Southwest Rapid Rewards Overhaul: Companion Pass Moves to a 140,000-TQP Platinum Tier in 2027
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Southwest is rebuilding Southwest Rapid Rewards on January 1, 2027. The Companion Pass, the program's most valuable perk, becomes a benefit of a new top tier called Platinum, and points from credit card welcome bonuses will no longer move you toward it. Southwest announced the changes on October 15, 2026.
If you planned to earn a Companion Pass with a pair of Chase Southwest cards, the calendar now matters more than the offer. A card approved on or before December 2, 2026 still lets its welcome bonus count toward the pass under the old rules. After that date, only Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) and qualifying flights count.
Three elite tiers replace A-List
Rapid Rewards moves from two elite tiers to three on January 1, 2027. A-List becomes Silver, A-List Preferred becomes Gold, and Platinum is new. Platinum sits above Gold and includes unlimited Companion Pass trips.
| Through December 31, 2026 | From January 1, 2027 | Companion Pass |
|---|---|---|
| A-List | Silver | Not included |
| A-List Preferred | Gold | Not included |
| No equivalent (Milestone Reward) | 95,000 TQPs or 75 qualifying one-way flights | 3 Companion Pass trips |
| No equivalent | Platinum (140,000 TQPs) | Unlimited Companion Pass trips |
Southwest keeps the basics that set the program apart: no blackout dates, points that do not expire, and the choice of earning status through either TQPs or qualifying flights.
How the Companion Pass changes
Today, the Companion Pass is earned with 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points in a calendar year, and card welcome bonuses count toward that total. Starting January 1, 2027, unlimited Companion Pass trips come with Platinum status, which requires 140,000 TQPs.
The catch is what earns TQPs. Southwest states that several activities that used to count toward the pass do not earn TQPs from 2027 onward. They still earn Rapid Rewards points, but they no longer help you qualify:
- New cardmember welcome bonuses
- Referral bonuses
- Card anniversary points
- Bonus points from spend categories: on a 2x purchase, only the base 1 TQP per dollar counts
- Partner spend, such as hotel and car bookings
A Companion Pass earned under the 2026 rules keeps running for its full term, through the end of 2027.
A partial pass at 95,000 TQPs
Southwest is adding Milestone Rewards between tiers. The second one gives three Companion Pass trips once you reach 95,000 TQPs or 75 qualifying one-way flights. A first Milestone Reward, before Silver, lets you pick a reward such as Rapid Rewards points or seat certificates.
Chase Southwest cards earn 1 TQP per dollar
From January 1, 2027, every Rapid Rewards credit card from Chase earns 1 TQP per dollar spent on purchases, including the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card. Only the base rate counts: on a category that earns 2x points, 1 TQP per dollar goes toward status.
At that rate, reaching Platinum on card spending alone takes $140,000 in purchases. That is a very different path from the old one, where a single welcome bonus could cover more than half of the Companion Pass requirement. Our guide to Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards lists the current lineup.
Southwest also says a new premium Rapid Rewards card from Chase launches in 2027. It will be the way into the Southwest Icon Lounge network, which opens in late 2027, starting with a first lounge shown at Nashville International Airport.
New ways to use points
| Redemption | Start | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Rental cars | November 2026 | All participating car rental partners, booked through cars.southwest.com |
| Partner airlines | Spring 2027 | Earn and redeem on Icelandair, China Airlines and Etihad Airways at launch |
| Seat selection | Later in 2027 | Southwest-operated flights, including Extra Legroom and Preferred seats, after ticketing and before check-in |
What else changes in 2027
Free WiFi for Rapid Rewards members, sponsored by T-Mobile, moves to Starlink, and Southwest expects the fleetwide rollout to be finished in fall 2027.
Bottom Line
If the Companion Pass is your goal, decide before December 2, 2026. A Chase Southwest card approved by then keeps its welcome bonus eligible for the pass, even if you finish the spending requirement in early 2027. Check how Chase treats repeat bonuses in our article on the Southwest business card bonus rule before you apply.
After that date, plan on earned status: 95,000 TQPs for three companion trips, 140,000 TQPs for unlimited ones. Our Southwest Companion Pass guide explains how the pass works once you hold it. To get the next changes as they land, sign up for the Milesopedia newsletter and compare options in our credit card guide.
When do the Southwest Rapid Rewards changes take effect?
The new Silver, Gold and Platinum tiers, Milestone Rewards and the 1 TQP per dollar card earning start on January 1, 2027. Points for rental cars arrive in November 2026, partner airline awards in spring 2027 and points for seat selection later in 2027.
How do I earn the Southwest Companion Pass in 2027?
From January 1, 2027, unlimited Companion Pass trips come with Platinum status, which requires 140,000 Tier Qualifying Points. A Milestone Reward at 95,000 TQPs or 75 qualifying one-way flights gives three Companion Pass trips.
Do Southwest credit card welcome bonuses still count toward the Companion Pass?
Not from January 1, 2027. Welcome bonuses, referral bonuses, anniversary points, bonus category points and partner spend no longer earn TQPs, so they do not help you qualify. Cards approved on or before December 2, 2026 are the exception for their welcome bonus.
What happens to my A-List or A-List Preferred status?
On January 1, 2027, A-List becomes Silver and A-List Preferred becomes Gold. Platinum is a new tier above Gold.
How many TQPs do Southwest credit cards earn in 2027?
Every Rapid Rewards credit card from Chase, including the Plus card, earns 1 TQP per dollar spent on purchases from January 1, 2027. Bonus category multipliers do not add TQPs, so reaching Platinum on spending alone takes $140,000.
Will my current Companion Pass still work?
Yes. A Companion Pass earned under the current rules keeps running for its full term. A pass earned in 2026 remains valid through the end of 2027.
Which partner airlines will accept Rapid Rewards points?
Starting in spring 2027, members will be able to earn and redeem Rapid Rewards points with Icelandair, China Airlines and Etihad Airways. Southwest calls these the first partners in its new international loyalty partnerships.
