Southwest Airlines is making some of the biggest changes to its loyalty program in years. The airline is replacing its familiar A-List system with 3 new tiers. The top tier includes unlimited Companion Pass trips. Credit card spending will also count for more. Southwest is also getting ready to let members use points on international airline partners.
These changes are another step away from Southwest’s old low-frills style. The airline has already dropped open seating and added checked-bag fees for many passengers. Now its Rapid Rewards program is moving toward the premium perks and status levels that major competitors offer.
Most of the loyalty changes start on January 1, 2027. That gives travelers time to review their current benefits and decide whether their flying and spending habits will still earn them rewards.
Here’s what is changing, who stands to benefit, and what Southwest customers should know before the new rules begin.
The New Tier Structure: Farewell to A-List
The A-List and A-List Preferred names are going away. On January 1, 2027, Southwest Airlines will replace them with Silver and Gold. It will also add a new top tier called Platinum.
Members can still qualify by taking enough eligible flights or by earning enough Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs). However, some tiers will now need more flights, and the benefits differ by tier.
Here is how the new structure will work.
Silver (replaces A-List)
- Requires 25 qualifying one-way flights or 35,000 TQPs
- 40% bonus on qualifying flight points
- Standard or Preferred seat selection at booking, when available
- Group 1 boarding
- One free checked bag
Gold (replaces A-List Preferred)
- Requires 50 qualifying one-way flights or 65,000 TQPs
- 60% bonus on qualifying flight points
- Extra Legroom seat selection at booking, when available
- Boarding before Group 1
- Two free checked bags
Platinum (new top tier)
- Requires 100 qualifying one-way flights or 140,000 TQPs
- 120% bonus on qualifying flight points
- Extra Legroom seat selection at booking, when available
- Up to three free checked bags
- Unlimited Companion Pass trips
The new names may sound familiar to travelers who fly other major airlines. Silver, Gold, and Platinum are common status labels across the industry. The bigger differences are the requirements and benefits for each level.
Silver will need 25 qualifying flights, up from the 20 needed for A-List under the 2026 rules. Gold will need 50 flights, compared with 40 for A-List Preferred. The points requirements are changing, too. Silver stays at 35,000 TQPs, but Gold drops from 70,000 to 65,000 TQPs.
Platinum is the biggest addition. These members get unlimited Companion Pass trips. They can bring a chosen companion on eligible flights without paying that person’s base fare. (Taxes and fees always still apply.)
Current elite members won’t have to start over. If you earn A-List or A-List Preferred for 2027 under the 2026 rules, you will move to Silver or Gold on January 1. Southwest also has special transition rules for members who qualify under the current program.
Milestone Rewards Add Benefits Along the Way
Southwest Airlines is also adding Milestone Rewards. These give members perks before they reach a full status tier.
For example, members who complete 15 qualifying flights or earn 20,000 TQPs can choose between 2,000 bonus Rapid Rewards points and two Preferred seat coupons. That gives travelers a goal to work toward, even if they never reach Silver.
Another milestone comes at 75 qualifying flights or 95,000 TQPs. Members who reach it earn three Companion Pass trips. These trips are limited, unlike the unlimited trips that come with Platinum.
The new system gives occasional and moderately frequent travelers more ways to earn perks. But the value of those rewards depends on how often you fly and whether you can use them before they expire.
The Companion Pass and Credit Card Shake-Up
The Companion Pass has long been one of Southwest’s best perks. It lets a member bring a chosen companion on eligible flights for just the taxes and fees.
How people earn it is changing in 2027. The Companion Pass will now sit inside the same system used for elite status and milestone rewards.
If you already hold a Companion Pass earned in 2026 under the current rules, you keep your unlimited trips through December 31, 2027.
Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses Will No Longer Count
Right now, eligible credit card welcome bonuses can help members earn the Companion Pass. Some travelers have qualified mostly through credit card offers instead of taking dozens of flights.
Starting in 2027, Southwest will retire Companion Pass Qualifying Points and use TQPs instead. Standard credit card welcome bonuses generally don’t earn TQPs. That means travelers can no longer rely on those bonuses alone.
This is a big change for people who time their credit card applications around Companion Pass offers. The new system focuses more on qualifying flights and everyday card spending.
One thing stays the same: credit card spending still counts. Only the old welcome-bonus path is going away. Credit cards are still a way to earn the benefit.
Everyday Credit Card Spending Gets a Boost
Southwest is also making its co-branded credit cards more useful for earning status.
Starting January 1, 2027, eligible purchases on every Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card will earn one TQP per dollar. That includes cards that don’t earn TQPs on everyday purchases today.
TQPs are different from regular Rapid Rewards points. You can spend regular points on flights and other rewards. TQPs only count toward status and milestone benefits. They reset each calendar year and can’t be used to buy flights.
The new rate could matter a lot for households that put big everyday spending on Southwest cards. For example, $20,000 in eligible purchases in a year would earn 20,000 TQPs, before counting any other activity.
That would move a cardholder closer to Silver, which needs 35,000 TQPs. It would also reach the 20,000-TQP milestone reward. But card spending alone won’t get you to Gold or Platinum unless you spend far more or add other qualifying activity.
Southwest is also giving eligible cardholders a one-time 10,000-TQP boost in 2027 once they reach 130,000 TQPs. That helps them reach Platinum’s 140,000-TQP requirement.
Southwest Icon Lounges Are Part of the Bigger Plan
Southwest is also entering the airport lounge business. The new Southwest Icon Lounges are planned for late 2027, in partnership with Chase. Access will come through a new premium Rapid Rewards credit card that is set to launch in 2027.
Lounges can offer a quiet place to work, relax, eat, or wait for a flight. For frequent travelers, that can be a real perk, especially during long layovers or delays.
The lounges fit Southwest’s larger goal of giving customers more reasons to stay loyal. The Platinum tier and the new premium card could both play a big part.
Still, think carefully before applying for a card just for lounge access. Check the annual fee, the opening dates, and where the lounges will be.
Points Earning and Redemption Are Changing, Too
The status changes are only part of the overhaul. Southwest is also changing how members earn points and giving them more ways to use them.
Some Premium Fares Will Earn Fewer Points
Starting January 1, 2027, the top two fare types will earn fewer points. Choice Preferred will drop from 10 points per dollar to 8. Choice Extra will drop from 14 points per dollar to 10. Basic and Choice stay the same.
That means you’ll earn fewer Rapid Rewards points for the same ticket price on those fares. Premium fares may still have other perks. But if you pick them partly to earn more points, compare the new rates before you book.
Remember the difference between Rapid Rewards points and TQPs. Points are what you can spend. TQPs are what move you toward status and other qualifying benefits. A single trip can add to both, but they serve different purposes.
International Airline Partners Expand Travel Options
Southwest Airlines will also let members earn and use Rapid Rewards points with international airline partners. This starts in spring 2027 with Icelandair, Etihad Airways, and China Airlines.
This could be a big step up for travelers who want to use points beyond Southwest’s route map. Partner flights could open up trips to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia that would otherwise need another airline’s loyalty program.
The details will matter, though. Award availability, points required, taxes and fees, and available routes all affect whether a partner flight is a good deal. Also, using points on a partner airline is not the same as earning elite status with that airline. Check Southwest’s published terms for the rules on each partner.
More Ways to Spend Rapid Rewards Points
Southwest is adding new ways to use points beyond flights. Starting in November 2026, members can redeem points for rental cars through the Southwest website. Later in 2027, members will be able to use points for seat selection, including Preferred and Extra Legroom seats.
These options can help when you don’t have enough points for a flight or want to use up a small balance. But more choices don’t always mean better value.
Before you use points on a seat or rental car, compare the points price with the cash price. A flight may give you more value in some cases. In others, a smaller redemption may make sense if the points would otherwise go unused.
Southwest says its core features are staying. Points won’t expire, and members can still redeem them for Southwest flights with no blackout dates.
Winners and Losers: Who Benefits From the Changes?
The new program offers more for some travelers, but it makes certain rewards harder to earn. Whether it’s a good deal depends on how often you fly, how much you spend, and which perks matter most to you.
Who Wins?
Frequent business travelers have the most to gain.
People who fly Southwest often may find Platinum worth chasing, especially if they take 100 qualifying one-way flights a year. Unlimited Companion Pass trips, a 120% flight-point bonus, and up to three free checked bags could add up to a lot of value.
High-spending credit card users get a clearer path to status.
Earning one TQP per dollar makes everyday spending a more direct way to move up. If you already use a Southwest card for groceries, bills, and other costs, you may reach status faster without adding many flights.
Travelers who want international awards get new options.
Airline partners give members more places to use points. People with a large Rapid Rewards balance who want to travel beyond Southwest’s route map may benefit most.
Travelers who fall short of elite status still get something.
Milestone Rewards add smaller perks along the way, including bonus points, seat coupons, and limited Companion Pass trips.
Who Loses?
Travelers who rely on credit card welcome bonuses face a major setback.
Under the old rules, sign-up bonuses could help members earn the Companion Pass. The new system closes that door. That makes it harder for people who rarely fly Southwest but collect card bonuses on purpose.
Some mid-tier frequent flyers may earn fewer bonus points.
Gold members will get a 60% flight-point bonus, compared with 100% for A-List Preferred. But members who earn A-List Preferred for 2027 under the 2026 rules keep their 100% bonus through the end of 2027. That’s an important detail for current members weighing the change.
Travelers who fly less may struggle to reach higher tiers.
Silver needs 25 qualifying flights, and Gold needs 50. Card spending can help you earn TQPs, but not everyone spends enough on a Southwest card to hit those marks.
Members who like simple programs may find this one harder to follow.
Southwest’s old program was fairly easy to understand. The new tiers, milestone rewards, partner redemptions, and premium perks give you more choices. They also mean you’ll need to pay closer attention to the rules.
What Southwest Travelers Should Do Before 2027
The new program starts January 1, 2027, so travelers still have time to get ready. These steps can help you protect your current benefits and make smarter choices.
- Review your current status.
If you have A-List or A-List Preferred, check how it will carry over. Southwest has published transition rules for members who qualify under the 2026 requirements. - Rethink your Companion Pass plan.
If you usually qualify through credit card welcome bonuses, the new rules may change your plans. Check current promotions and their deadlines, and don’t assume today’s methods will last. If you already earned a Companion Pass in 2026, it stays valid through 2027! - Compare credit card benefits and costs.
One TQP per dollar could make Southwest cards more appealing for some people. But annual fees, other card rewards, and your real spending habits still matter. Don’t spend more than you normally would just to earn status. - Check your point balances and plans.
If you have a large Rapid Rewards balance, keep an eye on the new partner airlines and redemption options. Compare the value of each choice before you spend your points. - Watch for official updates.
Some benefits will arrive in stages. Check Southwest’s official Rapid Rewards 2027 program guide for the latest rules, transition details, and redemption options.
The Bottom Line
Southwest Airlines is moving toward a more traditional airline loyalty model. It will have several elite tiers, premium perks, airport lounges, and international award partners. The changes give members more ways to earn and use rewards, but they also make the program less simple than it used to be.
The biggest winners will likely be frequent flyers and customers who earn a lot through everyday spending. The biggest losers may be casual Southwest customers who used credit card sign-up bonuses to earn a Companion Pass without flying much. Some current elite members will also need to take a fresh look at their status as earning rates and requirements change.
In the end, the new program makes Southwest more competitive with the big legacy airlines. But it also asks customers to understand more of the fine print.
