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Southwest Rapid Rewards Changes for 2027: New Platinum Tier, Companion Pass Rules and 1 TQP per $1 on Credit Cards
September 27, 2026
The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired.
On October 15, 2026, Southwest Airlines announced the biggest changes to Rapid Rewards in years. Starting January 1, 2027, A-List and A-List Preferred become Silver and Gold, a new Platinum tier sits at the top with an unlimited Companion Pass, and every Southwest credit card earns 1 Tier Qualifying Point (TQP) per $1 spent.
Here's what's changing, how the Companion Pass works now, and what Southwest cardholders should do before the end of the year.
What Is Changing With Southwest Rapid Rewards in 2027?
- New tier names: A-List becomes Silver, A-List Preferred becomes Gold, and Platinum is a brand-new top tier.
- One qualifying currency: Companion Pass qualifying points are retired. Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) become the only currency for status, Milestone Rewards and Companion Pass trips.
- Companion Pass moves into Platinum: the unlimited Companion Pass becomes a Platinum benefit.
- Credit cards earn status: every Rapid Rewards credit card earns 1 TQP per $1 spent on purchases, with no earning cap.
- Milestone Rewards: new rewards before Silver and between Gold and Platinum.
Current A-List and A-List Preferred members move to Silver and Gold automatically on January 1. If you already hold a Companion Pass, it stays valid until it expires.
What Are the New Southwest Elite Tiers?
Silver (replaces A-List)
- Qualify with 35,000 TQPs or 25 qualifying one-way flights
- One free checked bag and a 40% points bonus on qualifying flights
Gold (replaces A-List Preferred)
- Qualify with 65,000 TQPs or 50 qualifying one-way flights
- Up to two free checked bags and a 60% points bonus on qualifying flights
Platinum (new)
- Qualify with 140,000 TQPs or 100 qualifying one-way flights
- Unlimited Companion Pass trips, up to three free checked bags and a 120% points bonus on qualifying flights
Milestone Rewards
- 20,000 TQPs or 15 qualifying flights: choose 2,000 Rapid Rewards points or two Preferred Seat Certificates.
- 95,000 TQPs or 75 qualifying flights: three Companion Pass trips.
The second milestone matters for people who fly or spend a lot but fall short of Platinum. It gives you a taste of the Companion Pass without the full 140,000 TQPs.
Your Southwest card's anniversary points and other perks are easy to lose track of. The Kudos Benefits Tracker keeps them in one place, so you can see what you've used before your card. year resets.
Not sure a Southwest card fits your spending? Test drive a card before you apply.
How Do You Earn a Southwest Companion Pass in 2027?
Today, you earn a Companion Pass with 100 qualifying one-way flights or 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points in a calendar year. Starting in 2027, you earn the unlimited Companion Pass by reaching Platinum: 140,000 TQPs or 100 qualifying flights.
The biggest catch is welcome offers. Under the new rules, Southwest credit card welcome offer points no longer count toward the Companion Pass, Chase confirmed to NerdWallet. Until now, a single welcome offer could cover a large share of the 135,000 points you needed.
There's one cushion for 2027. Cardholders who reach 130,000 TQPs during 2027 get a one-time boost of 10,000 TQPs, which is enough to hit Platinum. Southwest limits the boost to one credit card account per member.
Put that together with 1 TQP per $1, and about $130,000 in card spending in 2027 would reach Platinum on spending alone, without flying.
Calculation formulated by Kudos, based on 1 TQP per $1 spent on a Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card plus the 10,000 TQP boost at 130,000 TQPs in 2027.
How Do Southwest Credit Cards Earn Status in 2027?
Starting January 1, 2027, every Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card earns 1 TQP per $1 spent on purchases. That includes the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card ($99 annual fee), which earns no TQPs today.
Today, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card ($149 annual fee) and the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card ($229 annual fee) earn TQPs only in chunks of 1,500 or 2,500 per $5,000 spent. The new rate is simpler and faster for anyone who puts everyday spending on a Southwest card.
Card spending also counts toward Milestone Rewards, so even a few thousand dollars a month adds up over a year.
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What Else Is Southwest Adding?
- Rental cars (starting November 2026): redeem points on cars.southwest.com with Southwest's rental car partners.
- Partner airlines (spring 2027): redeem points on Icelandair, China Airlines and Etihad Airways. Companion Pass doesn't apply to these flights.
- Seat selection (late 2027): use points for Preferred and Extra Legroom seats after booking.
- Starlink Wi-Fi: Southwest expects its full fleet to have Starlink by fall 2027, free for Rapid Rewards members.
- Southwest Icon lounges: the first lounges are expected by the end of 2027, with access through a new premium Chase-issued Southwest card.
What Should You Do Before January 1, 2027?
- Check your Companion Pass progress. You have until the end of 2026 to earn a Companion Pass under the current rules, which keeps it valid through the end of 2027.
- Watch the December 2 date. According to NerdWallet, welcome offers on Southwest cards approved on or before December 2, 2026 still count toward the current Companion Pass requirement.
- Time big purchases. If you're chasing status, spending on a Southwest card after January 1 earns TQPs at the new 1 per $1 rate.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do the Southwest Rapid Rewards changes take effect?
The new tiers, TQP rules and credit card earning start January 1, 2027. Rental car redemptions start in November 2026, and partner airline and seat redemptions follow in 2027.
Is the Southwest Companion Pass going away?
No. The unlimited Companion Pass becomes part of the new Platinum tier, earned with 140,000 TQPs or 100 qualifying flights. A limited version, three Companion Pass trips, comes with the 95,000 TQP Milestone Reward.
Do Southwest credit card welcome offers count toward Companion Pass in 2027?
No. Welcome offer points still count as Rapid Rewards points you can redeem, but they no longer count toward the Companion Pass starting in 2027.
What happens to my A-List status?
A-List members move to Silver and A-List Preferred members move to Gold automatically on January 1, 2027.
Does the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card earn TQPs?
Not today. Starting January 1, 2027, it earns 1 TQP per $1 spent on purchases, the same as every other Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card.
The Bottom Line
Southwest is trading a Companion Pass you could partly earn with a welcome offer for one you earn through flying and everyday card spending. Heavy Southwest flyers and big spenders come out ahead. People who relied on a welcome offer to reach the Companion Pass should try to qualify under the current rules before the year ends.
Kudos shows you which card in your wallet earns the most on every purchase, so you can see when a Southwest card is the right swipe and when another card earns more.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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