Southwest Airlines is introducing a major overhaul of its Rapid Rewards loyalty program beginning January 1, 2027, adding a new three-tier status structure, Milestone Rewards, new ways to earn Tier Qualifying Points, expanded Companion Pass opportunities, and additional ways to redeem points.
Under the redesigned program, the current A-List tier will become Silver and A-List Preferred will become Gold. Southwest is also introducing Platinum as a new top tier. Existing Companion Pass holders will retain their benefits for the duration of their current qualification period.
Silver status will require 35,000 Tier Qualifying Points, or TQPs, or 25 qualifying flights. Benefits include Group 1 boarding, one free checked bag, a 40% points-earning bonus on qualifying flights, complimentary Preferred or Standard seat selection when available, and the ability to upgrade to an Extra Legroom seat within 48 hours of departure when available.
Gold status will require 65,000 TQPs or 50 qualifying flights and includes complimentary selection of any available seat at booking, including Extra Legroom seats, boarding before Group 1, up to two free checked bags, and a 60% earning bonus on qualifying flights.
The new Platinum tier will require 140,000 TQPs or 100 qualifying flights. Platinum members will receive unlimited Companion Pass trips, complimentary selection of any available seat at booking, boarding ahead of Gold members and Group 1, up to three free checked bags, and a 120% earning bonus on qualifying flights.
Southwest is also changing how customers work toward status. Starting January 1, 2027, every $1 spent on purchases with a Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Card will earn one TQP. Cardmembers who reach 130,000 TQPs during 2027 will also receive a one-time 10,000-TQP boost that can help them qualify for Platinum status.
Companion Pass will become more closely integrated into the tier system. Southwest will retire Companion Pass qualifying points at the end of 2026 and use TQPs and qualifying flights for the program going forward. Members will be able to earn three Companion Pass trips through a Milestone Reward between Gold and Platinum, while reaching Platinum unlocks unlimited Companion Pass trips.
The new Milestone Rewards system will allow members to earn benefits before reaching a formal status tier. An early milestone will provide a choice between 2,000 Rapid Rewards points and two Preferred Seat Certificates, while a later milestone will provide three Companion Pass trips.
Southwest is also expanding how Rapid Rewards points can be used. Beginning in 2027, members will gain the ability to redeem points for rental cars and eligible seat selections, including Preferred and Extra Legroom seats. The airline also plans to enable customers to earn and redeem Rapid Rewards points for international travel through partners including Icelandair, China Airlines, and Etihad Airways.
The loyalty changes are part of a broader upgrade to Southwest’s customer experience. The airline expects to complete a fleet-wide Starlink WiFi rollout in fall 2027 and plans to introduce Southwest Icon Lounge locations at select airports. A new premium Southwest credit card issued by Chase is also expected to launch in 2027 with access to the new lounge network.
Rapid Rewards will continue to offer several of its existing core features, including points that do not expire, flight redemptions without blackout dates, and the ability to redeem points across Southwest-operated flights.