Southwest Airlines plans to revise its Rapid Rewards loyalty program, adding a new upper status level and expanding the benefits members can earn. The changes are scheduled to roll out in stages, with several taking effect in 2027.
In a Thursday announcement, the airline said its existing A-List status will become Silver and A-List Preferred will become Gold on Jan. 1, 2027. A new Platinum tier will sit above Gold. Platinum members will receive unlimited Companion Pass trips on Southwest-operated flights, allowing them to travel with a designated companion.
The company also plans to offer benefits to members as they progress toward higher status, rather than reserving all rewards for those who have already reached a tier. Members working toward Silver will be able to select rewards such as Rapid Rewards points or seat certificates. Travelers progressing from Gold toward Platinum will be eligible to earn three Companion Pass trips, according to the announcement.
Southwest credit card customers are also set to receive a new way to qualify for status. Beginning in January, holders of Rapid Rewards credit cards will earn one Tier Qualifying Point for each dollar spent on eligible purchases. The announcement did not specify which purchases would qualify beyond describing them as eligible.
The planned updates extend to how members can redeem points. Southwest expects to allow members to redeem points for rental cars starting in November 2026. Beginning in spring 2027, members are expected to earn and use points for travel through new partnerships with Icelandair, China Airlines and Etihad Airways.
Later in 2027, Southwest plans to let members use points to pay for seat selections on its flights, including Extra Legroom and Preferred seats. The airline did not provide additional details in the supplied announcement about the terms or point costs for those options.
The rewards changes are part of a broader effort to add premium services. Southwest announced the previous month that it plans to open its first airport lounges, called Southwest Icon Lounges, beginning in late 2027 through a partnership with Chase. Access is expected to be available through a new premium Southwest credit card that the airline plans to launch in 2027.
Southwest also says it plans to install Starlink Wi-Fi across its fleet by fall 2027. Free Wi-Fi is expected to be available to Rapid Rewards members where the service is offered.
The announcement describes a multi-year schedule rather than a single launch date: rental-car redemptions are planned for late 2026, while the status changes and credit-card earning rule are set for January 2027. Airline partnerships, seat redemptions, lounges and fleetwide Wi-Fi are planned for later points in 2027. These are company plans and timelines stated in the announcement.
