# Southwest folds Companion Pass into Platinum at 140,000 TQPs

_Oct 15 18:21_

Tags: Southwest, loyalty program, policy change, airline, credit card, program change

Type: Program change

## Summary

Southwest will replace A-List and A-List Preferred on January 1, 2027 with Silver and Gold, plus a Platinum tier that includes unlimited Companion Pass travel. A-List converts to Silver and A-List Preferred converts to Gold. Existing Companion Pass holders keep the benefit for the rest of their term.

Platinum requires 100 flights or 140,000 TQPs, up from a separate 135,000 TQP Companion Pass track, and pays a 120% points bonus. Silver earns a 40% bonus against A-List's 25% at 25 flights or 35,000 TQPs. Gold earns 60%, down from A-List Preferred's 100%, at 50 flights or 65,000 TQPs. Every Southwest-branded credit card will earn 1 TQP per dollar, including the Plus card that currently earns none. Cardholders who hit 130,000 TQPs in 2027 get a 10,000 TQP boost to Platinum. Welcome bonuses no longer count toward Companion Pass, and neither do referrals or partner spend.

Choice Preferred earning falls from 10x to 8x points per dollar, and Choice Extra from 14x to 10x. Spring 2027 earning and redemptions are planned on Icelandair, with Etihad Airways and China Airlines included. Earn Companion Pass under 2026 rules while that track still exists, and wait for partner award rates before changing redemptions.

## Key facts

- **Announced**: Oct 15, 2026
- **Starts**: Jan 1, 2027
- **Numbers**:
  - 40%: Silver elite points bonus
  - 60%: Gold elite points bonus
  - 120%: Platinum elite points bonus
  - 25%: current A-List points bonus
  - 100%: current A-List Preferred points bonus
  - 35,000 TQP: Silver qualifying threshold
  - 65,000 TQP: Gold qualifying threshold
  - 140,000 TQP: Platinum and Companion Pass qualifying threshold
  - 135,000 TQP: current Companion Pass threshold
  - 1 TQP per dollar: co-branded card spend toward status
  - 10,000 TQP: cardholder boost to Platinum
  - 8x points per dollar: Choice Preferred earning rate in 2027
  - 10x points per dollar: Choice Extra earning rate in 2027
  - 2,000 points: first milestone bonus option
- **Where**: Reykjavik, Abu Dhabi, Taipei
- **Who qualifies**: All Rapid Rewards members; A-List converts to Silver and A-List Preferred to Gold; existing Companion Pass holders keep the benefit for the rest of their term.
- **Links**:
  - Program page: [Rapid Rewards 2027 program changes](https://www.southwest.com/rapid-rewards/2027/)
  - Announcement: [Southwest Rapid Rewards press release](https://www.swamedia.com/news-and-stories/news-release/more-to-love-from-rapid-rewards-southwest-airlines-expands-rewards-redemption-an-MCKCBGY5Z2SNF7DJLTVF253RMDIU)
- **Takeaway**: Finish Companion Pass under 2026 rules if you can; otherwise budget for heavy flying or about $140K of Southwest card spend, and wait for partner award rates before changing redemption plans.

## Sources cited

- [AwardWallet Blog](https://awardwallet.com/news/southwest-rapid-rewards/rapid-rewards-overhaul-2027) — Southwest Rapid Rewards Overhaul: Goodbye A-List, Hello International Partner Redemptions
- [One Mile at a Time](https://onemileatatime.com/news/southwest-rapid-rewards-overhaul-new-elite-tiers-companion-pass-changes-partner-awards) — Southwest Rapid Rewards Overhaul: New Elite Tiers, Companion Pass Changes, Partner Awards, & More

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Older: [Southwest Companion Pass excludes card bonuses from January 1, 2027](https://thetravelsignal.com/s/southwest-companion-pass-no-longer-earned-with-signup-bonus-points-starts-2027.md)
Newer: [Asiana miles stay separate in SKYPASS for up to 10 years](https://thetravelsignal.com/s/korean-air-asiana-merger-what-happens-to-your-miles-elite-status-and-what-to-do.md)

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