Southwest Airlines will introduce a new Platinum tier and milestone-based rewards to its Rapid Rewards loyalty program beginning January 1, 2027.
The Dallas-based carrier announced the changes in a press release distributed through Yahoo Finance on October 15, 2026.
The revised program will feature three membership levels: Silver, Gold, and Platinum.
Southwest will rename its existing A-List tier as Silver and A-List Preferred as Gold, while placing the new Platinum level above both.
Milestone rewards before elite status
The program will allow members to earn rewards at milestones rather than waiting until they qualify for a higher membership tier.
Before reaching Silver status, members can choose rewards such as Rapid Rewards points or seat certificates.
Members progressing from Gold toward Platinum will have the opportunity to qualify for three Companion Pass trips under the new milestone structure.
Platinum members will receive unlimited Companion Pass trips, according to the announcement.
Nandika Suri, Vice President of Rapid Rewards at Southwest Airlines, said the changes reflect member feedback on how they want to earn and use loyalty benefits.
Suri said Rapid Rewards was built on making it easy for customers to earn and use rewards.
She added that members want the program to reward them in more meaningful ways, whether they are working toward status or using earned points.
Southwest plans to expand opportunities to earn and redeem points through international loyalty partners.
Members will also gain options to use points for seat selection and rental cars, broadening redemption choices beyond existing rewards.
The airline will retain several established Rapid Rewards features, including no blackout dates for reward travel and points that do not expire.
Members will continue to earn qualifying status through Tier Qualifying Points and qualifying flights.
Southwest has also announced fleetwide Starlink connectivity as part of its broader package of customer benefits.
The loyalty program changes are scheduled to take effect January 1, 2027.
