Southwest Rapid Rewards Changes 2027: What Happens to Your Points, Credit Card and Companion Pass?

Hey you, it’s me! 💋

You know I love to travel, and I carry a Southwest card for its benefits. Here are the changes you need to know about if you plan to travel in 2027.

Southwest is going through one of the biggest makeovers in its history. New membership levels. A new way to earn Companion Pass. Airport lounges. Even a path to Europe with your points.

Some of it is good news. Some of it means acting before the end of this year. Grab your coffee, and let us walk through it together. ☕

Quick picks

Southwest Companion Pass Deadline: December 2, 2026

If you take one thing from this post, let it be this date.

December 2, 2026 is the last day to be approved for a Southwest Chase card and have its welcome bonus count toward the Companion Pass under the current rules. Southwest says those bonus points can still count even if you finish the required spending in early 2027.

Two important things:

• Approval is not enough. You still have to meet every requirement of the card offer, like the minimum spending in the time allowed. Read your offer's terms carefully.
• After that, the door closes. Starting in 2027, welcome bonuses no longer help you earn a Companion Pass.

A card is a real financial decision. Only apply if it fits your budget and you will pay the balance in full.

When Do the Southwest Rapid Rewards Changes Start?

The big one is January 1, 2027. That is when the new Rapid Rewards program takes effect. But two dates this year matter even more if you want a Companion Pass.

Southwest A-List Changes 2027: New Silver, Gold and Platinum Tiers

Starting January 1, Southwest is replacing A-List and A-List Preferred with three new levels. If you have A-List now, you move to Silver automatically. A-List Preferred moves to Gold.

Tier Qualifying Points are the points that count toward status. They reset every January 1, so your 2026 activity does not carry into 2027.

There is a little treat early on, too. At 20,000 Tier Qualifying Points or 15 flights, you can pick 2,000 bonus points or two Preferred Seat certificates.

How to Earn the Southwest Companion Pass in 2027

This is the change I want you to hear first. The Companion Pass lets someone you choose fly with you for just taxes and fees. For many families, it is the best deal in travel.

Today, you earn it with 100 qualifying flights or 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points. Credit card welcome bonuses count, which is how many of us earned it.

Starting in 2027, it works differently:

• Unlimited Companion Pass comes only with Platinum: 140,000 Tier Qualifying Points or 100 flights.
• Three Companion Pass trips at 95,000 Tier Qualifying Points or 75 flights.
• Welcome bonuses, referral bonuses, anniversary points and partner spending no longer count.
• The Companion Pass cannot be used on the new international partner flights.

Points you spend vs. points that count. This is where it gets confusing, so let me make it simple. Southwest has two kinds of points in 2027:

So a welcome bonus in 2027 can still fill your points balance for a free flight. It just will not move you toward a Companion Pass.

If you want a Companion Pass under the current rules, watch the December 2 card deadline above. All other qualifying activity must post by December 31, 2026, and a pass earned under the current rules works through December 31, 2027.

Already have a Companion Pass? It keeps working until it expires.

Southwest Credit Card Changes 2027: Is the Card Still Worth It?

Here is the good news for those of us who carry the card. Starting January 1, 2027, every Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card earns 1 Tier Qualifying Point for every $1 you spend.

That is a big shift. Until now, the lowest-fee card earned no status credit at all. In 2027, your everyday spending (groceries, gas, the dog groomer) helps you climb toward Silver, Gold or Platinum.

There is a bonus for cardholders, too. Once you reach 130,000 Tier Qualifying Points in 2027, Southwest adds a one-time boost of 10,000 Tier Qualifying Points, which takes you to Platinum. You need to reach 130,000 by December 31, 2027, your card account must be open and in good standing, and only one card per member counts.

So is your card still worth keeping? Do the math before you decide. Grab your last statement and add up what the card really gave you this year:

1. What you paid: the annual fee.
2. What you got back: checked bags you did not pay for, anniversary points, any travel credits, and the value of the points you earned and actually used.
3. What changes in 2027: how many Tier Qualifying Points your normal spending would add, and whether that gets you to a level you would use.
4. What else is out there: compare it with a card that earns flexible points if you do not fly Southwest often.

If what you got back is more than what you paid, and you fly Southwest regularly, the card is likely pulling its weight. If not, 2027 is a good time to rethink.

Southwest has also said a new premium Chase card is coming in 2027. More on that next.

Southwest Airport Lounges: Icon Lounge Locations and Access

Yes, really. The first Southwest Icon Lounges are expected to open by late 2027 in four airports:

• Austin (AUS)
• Nashville (BNA)
• Baltimore (BWI)
• Honolulu (HNL)

Access will come through a new Chase credit card launching in 2027. Here is what we do not know yet:

My Orlando friends, I see you. MCO is not on the first list. If you rarely fly through Austin, Nashville, Baltimore or Honolulu, I would wait for the full details before paying a second annual fee. I will update you as soon as Southwest shares more.

Can You Use Southwest Points to Fly to Europe?

Soon, yes. Starting in spring 2027, you can earn and use Rapid Rewards points on three partner airlines:

One thing to know: these are flights on partner airlines. Southwest has not announced its own nonstop flights to Europe. The point prices and booking rules have not been released yet, and the Companion Pass will not work on these flights.

Still, for a girl who walked the Camino, the idea of points I earn at home getting me closer to Europe? That makes my heart happy.

Other Southwest Rapid Rewards Changes for 2027

Also new:

• Rental cars with points, coming soon at cars.southwest.com.
• Points for seat selection starting late 2027.
• Free Starlink Wi-Fi for Rapid Rewards members, rolling out across the fleet by fall 2027.

Staying the same: your points still do not expire, and reward flights still have no blackout dates.

Already happened: assigned seating, the new boarding groups and the new fare types started in January 2026. If those caught you off guard on your last trip, you are not alone.

My Take

Change is hard, even when it comes from an airline. Southwest is asking loyal travelers to fly more and spend more to keep the perks we love. Some of us will climb. Some of us will rethink.

Here is my advice. Do not panic, and do not make a big card decision this week. Look at how you really travel. Then decide what fits the life you are building, not the one an airline is selling you.

And if a Companion Pass would change your family's travel in 2027, mark December 2 on your calendar today.

Now tell me, what is on your travel bucket list for 2027? Or what places do you want me to create a resource guide on? I enjoy having everything in one place, and I bet you do too. Write me back in the Pen Pal section of The Sweet Spot. I read every one. 💌

Southwest Rapid Rewards 2027 FAQ

When do the Southwest Rapid Rewards changes start? Most changes start January 1, 2027. Partner airline redemptions start in spring 2027, and the first lounges open in late 2027.

What happens to A-List and A-List Preferred in 2027? A-List becomes Silver and A-List Preferred becomes Gold, automatically.

How do I earn the Southwest Companion Pass in 2027? Reach Platinum with 140,000 Tier Qualifying Points or 100 flights for unlimited trips. At 95,000 points or 75 flights, you get three Companion Pass trips.

Do credit card bonuses still count toward the Companion Pass? Not after 2026. If you are approved for a Southwest Chase card by December 2, 2026, Southwest says that welcome bonus can still count.

What is the Southwest Companion Pass deadline for 2026? Be approved for a Southwest Chase card by December 2, 2026, and have all other qualifying activity post by December 31, 2026.

Will my Southwest credit card get me into the new lounges? Southwest has said lounge access comes through a new Chase card launching in 2027. Access for current cards has not been announced.

Can I use Southwest points to fly to Europe? Starting in spring 2027, you can use points on Icelandair, which connects to cities across Europe.

Tag Me When You Fly ✈️

Flying Southwest this year? Snap a photo at the gate, in your seat, or on the way to your next adventure, and tag me @justjennboard. I would love to come along for the ride.

Before You Go…

Know someone who flies Southwest? Share this resource with them! Whether they are planning a family vacation, a girls' trip, or that bucket-list trip to Europe, there is a little something here for every traveler.

I hope this helped you spend a little less time searching for answers and a little more time dreaming about where you will go next.

And if you enjoy resources like this, come hang out with me on Sunday mornings! Subscribe to The Sunday Scoop 🗞️, my weekly newsletter filled with midlife conversations, helpful resources, upcoming adventures, and a little bit of everything in between.

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Until our next chat, just stay sweet!

I love you,
Jenn 💋

Sources

• Southwest: Earned Rapid Rewards Status or Companion Pass in 2026? What to Expect in 2027
• NerdWallet: Southwest to Tie Companion Pass to New Top Tier, Add Perks
• AirlineGeeks: Southwest Overhauls Rapid Rewards, Details Lounge Plans
• Doctor of Credit: Southwest Companion Pass No Longer Earned With Signup Bonus Points