earning these points from people who want more options for international travel.
For more details about any of these updates, Southwest has a dedicated Rapid Rewards 2027 page.
Bottom Line
Southwest is retiring A-List status in favor of Silver, Gold, and Platinum starting in 2027. The airline is also folding the Companion Pass into Platinum status, phasing out Companion Pass Qualifying Points, and adding milestone rewards along the way. Credit card spending becomes a much stronger path to status, with every Southwest card earning 1 TQP per dollar beginning January 1, 2027.
Regardless of how you feel about these updates, it's time to say hello to the new Southwest.
