# Southwest replaces A-List with Silver, Gold and new Platinum tier in Rapid Rewards overhaul

Starting Jan. 1, 2027, Southwest's loyalty program will rename its elite levels and fold the Companion Pass into a new top tier. Qualification targets move up for frequent flyers, while every Southwest credit card will start earning status credit.

By The Signal Edition | Business / Travel
Published: 2026-10-15T15:55:06.000Z
Updated: 2026-10-15T15:55:06.000Z
Canonical: https://www.thesignaledition.com/article/southwest-rapid-rewards-silver-gold-platinum-tiers-1mom6mt
Image: https://www.thesignaledition.com/media/630bbe715151ed7079dc0d1f599ae47f.jpg (A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8, registration N8891Q, taxiing on an airport apron in the airline's blue, red and yellow livery; credit: Oleg Yunakov / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0))

## Summary
- A-List becomes Silver and A-List Preferred becomes Gold on Jan. 1, 2027, and a new Platinum tier sits above both.
- Reported 2027 thresholds: Silver at 25 flights or 35,000 tier qualifying points, Gold at 50 flights or 65,000, Platinum at 100 flights or 140,000.
- Platinum includes an unlimited Companion Pass, which replaces the separate Companion Pass qualifying track.
- All Southwest credit cards from Chase, including the Plus card, will earn one tier qualifying point per dollar spent.

## What Southwest announced

Southwest Airlines on Thursday, Oct. 15, announced a broad overhaul of its Rapid Rewards loyalty program, including new names for its elite status levels and a new top tier. In a release issued from Dallas, the airline said that starting Jan. 1, 2027, A-List will become Silver, A-List Preferred will become Gold, and a new Platinum tier will sit above both. [1](https://investors.southwest.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/1946/more-to-love-from-rapid-rewards-southwest-airlines-expands-rewards-redemption-and-member-benefits)

"Everybody understands Silver, Gold and Platinum," Nandika Suri, Southwest's vice president of Rapid Rewards, told NerdWallet. NerdWallet reported that current A-List and A-List Preferred members will move automatically to Silver and Gold on Jan. 1, 2027. [2](https://www.nerdwallet.com/travel/news/southwest-rapid-rewards-2027-changes)

## The new qualification thresholds

Southwest's release says members can reach status through tier qualifying points or qualifying flights, but it does not list the targets. NerdWallet and The Points Guy both reported the same 2027 thresholds: Silver requires 25 flights or 35,000 tier qualifying points, Gold requires 50 flights or 65,000 points, and Platinum requires 100 flights or 140,000 points. [1](https://investors.southwest.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/1946/more-to-love-from-rapid-rewards-southwest-airlines-expands-rewards-redemption-and-member-benefits) [2](https://www.nerdwallet.com/travel/news/southwest-rapid-rewards-2027-changes) [3](https://thepointsguy.com/news/southwest-airlines-rapid-rewards-overhaul/)

According to The Points Guy, that compares with 20 flights or 35,000 points for A-List and 40 flights or 70,000 points for A-List Preferred today. The flight requirement goes up at both of the lower tiers, while Gold's points requirement drops by 5,000. [3](https://thepointsguy.com/news/southwest-airlines-rapid-rewards-overhaul/)

NerdWallet reported that Silver members will get a 40% earning bonus and one free checked bag, Gold members a 60% bonus and up to two bags, and Platinum members a 120% bonus and up to three bags. The Points Guy noted that Gold's 60% bonus is lower than the 100% bonus A-List Preferred members earn now. [2](https://www.nerdwallet.com/travel/news/southwest-rapid-rewards-2027-changes) [3](https://thepointsguy.com/news/southwest-airlines-rapid-rewards-overhaul/)

## Companion Pass moves into Platinum

The biggest structural change involves the Companion Pass, which lets a designated companion fly with a member on Southwest-operated flights by paying taxes and fees. Southwest said Platinum will include unlimited Companion Pass trips, with no blackout dates but subject to seat availability. [1](https://investors.southwest.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/1946/more-to-love-from-rapid-rewards-southwest-airlines-expands-rewards-redemption-and-member-benefits)

Today the pass is earned through a separate track of 100 qualifying one-way flights or 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points, according to NerdWallet. The Points Guy reported that those separate points are being phased out, so the pass will be earned through the same tier qualifying points used for status. Both outlets noted that credit card welcome bonuses, which now count toward the pass, generally do not earn tier qualifying points, which could make the pass slower to earn. NerdWallet said existing passes remain valid until they expire. [2](https://www.nerdwallet.com/travel/news/southwest-rapid-rewards-2027-changes) [3](https://thepointsguy.com/news/southwest-airlines-rapid-rewards-overhaul/)

## Milestone rewards and credit card changes

Southwest also said it will add Milestone Rewards in 2027. Before members reach Silver, they can pick rewards such as Rapid Rewards points or seat certificates, and between Gold and Platinum they can qualify for three Companion Pass trips. NerdWallet and The Points Guy reported the first milestone at 15 flights or 20,000 points, with a choice of 2,000 points or two preferred seat certificates, and the second at 75 flights or 95,000 points. [1](https://investors.southwest.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/1946/more-to-love-from-rapid-rewards-southwest-airlines-expands-rewards-redemption-and-member-benefits) [2](https://www.nerdwallet.com/travel/news/southwest-rapid-rewards-2027-changes) [3](https://thepointsguy.com/news/southwest-airlines-rapid-rewards-overhaul/)

The airline said every Rapid Rewards credit card from Chase, including the Plus card, will earn one tier qualifying point per dollar spent on purchases starting in January 2027. NerdWallet reported that the $99-a-year Plus card currently earns no tier points, while the two higher-fee personal cards earn 1,500 or 2,500 points per $5,000 spent. [1](https://investors.southwest.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/1946/more-to-love-from-rapid-rewards-southwest-airlines-expands-rewards-redemption-and-member-benefits) [2](https://www.nerdwallet.com/travel/news/southwest-rapid-rewards-2027-changes)

## Redemption, lounges and Wi-Fi

On the redemption side, Southwest said members will be able to use points for rental cars starting in November 2026, for travel on new partners Icelandair, China Airlines and Etihad Airways starting in spring 2027, and for seat selection on Southwest-operated flights later in 2027. [1](https://investors.southwest.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/1946/more-to-love-from-rapid-rewards-southwest-airlines-expands-rewards-redemption-and-member-benefits)

The airline also said it expects to open Southwest Icon lounges in late 2027 in partnership with Chase, with access tied to a new premium credit card launching in 2027, and to finish a fleetwide Starlink Wi-Fi rollout in fall 2027. The Points Guy reported that the first lounges are planned for Austin, Baltimore, Honolulu and Nashville. [1](https://investors.southwest.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/1946/more-to-love-from-rapid-rewards-southwest-airlines-expands-rewards-redemption-and-member-benefits) [3](https://thepointsguy.com/news/southwest-airlines-rapid-rewards-overhaul/)

The Points Guy also reported lower base earning on some fares, with Choice Preferred dropping to 8 points per dollar from 10 and Choice Extra to 10 from 14. NerdWallet described the update as the latest in a series of changes that have moved Southwest closer to rival carriers, following the end of free checked bags and earlier fare and loyalty changes. [2](https://www.nerdwallet.com/travel/news/southwest-rapid-rewards-2027-changes) [3](https://thepointsguy.com/news/southwest-airlines-rapid-rewards-overhaul/)

## Reporting sources
1. [Southwest Airlines: MORE TO LOVE FROM RAPID REWARDS: SOUTHWEST AIRLINES EXPANDS REWARDS, REDEMPTION, AND MEMBER BENEFITS](https://investors.southwest.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/1946/more-to-love-from-rapid-rewards-southwest-airlines-expands-rewards-redemption-and-member-benefits)
2. [NerdWallet: Southwest Ties Companion Pass to New Top Tier](https://www.nerdwallet.com/travel/news/southwest-rapid-rewards-2027-changes)
3. [The Points Guy: Southwest announces major loyalty shake-up, new elite tiers](https://thepointsguy.com/news/southwest-airlines-rapid-rewards-overhaul/)