Southwest's 2027 Rapid Rewards: Silver, Gold and Platinum tiers, a harder Companion Pass and no lounge perk

Southwest is rebuilding Rapid Rewards for 2027. In a release on October 15, the airline said A-List becomes Silver, A-List Preferred becomes Gold, and a new Platinum tier sits on top with unlimited Companion Pass trips. The Companion Pass itself gets harder to earn, and credit card spending becomes a main path to status.

Here is what changes on January 1, 2027, based on Southwest's own program pages.

The new tiers

Southwest's status tiers page sets these targets for a calendar year. You need either the tier qualifying points (TQPs) or the one-way flights.

Silver gets one free checked bag, seat choice at booking when available and priority lanes. Gold adds a second free bag, Extra Legroom seat choice and two premium drinks per flight. Platinum adds a third free bag and unlimited Companion Pass trips.

Members who earned A-List or A-List Preferred for 2027 move over automatically and keep that status through December 31, 2027. Former A-List Preferred members keep their 100% earning bonus through 2027. Former A-List members pay $35 for a second bag through 2027.

Companion Pass gets harder

Today you need 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points or 100 flights. From 2027, Southwest's Companion Pass page says:

• 95,000 TQPs or 75 flights earns three Companion Pass trips as a milestone reward.
• 140,000 TQPs or 100 flights earns Platinum, with unlimited Companion Pass trips.

The bigger change is what counts. Credit card welcome bonuses, referral bonuses, anniversary points and bonus category points will no longer help you earn the Companion Pass. They still earn regular points. If you earned a Companion Pass in 2026, it stays unlimited through December 31, 2027.

Cards now earn status

From January 2027, every Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card earns 1 TQP per dollar on purchases, net of returns. That includes the entry-level Plus card. Balance transfers, cash advances and similar charges do not count.

Southwest's credit card page adds a one-time boost. A primary cardmember who reaches 130,000 TQPs by the end of 2027 gets 10,000 more, enough for Platinum valid through 2028. There is also a new milestone below Silver, where members can pick Rapid Rewards points or seat certificates.

Other changes

The release also says members will be able to earn and redeem points with Icelandair, China Airlines and Etihad from spring 2027. Points will work for rental cars from November 2026, and for seat selection on Southwest flights later in 2027.

What about lounges?

Status does not come with lounge access. Southwest's first Icon Lounges open in late 2027 in Austin, Baltimore, Honolulu and Nashville. Southwest says access will come through a new premium Chase card launching in 2027. It has not said whether Platinum members will get in without that card, so do not plan on it.

You can see how Rapid Rewards fits with other airline programs in our directory, and check Southwest's hubs and ratings there.

What to do now

• If you are close to a Companion Pass for 2026, finish it this year. A 2026 pass runs through the end of 2027 on the old, easier terms.
• If you rely on card bonuses to reach the Companion Pass, that plan stops working in 2027. Only flights and card spending will count.
• If you fly 25 or more times a year, Silver is within reach and comes with a free bag.

My take

Southwest is copying the big airlines: tiers with metal names, status through a credit card and a lounge that comes with a premium card. That will suit heavy spenders. Families who used card bonuses to get a Companion Pass are the clear losers here.

Related reading

• Southwest's first lounges will open in Austin, Baltimore, Honolulu and Nashville in late 2027
• Southwest's Companion Pass promo: travel by November 18