Southwest Airline Loyalty Revamp: Big Changes to Fares, Points, and Elite Status

27 October 2026

On January 1, 2027, Southwest Airlines will debut three new Rapid Rewards loyalty tiers: Silver, Gold, and Platinum. The A-List tier will be mapped to the new Silver tier, while A-List Preferred will become Gold.

The Silver status will now require 35,000 tier qualifiying points (TQPs) or 25 qualifying flights per year, while Gold status necessitates 65,000 TQPs or 50 qualifying flights. Riders seeking the highest status, the new Platinum, must earn 140,000 TQPs or complete 100 qualifying flights annually.

The airline will also award 1 TQP per $1 spent through Chase on credit cards branded with the Southwest name.

"Together with our partnership with Chase, this increased our fairness," said Southwest CEO Bob Jordan. He added that the partnership was designed to recognize Southwest's fastest customers. "Closely familiar customers created this evolution, and we listened to the group during the development of this loyalty upgrade."

However, Southwest will reduce credit for some fare families. Choice Preferred fares will now earn just 8 points per dollar, a decrease from 1,000 points for a fare that costs $125. Choice Extra, once 1,200 points, will become 10 points per dollar.

This creates a one-tier, silver-lining for some carriers: 20% more points on cheaper flights, but only 6.4% of a Megahan $10,000 Choice Extra fare, which generated 1,200 points, now at 10 points per dollar, will earn fares just 640 points. Points selection on Basic and Choice remains unchanged, at 2 points and 6 points respectively. But this change makes for a smaller window for the rapid accumulation of points with the airline, and a heavier premium on higher-value fares for the points-banks.

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Southwest's venerated "Bags Fly Free" policy went away in May 2025, and was following with bag fees, raising checks bags to $45. In that same year, traveler's found they had lost the gamble of their seat in what used to be a tiered seating policy.

As the new year begins, Southwest will phase out Companion Pass Qualifying Points, favoring TQPs and qualifying flights alone. Premium-tier Platinum Champion Pass holders will enjoy unlimited Companion Pass trips, while all members can earn 3 unlimited Companion Pass trips after 95,000 points, or 75 qualifying flights. Current Companion Pass holders will retain their passes, even as they turn the most sought-after hugs into tickets, beyond 2027.

While this year's changes create a tougher route to Southwest status and fewer points on high-value fares, some perks remain: For travelers flying on a Basic Fare, a change or cancellation remains free, unless upgrade to a higher fare; all travelers will earn 2x points on purchases made on their dollar through Chase Southwest-branded credit cards next year, same as before; and, despite the earnings being compressed, travelers flying on a Basic fare continue to earn 2 points each dollar, while points on a Choice fare remain steady at 6x each dollar.

And for those set on earning status: The process is similar to before, only easier- they will require consistent, frequent travel. However, the accelerated earnings and platinum-prioritized Companion Pass upgrades may prove tough for those low-revenue travelers who previously managed the points well along the Rapid Rewards tiers to achieve status early on, or advantage Companion Pass usage, by booking 60 flights at $325, or 75,000 points in one year.