Southwest Airlines has spent the last two years reviewing its policies and the customer experience on its planes. Open seating is no longer available, checked baggage fees are available, and lounges are coming. The next step? A major overhaul of your Rapid Rewards loyalty program. The airline on Thursday outlined sweeping changes to its points and elite status levels. “A-List” and “A-List Preferred” are being replaced by “Silver” and “Gold,” and a new top tier “Platinum.” Meanwhile, credit card spending will count more toward status. There are important new benefits with “one-time” companion passes. Southwest is finally rolling out partner rewards, unlocking Rapid Rewards redemptions in Europe, Asia and beyond. It’s a series of changes implemented by the Dallas-based airline. Let’s take a look at what it means for your travel and your loyalty to Southwest going forward. Getting status with a credit card is getting easier. Southwest travelers will soon have many more incentives to make everyday purchases with their Rapid Rewards credit cards. Starting January 1, all Southwest credit cardholders will earn 1 tier qualification point for every dollar loaded on their card. TQPs are the points system Southwest uses to award elite status. A Southwest Airlines plane at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). KEVIN CARTER/GETTY IMAGES Not all Southwest cards get TQP when you swipe them these days. And none of their cards currently offer a TQP for every dollar spent. But that will change in 2027, when each Southwest-branded credit card will earn cardholders 1 TQP per dollar spent. This even applies to the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus credit card (see ), which currently does not offer cardholders any TQP to achieve status. Elite Status Overhaul: Goodbye to the ‘A List’ Southwest’s elite status tiers are also undergoing a shake-up. “A-List” and “A-List Preferred” will disappear in favor of more traditional airline status labels, including a new top-tier step. Starting in 2027: A-List will become “Silver” A-List Preferred will become “Gold” Plus, there’s a new top-tier status: “Platinum,” which comes with the airline’s unlimited Companion Pass. SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY2027 Qualification requirements for Southwest elite status Despite the new elite jargon, Southwest is not overhauling how status is earned like United Airlines did earlier this week. You can still choose to earn the status by earning enough TQPs or accumulating enough qualifying flights. However, you’ll generally need more flights to qualify for elite status that way. There are also some changes to TQP requirements, and it’s not all bad news. Status Level Qualification Requirements Previous Requirements (2026) Silver (formerly A-List) 25 qualified flights or 35,000 TQP 20 flights or 35,000 TQP Five more flights required in 2027. Gold (formerly A-List Preferred) 50 qualified flights or 65,000 TQP 40 qualified flights or 70,000 TQP Ten more flights are needed, but the TQP requirement decreases. Platinum (new top tier, but on par with previous Companion Pass threshold) 100 qualifying flights or 140,000 TQP 100 flights or 135,000 TQP TQP increases by 5,000, but the airline will give anyone who reaches 130,000 TQP a one-time increase of 10,000 TQP in 2027. Generally speaking, A-List and A-List Preferred benefits will transfer to the new “Silver” and “Gold” tiers, the airline said. For example, A-Listers’ baggage benefits and access to seats with extra legroom remain as is. New Top Tier Status: Comes with Companion Pass However, Southwest is making its Companion Pass unlock a new official top tier status. It will include unlimited access to the airline’s famous “two-for-one” benefit. Members who achieve Platinum status will also get up to three free checked bags. Standard economy seat on Southwest. SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUYQualifying for Southwest’s Companion Pass had always been the top benefit for members of its Rapid Rewards program. The benefit isn’t changing, but the airline is now putting an official status label on it. You will still need 100 flights to unlock the Companion Pass by earning Platinum status in 2027. Southwest is increasing the number of TQP members they will need from 135,000 to 140,000. However, upon reaching 130,000 TQP, the airline will give its travelers a one-time boost of 10,000 TQP in 2027. So, getting the Pass for Escorts will be (temporarily) easier next year. ‘Companion Pass Qualifying Points’ phased out One change to note: The airline is phasing out the specific metric historically used for the Companion Pass: Companion Pass Qualifying Points. Instead, members will get the “2 for 1” pass through TQP, just like status. We are investigating what this change will mean for grading under this new setup. Milestone Rewards Southwest is following in its competitors’ footsteps by adding different benefits you can unlock between status levels. You will be able to get some small benefits before you get any status. Pre-status milestone Starting in 2027, Rapid Rewards members who fly 15 flights or reach 20,000 TQP can choose between 2,000 Rapid Rewards Points bonuses or two preferred seating coupons. A milestone between Gold and Platinum. The highest unlock occurs with 75 flights or 95,000 TQP. Those members will get three “companion pass rides.” Basically, you’ll get three unique companion passes that you can use to book three flights two for one. That could be a significant money saver for members on their way to Platinum, which, of course, comes with the unlimited companion pass. Your second highest fare class (Choice Preferred) will earn you 8 points per dollar spent on your trip instead of 10 points per dollar. Southwest’s highest fare class (Choice Extra) will earn 10 points per dollar spent instead of 14 points per dollar. The airline’s basic economy fare will continue to earn 2 points per dollar spent. And your standard economy fare (Choice) will still earn 6 points per dollar spent. Bad News for A-List Preferred Members Meanwhile, there was some bad news for Southwest travelers who earn the airline’s current A-List Preferred status, which will become “Gold” in 2027. The bonus miles those travelers earn on flights will be reduced in the new year. Gold members will earn a 60% bonus points on bookings, compared to the current 100% bonus for A-List Preferred members. Customers who earn Southwest’s new Platinum status will earn 120% bonus points on flights. Rapid Rewards member rewards will launch in 2027. Starting in 2027, Southwest loyalists will be able to earn and redeem their Rapid Rewards points on long-haul international flights. Next spring, the airline will launch partner redemptions on three international airlines: Icelandair, which you can use to travel to Reykjavik or connect to Asia Etihad Airways, the premium Gulf airline based in Abu Dhabi China Airlines, based in Taipei, Taiwan January 2025: Southwest Airlines and Islandair aircraft models commemorate the launch of their partnership. SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY This move has been expected since Southwest first began establishing international partnerships in 2025. I would expect the airline to add additional partners to earn and redeem Rapid Rewards in the future. Other Southwest News You Should Know About Southwest Updates released some key additional updates amid its flurry of news on Thursday. ‘Icon Lounges’ The airline announced its plans for what it will call its new network of airport lounges. Southwest calls its clubs “Icon Lounges.” The name, the airline said, is a nod to icons of the past such as the airline’s founder, Herb Kelleher. Southwest Icon Lounge at Nashville International Airport (BNA), scheduled to open in late 2027. SOUTHWEST AIRLINES The first outposts are scheduled to debut in 2027, with access granted to Rapid Rewards members who have a new premium credit card the airline is planning with its banking partner, Chase. Southwest has confirmed that initial outposts are coming to Austin, Baltimore, Honolulu and Nashville, with at least seven more to follow. The Starlink launch was expanded across its entire fleet. Earlier this year, the airline announced it would be installing ultra-fast Starlink Wi-Fi on some of its planes. Now, Southwest plans to install high-speed Internet service across its fleet. Interestingly, the airline said Thursday that it hopes to be the first U.S. airline to implement the technology on all of its planes, by fall 2027. That revelation comes as United Airlines and Alaska Airlines race to put Starlink on their own planes, a week after American Airlines also said it would be an all-Starlink airline for connectivity in the coming years. More than 40 Southwest aircraft currently have Starlink. Related reading:
