Southwest announced on October 15, 2026 that A-List becomes Silver and A-List Preferred becomes Gold on January 1, 2027, and that a new Platinum tier will carry unlimited Companion Pass trips. Every Southwest credit card, the Plus included, will also earn one tier qualifying point (TQP) per dollar spent.
The figures below come from Southwest's release and its Rapid Rewards 2027 pages, which we read on October 15, 2026.
The New Tiers and What They Take
TQPs reset on January 1, 2027, and you can reach each tier with TQPs or qualifying one-way flights.
- Silver (replaces A-List): 35,000 TQPs or 25 flights. You pick a Preferred or Standard seat at booking at no cost when available, can upgrade to an Extra Legroom seat within 48 hours of departure, board with Group 1, check one bag free and earn a 40% bonus on qualifying flights.
- Gold (replaces A-List Preferred): 65,000 TQPs or 50 flights. You pick any seat at booking when available, Extra Legroom included, board before Group 1, check up to two bags free, earn a 60% bonus and get two premium drinks per flight.
- Platinum (new): 140,000 TQPs or 100 flights. You get unlimited Companion Pass trips, any seat at booking when available, boarding before Gold members, up to three free checked bags, a 120% bonus and two premium drinks per flight.
What Happens to the Status You Earn in 2026
The 2026 rules apply through December 31, 2026. If you earn A-List or A-List Preferred for 2027 on that activity, your account moves to Silver or Gold automatically on January 1.
Southwest grandfathers two things. Members who earn A-List Preferred for 2027 keep their 100% flight bonus through December 31, 2027, and the 60% Gold bonus applies to Gold earned under the new rules. Members who earn A-List for 2027 will pay $35 for a second checked bag on flights through December 31, 2027. Silver's second bag is otherwise at the standard fee.
Southwest also says your 2026 activity won't count toward a 2027 Milestone Reward.
Milestone Rewards Arrive
Southwest is adding two rewards on the way up, and the same TQPs and flights that count toward status count toward them. At 20,000 TQPs or 15 flights, before you reach Silver, you choose 2,000 Rapid Rewards points or two Preferred Seat Certificates. At 95,000 TQPs or 75 flights, between Gold and Platinum, you get three Companion Pass trips, each usable one way or round trip.
How the Companion Pass Changes
Companion Pass qualifying points retire after December 31, 2026, and the pass is earned from January 1 the same way as status: through the 95,000 TQP or 75 flight milestone for three trips, or through Platinum for unlimited trips. If you earn a Companion Pass in 2026 under today's rules, you keep unlimited trips through December 31, 2027. Companion Pass promotions you've already registered for will be honored.
The bigger change is what stops counting. From January 1, new cardmember welcome bonuses, referral bonuses, anniversary points, bonus points from spend (such as 2x on gas) and partner spend still earn Rapid Rewards points but earn no TQPs, so they don't move you toward a pass.
There's one window. Southwest says anyone approved for a Rapid Rewards credit card on or before December 2, 2026 who meets the welcome bonus requirements can still have those points count as Companion Pass qualifying points, even if the spend finishes in early 2027.
What Changes for Cardmembers
Starting January 1, every Rapid Rewards credit card earns one TQP per $1 on purchases, with no earning cap. That includes the Southwest Plus, which carries a $99 annual fee, the Southwest Premier and the Southwest Priority, which carries a $229 annual fee. Existing card benefits continue.
Cardmembers also get a one-time boost in 2027. After you reach 130,000 TQPs by December 31, 2027, you receive 10,000 more, which can help you qualify for Platinum status valid through December 31, 2028. Only one card per member gets it, and it goes to the primary cardmember. TQPs from card spend and flights both count toward the 130,000.
Other Changes Southwest Announced
Southwest says you can redeem points for rental cars through cars.southwest.com beginning in November 2026. In spring 2027 you'll be able to earn and redeem points with Icelandair, China Airlines and Etihad Airways, and later in 2027 you'll be able to spend points on seat selection, Extra Legroom and Preferred seats included.
Southwest also confirmed its Icon Lounge network for late 2027, with access through a new premium Southwest credit card from Chase launching in 2027. Southwest's card page says more details are still to come. Our lounge announcement article covers the four airports named so far, and Southwest expects to finish a fleetwide Starlink rollout in fall 2027.
What to Do Before January 1
If you're chasing A-List, A-List Preferred or a Companion Pass this year, the 2026 rules still apply to everything that posts by December 31. If you're weighing a Southwest card for a Companion Pass, December 2, 2026 is the approval date on Southwest's page. A card approved later still earns one TQP per dollar from January 1, but its welcome bonus earns no TQPs, so it won't move you toward a pass.
For the full picture on points, redemptions and the cards, see our Southwest Rapid Rewards guide.
