Southwest Airlines is overhauling its Rapid Rewards program with new elite tiers and qualification rules that take effect in 2027. One of the most significant shifts affects the popular Companion Pass, a perk that lets a designated traveler fly alongside the passholder for only taxes and fees on most flights. The change removes a long-standing shortcut that many frequent flyers have used to qualify quickly.
Credit Card Bonuses Lose Qualifying Power
For years, welcome bonuses from Southwest credit cards counted toward Companion Pass qualification even though they did not count toward elite status. Those bonuses often delivered 80,000 points or more in a single transaction after meeting spending requirements, helping travelers reach the 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points threshold. Beginning January 1, 2027, new cardmember welcome bonuses, referral bonuses, anniversary points, bonus points from everyday spending categories, and partner purchases will no longer contribute to Companion Pass qualification. These activities will still earn regular Rapid Rewards points, but they will not move travelers closer to the pass. Travelers who earn the pass under current rules in 2026 will keep the benefit through the end of 2027.
New Qualification Path Requires Platinum Status
Starting in 2027, the Companion Pass becomes a benefit tied exclusively to Southwest’s new top-tier Platinum elite status. Travelers must earn 140,000 Tier Qualifying Points or complete 100 qualifying one-way flights to reach that level. The airline is softening the transition with a 10,000-TQP boost once a member reaches 130,000 earned points in 2027, which would unlock Platinum status and the Companion Pass for the rest of that year and all of 2028. A new Milestone Reward will also award three Companion Pass trips after a member earns 95,000 TQPs or completes 75 qualifying flights.
Credit Card Spending Gains a Modest Role
All Southwest credit cards will begin earning one Tier Qualifying Point per dollar spent beginning in 2027. This change gives cardholders a steadier, if slower, route to elite status and the Companion Pass compared with the previous bonus-driven approach. The shift favors consistent spending over large one-time bonuses. It remains to be seen how many travelers will adjust their strategies to meet the higher thresholds through regular card use rather than targeted applications.
| Qualification Element | Before 2027 | 2027 and Later |
|---|---|---|
| Credit card welcome bonuses | Count toward Companion Pass | Do not count |
| Companion Pass requirement | 135,000 qualifying points | Platinum status (140,000 TQPs or 100 flights) |
| Credit card spend | No TQP earning | 1 TQP per dollar on Southwest cards |
The adjustments reflect Southwest’s broader effort to align Companion Pass access with its new elite structure while introducing limited new earning options. Frequent flyers who have relied on bonus strategies will need to adapt their approach well before the 2027 changes take hold.
