A pair of Southwest Airlines jets are parked at Dallas Love Field gates, October 1, 2026.
Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News
Dallas-based Southwest Airlines has made a number of operational changes like ending free checked bags and assigned seating. Now, it’s overhauling the Rapid Rewards loyalty program.
Starting Jan. 1, 2027, Southwest, the dominant carrier at Love Field, will introduce three new loyalty tiers for its Rapid Rewards program. And Rapid Rewards credit card users will also start earning one tier qualifying point towards status for every dollar spent with their card starting in January.
There are a lot of changes that could shift how customers interact with the airline’s loyalty program. Here’s what you need to know if you’re a Southwest flyer:
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What are the tiers and what perks come with them?
There will be three new loyalty tiers: silver, gold and platinum. Here are the perks:
Silver: Members will receive Group 1 boarding, one free checked bag, and the option to select a complimentary standard or preferred seat at booking when available, according to Southwest. Members will also be able to upgrade to extra legroom seating for free within 48 hours of their flight, when available.
Gold: Gold members receive all of the benefits in Silver but also get additional perks like extra legroom seat selection at booking, boarding prior to Group 1, two free checked bags and up to two premium drinks on select flights.
Platinum: The airline’s most loyal members will receive the most premium perks. The new Platinum status will come with unlimited companion pass trips, priority boarding before Gold members, extra legroom seats at booking, three free checked bags and more.
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The tiers will each come with a points-earning bonus for qualifying flights, with silver receiving a 40% bonus, gold a 60% bonus and platinum getting a 120% bonus.
How do customers earn the new status tiers?
To earn Silver status, you must fly 25 qualifying one-way flights or earn 35,000 tier qualifying points in the previous calendar year. To earn Gold, you must fly 50 qualifying one-way flights or earn 65,000 tier qualifying points. And to earn Platinum, you must fly 100 qualifying one-way flights or earn 140,000 tier qualifying points.
How do customers earn Tier Qualifying Points?
There are five ways you can earn tier qualifying points towards status:
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Completing flying on qualifying Southwest Airlines flights
Qualifying purchases with Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards
Qualifying purchases with the Southwest Rapid Rewards debit card
Completing qualifying bookings on Southwest’s vacation package, Getaways By Southwest
Completing travel on qualifying Southwest Groups bookings
What if travelers earn Southwest’s A-List or A-List Preferred status in 2026?
Good news, your status will transfer. If you’ve already earned or are on track to earn A-List or A-List Preferred status this year, Southwest will honor that by transferring you into one of its new tiers. A-List members will receive Silver status and A-List Preferred members will receive Gold beginning in January.
How is the Companion Pass changing?
Starting in January, Southwest’s Companion Pass will be earned through tier qualifying points or flights. The pass allows a designated companion to fly with you for free on a one-way or roundtrip itinerary.
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There will be two opportunities to unlock Companion Pass as members progress through status tiers:
You can receive a Companion Pass for three trips by earning 95,000 tier qualifying points or 75 qualifying one-way flights.
Or you can receive unlimited Companion Pass trips after earning Platinum status
If you earn Companion Pass in 2026 under the current system, that perk will be honored for the entirety of 2027, Southwest said. If you earned a Companion Pass through a promotion, such as the one offered in August, you will still receive your pass for the specified period if you met the requirements.
More information on Companion Pass Changes can be found here.
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