Southwest Rapid Rewards changes for 2027: traveler guide
Southwest will rebuild Rapid Rewards on January 1, 2027. A-List becomes Silver, A-List Preferred becomes Gold, and a new Platinum tier adds unlimited Companion Pass trips. Tier Qualifying Points, or TQPs, will become the single qualifying-points currency for status, milestone rewards and Companion Pass benefits.
The change is broader than a tier rename. Some flight thresholds rise, the way card activity counts changes, and members will be able to earn three Companion Pass trips before reaching Platinum. Partner awards, airport lounges and seat redemptions are coming later, but important pricing and access details remain unpublished.
*Original AI-generated OpenSim editorial image. The traveler, aircraft, phone display and lounge are illustrative and do not depict a Southwest, Chase or airport facility.*
The practical answer: Check what will post to your Rapid Rewards account by December 31, 2026, then start a new calculation for 2027. Existing A-List and A-List Preferred status earned for 2027 will map automatically to Silver and Gold. A Companion Pass earned under the 2026 rules remains unlimited through December 31, 2027.
What changes on January 1, 2027
Southwest's program update sets three status levels:
| 2027 level | TQP requirement | Or qualifying one-way flights | Main distinction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver | 35,000 | 25 | Preferred or Standard seat at booking when available, Group 1 boarding and one checked bag |
| Gold | 65,000 | 50 | Any available seat at booking, boarding before Group 1 and two checked bags |
| Platinum | 140,000 | 100 | Unlimited Companion Pass trips, priority over Gold and three checked bags |
Silver replaces A-List, while Gold replaces A-List Preferred. The TQP target for Silver stays at 35,000, but its flight route rises from 20 to 25 qualifying flights. Gold falls from 70,000 to 65,000 TQPs, while its flight route rises from 40 to 50. Platinum is new.
The flight-earning bonuses also change. Silver earns a 40% bonus on qualifying flights, Gold earns 60%, and Platinum earns 120%. That makes the Gold rate lower than the current 100% A-List Preferred bonus, even though the TQP qualification target is lower.
Two milestone rewards arrive before Platinum
Members will not need to reach a named tier before receiving every reward. At 20,000 TQPs or 15 qualifying one-way flights, the first milestone offers a choice of 2,000 Rapid Rewards points or two Preferred Seat Certificates.
At 95,000 TQPs or 75 qualifying one-way flights, the second milestone provides three Companion Pass trips. Each trip is fully used by either a one-way or round-trip companion itinerary. A one-way booking does not preserve half of a trip for later.
Southwest says milestone progress resets on January 1 each year. A selected milestone benefit remains valid through December 31 of the year after it was earned, subject to its terms and use restrictions.
Companion Pass is staying, but the earning path changes
Southwest will retire Companion Pass qualifying points after December 31, 2026. From January 1, members qualify for Companion Pass benefits with the same TQPs or qualifying flights used for status.
The second milestone gives three trips. Reaching Platinum increases that benefit to unlimited Companion Pass trips. The member still needs to book and travel on the same flights as the designated companion, and taxes and fees start at $5.60 each way. Availability and the full Companion Pass terms still apply.
This also changes which activity helps. Southwest's current 2027 FAQ says new cardmember welcome bonuses, referral bonuses, anniversary points, bonus points from category spend, and partner activity such as hotel or rental-car spend will continue to earn redeemable Rapid Rewards points but will not earn TQPs. They therefore will not help qualify for 2027 Companion Pass benefits.
The 2026 transition has two firm boundaries
Members who earn A-List or A-List Preferred for 2027 through 2026 activity will move automatically to Silver or Gold on January 1. Southwest says 2027 TQP balances then start from zero.
A Companion Pass earned under the current rules in 2026 remains unlimited through December 31, 2027. All qualifying activity for that route must post by the end of 2026.
There is one narrow welcome-bonus exception. Southwest's FAQ currently says a member approved for a Rapid Rewards credit card on or before December 2, 2026 may have the new-card welcome bonus count under the old Companion Pass rules even if the spending requirement is completed in early 2027. The resulting pass runs only through December 31, 2027. Check the live offer, approval date and Southwest account before acting because card and bonus terms can change.
Card spending becomes a direct TQP route
From January 1, every eligible $1 spent on any Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card, including Plus and business cards, earns one TQP. TQPs post after the billing cycle closes, so the statement date can decide which qualification year receives the activity.
Southwest also plans a one-time 10,000-TQP boost in 2027 after an eligible primary cardmember reaches 130,000 posted TQPs. The official terms say fulfillment can take up to 30 days. Do not treat that boost as 10,000 TQPs at the start of the year.
Redeemable points and TQPs are different balances. TQPs cannot be spent on travel and reset annually. Rapid Rewards points remain redeemable and do not expire while the account stays open.
Partner awards are planned for spring 2027
Southwest says members will be able to earn and redeem Rapid Rewards points through Icelandair, China Airlines and Etihad Airways beginning in spring 2027. The announcement uses Reykjavik, Paris, Taipei, Tokyo, Abu Dhabi and Johannesburg as examples of the wider reach.
The airline has not published an award chart, point prices, seat inventory rules, taxes or surcharges, booking channel, change policy, or through-baggage treatment for these redemptions. Existing interline access does not establish the future award cost. Wait for Southwest's booking rules before transferring plans, buying positioning flights or assuming an itinerary will be protected end to end.
Companion Pass does not apply to interline itineraries under the terms reviewed. Status seating and baggage benefits may also not apply on partner-airline segments.
Icon Lounges start with four airports
Southwest plans its first Icon Lounges for Austin, Baltimore, Honolulu and Nashville beginning in late 2027. It says at least seven more locations are planned over the following years.
Access will be included with a new premium Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card issued by Chase. Southwest has not published that card's fee, launch date, guest policy, visit limits or any alternative paid-access route. A current Rapid Rewards card does not become a lounge pass merely because the lounge network has been announced.
The first openings are also not promised for January. “Late 2027” leaves a broad window, so choose an airport or credit card using benefits that exist at the time of travel.
Other redemption and onboard changes
Rapid Rewards car-rental redemption is due to begin in mid-November 2026 through Southwest's car site. Later in 2027, members are expected to be able to redeem points for eligible seat selections on Southwest-operated flights after ticketing and before check-in.
Seat point prices will vary by flight. The benefit is not available at an airport kiosk or gate, and it does not apply to a Southwest flight that is part of an interline itinerary. A voluntary seat cancellation without a matching flight change or cancellation is non-refundable under the published terms.
Southwest also targets a fleetwide Starlink rollout in fall 2027. Free Wi-Fi remains for Rapid Rewards members where available on designated Wi-Fi aircraft. That is a target, not a guarantee that every aircraft or every moment of a flight will have service.
Mobile data for Southwest and partner-airline trips
OpenSim's live catalog had plans for the United States, Iceland and the United Arab Emirates when this guide was reviewed. Those routes match Southwest travel in the US and two of the announced partner gateways.
OpenSim did not return a dedicated Taiwan country page in the reviewed destination search. Wider Asia plans can include Taiwan, but verify the exact coverage list before buying rather than assuming a regional label includes it.
Install an eSIM over reliable Wi-Fi and follow the selected package's activation rule. An eSIM supplies data on supported mobile networks after landing. It does not provide airline Wi-Fi, lounge entry, Rapid Rewards points or protection for separate tickets. Package availability, allowance, validity, speed policy, hotspot support and top-up eligibility can change, and not every plan is reloadable.
Ten questions about the Southwest Rapid Rewards changes
Do the new Rapid Rewards rules start immediately?
No. The tier, TQP, milestone and Companion Pass qualification structure starts January 1, 2027. The car-rental redemption launch is scheduled earlier, in mid-November 2026, while lounges, partner awards and seat redemptions have later windows.
What happens to A-List status earned in 2026?
A-List earned for 2027 automatically becomes Silver on January 1. A-List Preferred earned for 2027 automatically becomes Gold. No separate application is required, but members should check that qualifying activity posts before the relevant 2026 deadline.
Is unlimited Companion Pass going away?
No. It becomes a Platinum benefit at 140,000 TQPs or 100 qualifying one-way flights. Members can first earn three Companion Pass trips at 95,000 TQPs or 75 qualifying flights.
Does a one-way companion booking use a whole milestone trip?
Yes. Southwest says one Companion Pass trip is fully used by either a one-way or round-trip itinerary. Booking a one-way does not leave a return portion to use later.
Will a credit card welcome bonus count toward Companion Pass in 2027?
Normally no, because welcome bonuses do not earn TQPs. Southwest currently provides a transition exception for members approved for a Rapid Rewards credit card by December 2, 2026 who meet that offer's requirements. Check the official FAQ and offer terms before relying on it.
Do hotel and rental-car points earn TQPs?
Southwest says partner activity can still earn redeemable Rapid Rewards points, but hotel and car partner spend does not earn TQPs. It therefore does not help with 2027 status, milestones or Companion Pass qualification unless Southwest publishes a separate qualifying promotion.
When will Rapid Rewards partner awards become bookable?
Southwest says spring 2027 for Icelandair, China Airlines and Etihad Airways. It has not named a booking date or published award prices and inventory rules, so partner seats should not be treated as available yet.
Will Companion Pass work on Icelandair, China Airlines or Etihad?
No under the terms reviewed. Southwest says Companion Pass cannot be added to interline itineraries. It is for eligible Southwest-operated travel booked through Southwest, subject to the program rules.
Which card will include Southwest Icon Lounge access?
A new premium Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card from Chase is due in 2027. Southwest has not published its fee, application date or guest rules. Existing cards should not be assumed to include access.
Does the Starlink announcement guarantee Wi-Fi on my flight?
No. Southwest targets fleetwide Starlink in fall 2027, but the current free Wi-Fi benefit applies only where service is available on designated aircraft. Keep the itinerary, boarding pass and essential contacts available offline.
What to check before the 2027 reset
- Confirm which 2026 activity has actually posted, not just what is pending.
- Save the current status and Companion Pass end date shown in the account.
- Separate redeemable Rapid Rewards points from TQPs in any calculation.
- Compare the Silver, Gold and Platinum flight thresholds with the TQP route.
- Check the statement closing date for credit card TQPs.
- Treat the 10,000-TQP card boost as a later threshold benefit, not an opening balance.
- Do not assume a partner award is bookable until Southwest publishes inventory and pricing.
- Do not assume a current card grants Icon Lounge access.
- Keep separate-ticket and ground-connectivity plans independent of loyalty benefits.
- Recheck the official program pages before booking around a future benefit.
Southwest Rapid Rewards source record
Southwest's October 15 release and 2027 program pages control the effective date, tier thresholds, milestone rewards, Companion Pass transition, card TQP earning, partner-airline list, lounge plan, seat redemption and Starlink target. The detailed FAQ and program terms control the posting, welcome-bonus, interline, companion and seat-use limits.
Public discussions were used to identify questions about welcome-bonus timing, unlimited versus three-trip Companion Pass, hotel points, partner award inventory, lounge access and card value. They were not used as authority for program rules.
Review this guide if Southwest changes a threshold, transition date, partner launch, lounge location, card-access rule, Starlink target or the activities that earn TQPs.
*Airline, public-question, Google policy and OpenSim catalog sources were reviewed on October 16, 2026.*
