Southwest Overhauls Loyalty and Tightens Companion Pass Rules

Southwest will overhaul Rapid Rewards beginning in January 2027, replacing A-List and A-List Preferred with Silver and Gold and adding Platinum. Qualification will require 35,000 Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) or 25 flights for Silver, 65,000 TQPs or 50 flights for Gold, and 140,000 TQPs or 100 flights for Platinum; existing A-List members will move to Silver and A-List Preferred members to Gold. Members will receive tier-based points-earning bonuses and boarding priority, and Platinum members will get unlimited Companion Pass trips. All Southwest co-branded Chase cardholders will earn one TQP per dollar spent, and members will be able to earn milestone rewards; qualifying for the traditional Companion Pass will become harder, as card bonuses, bonus-category earnings and partner activity will no longer count and flight requirements will rise. Southwest will add international earning and redemption partners Icelandair, China Airlines and Etihad, and allow points redemptions for rental cars and seat upgrades. The airline also plans a premium Icon Lounge network, with the first lounge expected in Nashville in late 2027, and says it expects to complete its Starlink Wi-Fi rollout by fall 2027.