Southwest Airlines is rebuilding its Rapid Rewards programme from the ground up, with the first changes landing on January 1, 2027 and more rolling out through the year. For anyone who flies the US low-cost carrier regularly, this reshapes how you earn status and what you get for it.
The big structural change: the two-tier system of A-List and A-List Preferred becomes three tiers — Silver, Gold and a new top-level Platinum. Current A-List members roll into Silver automatically, while most A-List Preferred members become Gold. There's a fast track, though: A-List Preferred members who log 100 qualifying one-way flights or 140,000 Tier Qualifying Points by the end of 2026 jump straight to Platinum for all of 2027.
The qualification thresholds are 35,000 TQPs or 25 flights for Silver, 65,000 TQPs or 50 flights for Gold, and 140,000 TQPs or 100 flights for Platinum. Note that TQPs — earned via flights and eligible spend including co-branded credit cards — reset each year and are separate from redeemable points.
Perks scale by tier. Silver gets Group 1 boarding, one free checked bag and a free Standard or Preferred seat at booking. Gold adds Extra Legroom seats at booking, boarding before Group 1, two free bags and two premium drinks on select flights — but the earning bonus drops to 60%, down from the current 100% on A-List Preferred. Anyone holding A-List Preferred for 2027 keeps that 100% through the year. Platinum members get the earliest boarding, three free bags and a 120% points bonus. All tiers keep same-day standby. A new Milestone Rewards scheme hands out perks mid-tier, starting at 20,000 TQPs or 15 flights with a choice of 2,000 points or two Preferred seat certificates.
Companion Pass rules change significantly. Earning 95,000 TQPs or 75 qualifying flights now buys three Companion Pass trips, while Platinum members get unlimited ones. The separate Companion Pass qualifying points system disappears after December 31, 2026 — so credit card welcome bonuses and partner spend will no longer count. Existing passes are honoured under their original terms.
There's more coming beyond the tiers. Points will be redeemable for car rentals from November 2026, partnerships with Icelandair, China Airlines and Etihad Airways should let members earn and burn points from spring 2027, and later in the year you'll be able to use points to upgrade seats after booking. Southwest is also planning a premium credit card and — a first — airport lounges in 2027.
The context matters: this is part of a broader transformation at Southwest, which has recently dropped free checked bags for many passengers, moved to assigned seating, and cut service at Chicago O'Hare and Washington Dulles. The loyalty overhaul brings some genuine perks, but the reduced Gold earning bonus and the stricter Companion Pass maths mean frequent flyers should run their own numbers before deciding how hard to chase status in 2026.
