---
title: Credit Card Bonuses Will No Longer Count Toward the Southwest Companion Pass From 2027
description: "From January 2027 the Southwest Companion Pass is earned only with tier points or flights: three trips at 95,000 TQPs, unlimited at the new Platinum tier."
author: Dr Marina Nani (Editor-in-Chief)
date: 2026-10-16T11:28:03.892Z
updated: 2026-10-16T11:28:03.902Z
canonical: https://richtravelmagazine.com/article/southwest-companion-pass-2027-credit-card-bonuses
image: https://cdn.nanimediahouse.com/southwest-737-max-companion-pass-444757.webp
categories: Smart Travel
content_type: News
region: United States
publication: Rich Travel Magazine
schema_type: Article
---

Starting January 1, 2027, Southwest Airlines will no longer count credit card welcome bonuses, referral bonuses, card anniversary points, bonus points from spending or partner spending toward the Southwest Companion Pass, the perk that lets one designated companion fly with you free of airline charges. Those activities will still earn Rapid Rewards points. Southwest is retiring Companion Pass qualifying points after December 31, 2026, and from then on the pass is earned only through Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) or qualifying flights, the same measures the airline uses for elite status.

On the same date, A-List and A-List Preferred get new names, Southwest adds a third tier called Platinum, and everyday spending on Southwest's Chase cards starts counting far more toward status.

## A Companion Pass Earned in 2026 Stays Unlimited Through the End of 2027

Southwest says anyone who earns the Companion Pass in 2026 under the current rules keeps unlimited companion trips through December 31, 2027, and existing holders keep their benefits for their full term. The current threshold is 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points or 100 qualifying flights. Card spending counts toward it this year, and Southwest Rapid Rewards cardmembers get one 10,000-point Companion Pass boost each calendar year.

If you are close to the pass, the rest of 2026 is the last time a card welcome bonus or hotel and car partner spending can help you reach it. Southwest says members already registered in a Companion Pass promotion keep their place and get the benefits the offer describes once they meet its requirements.

## From 2027, Three Companion Trips Take 95,000 Tier Points or 75 Flights

At 95,000 TQPs or 75 qualifying one-way flights, members will earn three Companion Pass trips, each covering the companion on either a one-way or a round-trip itinerary. There is no three-trip option today. Southwest describes the change as more opportunities to earn Companion Pass trips.

Unlimited companion travel comes with the new Platinum tier, at 140,000 TQPs or 100 qualifying one-way flights. The flight count stays at 100, as it is today. A traveler who has relied on a card sign-up bonus to reach the pass will instead need to get there through flights and the tier points cards earn on everyday spending.

## Every Dollar on a Southwest Chase Card Will Earn One Tier Point

From January 1, 2027, every Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card from Chase, including the entry-level Plus card, earns 1 TQP for each $1 spent on purchases. Today only the Premier, Premier Business, Priority and Performance Business cards earn tier points on spending, at 1,500 to 2,500 TQPs for every $5,000 depending on the card, and the Plus card is not on Southwest's list of eligible cards. At the new rate, $35,000 of card spending reaches the 35,000 TQPs needed for Silver status on its own; on a Premier card the same spending earns 10,500 TQPs today.

Those TQPs count toward the 95,000 needed for three companion trips and the 140,000 needed for Platinum. Throughout 2027, a cardmember who reaches 130,000 TQPs gets a 10,000-TQP boost, which is enough to reach Platinum. The boost is valid through December 31, 2028.

## A-List Becomes Silver and A-List Preferred Becomes Gold in January

Current A-List and A-List Preferred benefits run until the end of 2026, and members move to the new tiers automatically. Silver requires 35,000 TQPs or 25 qualifying flights, against 35,000 TQPs or 20 flights for A-List today. Silver members earn a 40% bonus on flights, up from A-List's 25%, and also get Group 1 boarding, one free checked bag and a Preferred or Standard seat at booking at no extra cost when one is available.

Gold requires 65,000 TQPs or 50 flights. A-List Preferred requires 70,000 TQPs or 40 flights today. Gold carries a 60% earning bonus, compared with A-List Preferred's 100%. Gold members can also choose any seat at booking, including Extra Legroom, when one is available, and they get up to two free checked bags and two complimentary premium drinks per flight. Platinum members earn a 120% bonus, board before Gold members and get up to three free checked bags.

## Southwest Points Will Pay for Rental Cars From November and Partner Flights From Spring 2027

From November 2026, members can redeem points for rental cars with all participating rental partners at cars.southwest.com. In spring 2027 Southwest plans to let members earn and redeem points through new international airline partnerships, initially with Icelandair, China Airlines and Etihad Airways. Later in 2027 members will be able to pay for seat selection, including Extra Legroom and Preferred seats, with points. Points still do not expire, and award flights have no blackout dates.

Southwest expects to open its first Icon Lounges, run in partnership with Chase, by the end of 2027, with access through a new premium Southwest card from Chase that launches next year.

Southwest's Companion Pass rules for 2027 are at [southwest.com](https://www.southwest.com/rapid-rewards/2027/companion-pass-changes/).

## FAQ

**Q: What does the companion pay on a Southwest Companion Pass trip?**
The companion pays no airline fare, only taxes and fees, which start at $5.60 one-way. Companion travel is on Southwest-operated flights, must be booked through Southwest and has no blackout dates, but there has to be a seat available on the flight.

**Q: How often can you change your Companion Pass companion?**
You can designate one companion at a time and change that person up to three times per calendar year. That rule does not change in 2027.

**Q: How do you earn Southwest Tier Qualifying Points?**
TQPs come from qualifying Southwest flights, purchases on Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards and the Rapid Rewards Debit Card, Getaways by Southwest vacation bookings and Southwest Groups bookings. In 2027, flights earn points and TQPs at 2X the fare on Basic, 6X on Choice, 8X on Choice Preferred and 10X on Choice Extra.

**Q: What do you get before reaching Silver status?**
The first Milestone Reward comes at 20,000 TQPs or 15 qualifying one-way flights. You choose either 2,000 Rapid Rewards points or two Preferred Seat Certificates. The certificates are used through Modify or Upgrade Seats after booking, not when you book. Each Milestone Reward can be earned once per calendar year.