For years, the Southwest Companion Pass was the rare airline perk you could earn without stepping onto a plane. Open two Southwest credit cards, meet the spend, and your partner flew with you for just taxes and fees for up to two years. That shortcut closes on December 31, 2026. The Southwest Companion Pass changes coming in 2027 move the pass behind a brand-new Platinum tier, and the cost of getting there jumps sharply.
Here’s what is changing, what it actually costs you now, and how to make the most of the window that’s still open.
What Is Changing With the Southwest Companion Pass in 2027?
Starting January 1, 2027, Southwest retires Companion Pass qualifying points entirely. Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) become the single currency for Rapid Rewards status, the new Milestone Rewards, and Companion Pass trips. You can still qualify by flying, too.
Under the new rules, you get two shots at Companion Pass benefits:
- Three Companion Pass trips once you earn 95,000 TQPs or complete 75 qualifying one-way flights. Each trip can be a one-way or a round trip.
- Unlimited Companion Pass trips once you reach the new Platinum tier at 140,000 TQPs or 100 qualifying one-way flights.
If you earn a Companion Pass in 2026 under today’s rules, Southwest says you keep unlimited companion travel through December 31, 2027. If you’re already registered in a Companion Pass promotion, Southwest will honor it once you meet that offer’s requirements. You can read the full details on Southwest’s Companion Pass 2027 page.
Old Companion Pass Rules vs. New Rules: Side by Side
This is the clearest way to see how much the math has moved.
| Through Dec 31, 2026 | Starting Jan 1, 2027 | |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifying currency | Companion Pass qualifying points | Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) |
| Unlimited Companion Pass | 135,000 points or 100 one-way flights | 140,000 TQPs or 100 one-way flights (Platinum) |
| Cardmember boost | 10,000 points each year (125,000 effective) | One-time 10,000 TQPs after reaching 130,000 TQPs in 2027 |
| Credit card welcome bonuses count? | Yes | No |
| Anniversary, referral, and category bonus points count? | Yes | No |
| Partial Companion Pass option | None | Three trips at 95,000 TQPs or 75 flights |
| Card spend toward the pass | Points earned on the card | 1 TQP per $1 on any Rapid Rewards card, no cap |
The short version: the old pass rewarded you for collecting points from almost anywhere. The new one rewards only flying and everyday card spend.
The Real Cost of Southwest Platinum: Doing the Math
Here’s where the Southwest Companion Pass changes really bite.
In 2026, a cardmember needs 125,000 qualifying points after the annual boost. A pair of Southwest card welcome bonuses, plus the points from meeting their minimum spend, often covered most of that on their own.
In 2027, welcome bonuses count for nothing toward the pass. If you rely on card spend alone, you need 130,000 TQPs to trigger the 10,000 TQP boost. At 1 TQP per dollar, that’s $130,000 of spending on Southwest cards in a single year.
Now look at what that spend costs you elsewhere. Say your Southwest card earns 1 Rapid Rewards point per dollar on most everyday purchases:
- $130,000 on a 1x Southwest card: about 130,000 Rapid Rewards points
- $130,000 on a card earning 2x everywhere: 260,000 transferable points
- The gap: 130,000 points you give up
If you value flexible points at 1.5 cents each (an illustrative figure, not a fixed rate), that’s roughly $1,950 in value left on the table to chase one pass. For most households, the pass would need to save well over that to make sense.
Flying your way there is just as steep. One hundred one-way flights is 50 round trips, which works out to nearly one round trip every week of the year. Realistically, Platinum is now built for heavy Southwest flyers who combine flight spend with card spend, not for the casual points collector.
Southwest isn’t alone here. United is also raising the bar for status, as covered in our breakdown of United Premier status changes for 2027.
What No Longer Counts Toward the Companion Pass
Southwest spells out which activities stop helping you toward the pass after 2026. These still earn redeemable Rapid Rewards points, but they won’t move your Companion Pass progress:
- New cardmember welcome bonuses
- Referral bonuses
- Card anniversary points
- Bonus points from spend categories, such as extra points on gas
- Partner spend, such as hotel and car rental bookings
What does count in 2027 is narrower: qualifying Southwest flights, base spend on any Rapid Rewards credit card (including Plus cards, which previously earned no TQPs), the Rapid Rewards Debit Card, Getaways by Southwest vacation bookings, and Southwest Groups travel.
Southwest Silver, Gold, and Platinum: The New Elite Tiers Explained
Alongside the Companion Pass changes, Rapid Rewards is renaming its status levels and adding a third. Silver replaces A-List, Gold replaces A-List Preferred, and Platinum is brand new.
| Tier | How to qualify | Key benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Silver | 35,000 TQPs or 25 flights | 1 free checked bag, Preferred seat at booking, Extra Legroom upgrade within 48 hours, 40% flight earning bonus |
| Gold | 65,000 TQPs or 50 flights | Up to 2 free checked bags, any seat at booking including Extra Legroom, 60% earning bonus, 2 premium drinks per flight |
| Platinum | 140,000 TQPs or 100 flights | Unlimited Companion Pass, up to 3 free checked bags, boards before Gold, 120% earning bonus |
All three tiers also get same-day standby, even on Basic fares, plus Priority and Express Lane access where available.
There are two new Milestone Rewards along the way. At 20,000 TQPs or 15 flights, you choose between 2,000 Rapid Rewards points or two Preferred Seat Certificates. At 95,000 TQPs or 75 flights, you unlock three Companion Pass trips. Full tier details are on Southwest’s 2027 program page.
How to Play the Southwest Companion Pass Changes: 7 Tips
- Earn your pass in 2026 if you’re close. A pass earned under the current rules stays valid through December 31, 2027. Check your progress in your Rapid Rewards account now, because this is the last year welcome bonuses count.
- Confirm the card bonus timing before you apply. If you’re planning to open a Southwest card late this year, check Southwest’s Companion Pass FAQ for the approval cutoff. Some readers have reported an early December 2026 deadline for bonuses to count, even if the spend finishes in 2027.
- Finish any Companion Pass promotion you’re registered for. Southwest says registered promotions will be honored once you meet the offer’s flight or spend terms.
- Run the opportunity cost before redirecting spend. Moving $130,000 to a 1x card can cost you six figures in transferable points. Compare it against the programs in our guide to the best frequent flyer programs for U.S. travelers.
- Aim for the 95,000 TQP milestone if you fly Southwest weekly. Three Companion Pass trips, each usable as a round trip, can cover up to six companion flights without the full Platinum climb.
- Know the boost rules. The 10,000 TQP boost is one-time, applies only to the primary cardmember, and kicks in after you reach 130,000 TQPs by December 31, 2027.
- Watch for Companion Pass promotions. Southwest says select promotions may still offer Companion Pass trips, so stay signed up for its emails.
What Else Is New in Southwest Rapid Rewards
The Companion Pass news overshadowed a few additions worth knowing:
- Car rentals with points starting mid-November 2026
- Partner airline redemptions on Icelandair, China Airlines, and Etihad Airways starting Spring 2027
- Southwest Icon Lounges opening late 2027, with access through a new premium Southwest card from Chase
- Seat upgrades with points after booking, coming late 2027
The partner airline option is the most interesting for points collectors. It gives Rapid Rewards points a route to places like Reykjavik, Taipei, and Abu Dhabi for the first time.
Takeaway
The Southwest Companion Pass isn’t dead, but the easy version is. After 2026, the pass belongs to frequent Southwest flyers and very big spenders, not to anyone willing to open two credit cards.
If you’re within reach of a 2026 pass, move now and lock in companion travel through the end of 2027. If you’re not, don’t force $130,000 of spend onto a 1x card. Put that spend where it earns more, and treat this as one more reminder of why you should earn and burn your points rather than hoard them. Looking for an alternative? Alaska’s Atmos Rewards is worth a close look.
