Southwest’s 2027 overhaul: faster status, a much harder Companion Pass
From January 1, 2027, the Companion Pass is earned only by flying Southwest or spending on a Southwest card. Welcome bonuses stop counting. The new math, and what to do before December 31.
Southwest announced its biggest Rapid Rewards change in years on October 15. From January 1, 2027, status and the Companion Pass are earned in one currency, Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs), and only two things earn them: flying Southwest and spending on a Southwest card. Status gets faster for frequent flyers and heavy cardholders. The Companion Pass, as most people earned it, gets much harder.
The real change
140,000
For the pass
TQPs, up from 135,000 qualifying points
None
Bonuses counted
Welcome bonuses stop counting toward the pass
1x
Every card
1 TQP per $1, the Plus card included
Dec 31
Old rules end
A pass earned in 2026 runs through 2027
Until the end of 2026, the unlimited Companion Pass takes 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points in a calendar year, and points from a Southwest card count, welcome bonus included. That is why the classic route was one or two card applications plus everyday spending.
From 2027 those qualifying points are retired. Southwest's own list of what no longer helps: new-cardmember welcome bonuses, referral bonuses, anniversary points, bonus points from spending categories and points from hotel or car partners. They still earn Rapid Rewards points; they just stop counting toward the pass.
Before and after
| Through Dec 31, 2026 | From Jan 1, 2027 | |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited Companion Pass | 135,000 qualifying points or 100 flights | Platinum: 140,000 TQPs or 100 flights |
| What counts toward the pass | Flights, card points with welcome bonuses, a 10,000-point card boost | Flights and card purchases at 1 TQP per $1, a 10,000 TQP boost at 130,000 |
| A smaller pass | None | Three Companion Pass trips at 95,000 TQPs or 75 flights |
| First tier | A-List: 35,000 TQPs or 20 flights | Silver: 35,000 TQPs or 25 flights |
| Second tier | A-List Preferred: 70,000 TQPs or 40 flights | Gold: 65,000 TQPs or 50 flights |
| Card spending toward status | 1,500 to 2,500 TQPs per $5,000 on most cards; none on the Plus | 1 TQP per $1 on every Southwest card, the Plus included |
| Points per $1 of fare | Basic 2 · Choice 6 · Choice Preferred 10 · Choice Extra 14 | Basic 2 · Choice 6 · Choice Preferred 8 · Choice Extra 10 |
| Elite earning bonus | A-List 25% · A-List Preferred 100% | Silver 40% · Gold 60% · Platinum 120% |
TQPs from card purchases post after each billing cycle closes. Balance transfers, cash advances, cash-like transactions and fees don't count as purchases.
What the pass costs from 2027
For 2027 only, a primary Southwest cardmember who reaches 130,000 TQPs gets a 10,000 TQP boost, which is exactly the gap to Platinum. Two ways to get there:
Under today's rules, a 60,000-point welcome bonus, the 10,000-point card boost and about $65,000 of spending at 1 point per dollar add up to 135,000: the pass. In 2027 the same $65,000 earns 65,000 TQPs. That is Gold status, but short of even the three-trip milestone at 95,000.
The new middle step softens it a little. At 95,000 TQPs (or 75 flights) Southwest gives three Companion Pass trips, each good for a one-way or round trip. Three trips are useful, but they are not the unlimited pass.
Who comes out ahead, and who doesn't
Better off: anyone who flies Southwest often on paid fares or puts serious spending on a Southwest card. Every card now earns 1 TQP per dollar, where today most earn 1,500 to 2,500 TQPs per $5,000 and the Plus earns none. Gold needs 65,000 TQPs instead of 70,000, Silver's earning bonus rises from 25% to 40%, and Platinum adds a third free bag, boarding ahead of Gold and the unlimited pass.
Worse off: the couples and families who earned the pass with a welcome bonus and ordinary spending. That route closes. Flyers who buy the higher fares also earn less: Choice Preferred drops from 10 to 8 points per dollar and Choice Extra from 14 to 10, and the top-tier bonus falls from 100% on A-List Preferred to 60% on Gold. Status by flight count gets harder too, with 25 flights for Silver instead of 20 and 50 for Gold instead of 40.
The fine print
- A 2026 pass lasts through 2027. Qualify under today's rules by December 31, 2026 and the unlimited pass runs through December 31, 2027. Current holders keep their full term.
- Qualifying points retire after December 31, 2026. Nothing carries into 2027's TQP count.
- Registered promotions are honored. Anyone already registered in a Companion Pass promotion still gets its benefit once its requirements are met.
- The 10,000 TQP boost is one per member. Primary cardmembers only, once the account reaches 130,000 TQPs by December 31, 2027; it posts within 30 days and counts through 2028.
- Still one companion. One designated companion at a time, three changes a year, and taxes from $5.60 one-way on every companion flight.
What to do before December 31
Close to 135,000? Finish this year
Only points posted in 2026 count, and card points post when a statement closes, so leave room for a statement that closes in January.
Don't open a card for a 2027 pass
A welcome bonus that posts in 2027 earns no TQPs. A new card helps toward the pass only if its bonus posts by December 31.
Plan 2027 around TQPs
Flights on Choice fares and purchases on a Southwest card are the only two sources. Card spending above 130,000 TQPs triggers the boost.
Also coming
Points for rental cars at cars.southwest.com from November 2026; earning and redeeming on Icelandair, China Airlines and Etihad from spring 2027; points for Extra Legroom and Preferred seats later in 2027. Southwest Icon lounges are expected from late 2027 (the first rendering shown is Nashville), with access through a new premium Southwest card from Chase. Southwest also expects Starlink WiFi across its fleet by fall 2027.
The Atelier Take
Better for people who fly Southwest often or spend heavily on its card, worse for the couples and families the Companion Pass made famous. From 2027 the unlimited pass takes about $130,000 of card spending. Anyone near 135,000 should finish in 2026, for a pass that runs through 2027.
Southwest, Rapid Rewards and Companion Pass are trademarks of Southwest Airlines, used only to identify its program. Points Atelier is not affiliated with or endorsed by Southwest Airlines.
