Southwest Replaces A-List With New Rapid Rewards Tiers for 2027
Southwest introduces Silver, Gold and Platinum in 2027, with new Milestone Rewards, changes to Companion Pass qualification and protection for benefits already earned.
Key Notes
- Silver, Gold and Platinum tiers launch on January 1, 2027.
- Milestone Rewards begin at 20,000 qualifying points or 15 qualifying one-way flights.
- Companion Pass earned through 2026 activity remains valid through the end of 2027.
Southwest Airlines will replace A-List and A-List Preferred with Silver and Gold on January 1, 2027, while adding a new top tier called Platinum. The Rapid Rewards overhaul also introduces rewards between status levels and changes how members qualify for Companion Pass travel.
The airline announced the changes on October 15. For travelers, the practical question is how their flight activity, card spending and existing benefits fit the new structure—not simply what their status will be called.
Silver, Gold and Platinum Replace the Old Lineup
Southwest’s tier guide sets out two ways to qualify during the calendar year: Tier Qualifying Points, known as TQPs, or qualifying one-way flights.
- Silver: 35,000 TQPs or 25 qualifying flights.
- Gold: 65,000 TQPs or 50 qualifying flights.
- Platinum: 140,000 TQPs or 100 qualifying flights.
Platinum includes unlimited Companion Pass trips, three free checked bags subject to size and weight limits, and Extra Legroom seat selection at booking when available. Members board ahead of Gold members and Group 1. This is a priority boarding benefit, rather than a promise of preboarding.
Silver keeps a first checked bag free and Standard or Preferred seat selection at booking when available. Gold offers two free checked bags and access to Extra Legroom seats at booking, subject to availability. Those distinctions build on Southwest’s shift to assigned seating.
Milestone Rewards Start Before Silver
The new Milestone Rewards are separate checkpoints along the status journey. The first arrives at 20,000 TQPs or 15 qualifying one-way flights, giving members a choice of 2,000 Rapid Rewards points or two Preferred Seat Certificates. Certificates are redeemed through the seat-modification process, rather than during the initial booking.
A second milestone, at 95,000 TQPs or 75 flights, provides three Companion Pass trips. Each can cover a one-way or round-trip itinerary, but using one for a one-way journey consumes the entire trip benefit. Reaching Platinum then unlocks unlimited Companion Pass trips, subject to program terms and seat availability.
Milestone earning starts on January 1, 2027; activity from 2026 does not count toward the new checkpoints. Members planning around a reward should distinguish qualifying activity from the redeemable points balance shown in their account.
What Happens to Benefits Already Earned?
Southwest’s transition rules protect benefits earned for 2027 under the current program. A-List becomes Silver automatically, while A-List Preferred becomes Gold. A Companion Pass earned through 2026 activity under the existing rules remains valid for unlimited trips through December 31, 2027.
The earning bonus deserves a closer look. Gold earned under the new terms carries a 60% flight-point bonus, but members who qualified for A-List Preferred for 2027 through their 2026 activity retain a 100% bonus through the end of 2027. Travelers should check which qualification period applies before estimating future earnings.
From January, eligible purchases on all Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards earn one TQP per dollar. Cardmembers also have a one-time 2027 boost of 10,000 TQPs after earning 130,000 TQPs, helping them reach Platinum. Spending toward status should be weighed against the benefits a traveler will actually use.
More Ways to Spend Points Are Coming
Southwest plans to introduce points earning and redemption through loyalty partnerships with Icelandair, China Airlines and Etihad Airways in spring 2027. Points-based seat selection on Southwest-operated flights is due later in the year, while rental-car redemptions across participating partners are scheduled to begin in November 2026.
The airline also named its planned airport lounge network Southwest Icon Lounge, with access through a new premium Chase-issued Southwest card launching in 2027. Lounge access should therefore be checked separately from the new tier benefits. Southwest expects its fleetwide Starlink rollout to finish in fall 2027.
For members comparing trips in Southwest’s summer schedule, the useful starting point is their expected flight count and the benefits already secured for 2027. The new milestones can deliver rewards before the next tier, but seats, companion travel and future partner redemptions still have their own conditions.
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