Southwest replaces A-List with new loyalty tiers, adds international rewards

Southwest Airlines will replace its A-List frequent flyer tiers and change how passengers earn Companion Pass benefits in 2027, while adding ways to use their points for international travel.

The airline announced the Rapid Rewards overhaul on October 15, 2026. Starting January 1, 2026, A-List will become Silver and A-List Preferred will become Gold. A new Platinum level will offer unlimited Companion Pass trips, earlier boarding and up to three checked bags free.

The changes also come with a catch for travelers who use credit card bonuses to earn Companion Pass: welcome offers, referral bonuses and some other bonus points will no longer count toward qualifying for the benefit.

Southwest will retire its separate Companion Pass qualifying points system at the end of 2026. Members will instead earn status and Companion Pass benefits through tier qualifying points or qualifying flights.

Silver will require 35,000 qualifying points or 25 qualifying one-way flights. Gold will require 65,000 points or 50 flights, while Platinum will require 140,000 points or 100 flights.

Silver members will receive one checked bag free and access to preferred or standard seats at booking, subject to availability. Gold members will receive up to two checked bags free and can select extra-legroom seats at booking when available. Platinum members will receive those seating benefits and board ahead of Gold members.

Passengers will also be able to earn some rewards before reaching the next status level. At 95,000 qualifying points or 75 qualifying flights, members will receive three Companion Pass trips, each usable for a one-way or round-trip itinerary. Reaching Platinum will make those trips unlimited.

Travelers who earn Companion Pass under the current rules in 2026 will retain unlimited trips through December 31, 2027.

Southwest said credit card spending will also play a larger role in earning status. Starting January 1, all Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards will earn one tier qualifying point for each dollar spent on eligible purchases.

For 2027, cardholders who reach 130,000 qualifying points will also receive a one-time 10,000-point boost, enough to meet the Platinum threshold.

Beyond the status changes, Southwest plans to let members earn and redeem Rapid Rewards points through international airline loyalty partnerships beginning in spring 2027. The first partners will be Icelandair, China Airlines and Etihad Airways.

Members will also be able to redeem points for rental cars through Southwest’s booking site beginning in November 2026. Using points to select preferred and extra-legroom seats on Southwest flights will follow later in 2027, the airline said.

Reward points will continue to have no expiration date and award travel will have no blackout dates, Southwest said.The post Southwest replaces A-List with new loyalty tiers, adds international rewards appeared first on AeroTime.

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