Airline miles · By Patrick Karsh ·
Southwest has set out a new version of Rapid Rewards for 2027, and the biggest change is to the Companion Pass. From January 1, 2027, the pass will be earned with tier qualifying points or flights only. Card sign-up bonuses and most other bonus points will no longer count.
The details are on Southwest's Rapid Rewards 2027 page and its Companion Pass changes page. Here is what changes and what stays the same.
The new Companion Pass rules
Southwest says Companion Pass qualifying points will be retired after December 31, 2026. In their place, the pass comes in two forms:
- Three Companion Pass trips at 95,000 tier qualifying points (TQPs) or 75 qualifying one-way flights.
- Unlimited Companion Pass trips with the new Platinum status, at 140,000 TQPs or 100 qualifying one-way flights.
According to Southwest, TQPs come from revenue flights booked through Southwest. From 2027, Rapid Rewards credit cards also earn one TQP for each dollar spent on purchases.
Some points will still be useful to spend but will not count toward the pass. Southwest lists new cardmember welcome bonuses, referral bonuses, anniversary points and bonus points from card spend. Hotel and car partner points also no longer count.
There is good news for people who earn the pass under the old rules. Southwest says a Companion Pass earned in 2026 gives unlimited trips through December 31, 2027. If you are already signed up for a Companion Pass promotion, Southwest says it will honor it.
New status names and a new top tier
The elite tiers get new names and new earning bonuses from January 1, 2027:
- Silver replaces A-List. It needs 35,000 TQPs or 25 flights and earns a 40% bonus on qualifying flights, with one free checked bag.
- Gold replaces A-List Preferred. It needs 65,000 TQPs or 50 flights and earns a 60% bonus, with two free checked bags.
- Platinum is new. It needs 140,000 TQPs or 100 flights and earns a 120% bonus, with three free checked bags and unlimited Companion Pass trips.
There is also a Milestone Reward at 20,000 TQPs or 15 flights. Members can pick 2,000 Rapid Rewards points or two Preferred Seat Certificates.
Earning rates on fares
Southwest lists these earning rates per dollar of fare, for both points and TQPs:
- Basic: 2 times the fare.
- Choice: 6 times the fare.
- Choice Preferred: 8 times the fare.
- Choice Extra: 10 times the fare.
Cardmembers get one extra push in 2027. Southwest says primary cardmembers who reach 130,000 TQPs by December 31, 2027 get a one-time 10,000 TQP boost. That is enough to cross the 140,000 line for Platinum.
New ways to use points
Southwest also plans more ways to spend points. It names three international partners, Icelandair, China Airlines and Etihad Airways, for earning and redeeming. Points will also work for car rentals on cars.southwest.com and for Extra Legroom and Preferred seats on Southwest flights. Southwest says the partner and seat options roll out in spring 2027.
The first Southwest Icon Lounges are expected to open at the end of 2027. Lounge Frog has the four planned locations.
What to do now
If you were planning to earn the pass with a card bonus, the timing matters. The current rules apply through December 31, 2026. A pass earned this year runs through the end of 2027. After that, the path runs through flying and card spend, not sign-up bonuses.
Our Rapid Rewards page shows how we value the points, which keep their use for flights either way.
My take
The Companion Pass has been one of the best deals in US domestic travel, and this makes it much harder to get. If you can still earn it in 2026, do it now and use it through the end of 2027. From 2027, I would only chase it if I already fly Southwest a lot.