Information
Southwest Airways (WN) not too long ago introduced a sequence of main adjustments, with the principle adjustments taking impact on January 1, 2027.
Credit score Card Welcome Bonuses Will No Longer Rely Towards Companion Move
That is in all probability the change that can have an effect on our readers probably the most: bank card welcome bonuses will not depend towards Companion Move qualification. After Southwest’s huge adjustments in 2025, the Companion Move remained considered one of its few standout benefits over different airways. When you earn a Companion Move, you may designate a companion to fly with you without spending a dime—effectively, nearly free, since you continue to must pay a number of {dollars} in taxes and charges—as many occasions as you need throughout its validity interval. This makes it particularly precious for individuals enjoying the points-and-miles sport in two-player mode who reside someplace with loads of Southwest flights. However the qualification requirement is steep: the points-based route requires incomes 135,000 Southwest qualifying factors in a calendar yr. Who the hell earns that many factors simply by flying? That’s the place Southwest bank cards are available in. A single welcome bonus can supply near 100,000 factors. Opening one private card and one enterprise card—and even only one enterprise card when an particularly beneficiant supply is out there—can get you all the way in which to a Companion Move.
Sadly, one of many newly introduced adjustments eliminates this shortcut. Extra particularly, Companion Move (CP) at present makes use of Companion Move qualifying factors, quite than the extra restrictive Tier Qualifying Factors (TQPs). Companion Move qualifying factors embody bank card welcome bonuses. Beginning January 1, 2027, the points-based qualification requirement will as a substitute use TQPs; we’ll focus on the precise thresholds under. Welcome bonuses, referral bonuses, bonus factors from spending classes (similar to the additional factors earned on a 2x gasoline buy), and factors from most associate exercise don’t depend as TQPs. That largely leaves the gradual routes: flying Southwest and incomes TQPs at a base price of 1 per greenback spent on its bank cards.
With that change, who the hell goes to earn sufficient factors? Southwest’s Companion Move could quickly turn into a relic of the great outdated days. Beginning in 2027, we could possibly depend on one hand the variety of our readers who handle to earn one by means of bank card spending. R.I.P. In fact, short-term promotional Companion Move affords may nonetheless pop up.
As for the transition guidelines: in case you are authorised for a brand new card on or earlier than December 2, 2026, its welcome bonus should still depend towards Companion Move qualification beneath the transition coverage, even when you don’t full the spending requirement till early 2027. Nevertheless, delaying your spending till 2027 won’t get you a Companion Move legitimate for almost two years throughout 2027 and 2028. In response to FM, a qualifying welcome bonus earned in early 2027 might be credited towards your 2026 Companion Move qualification as a substitute.
A-Listing Standing Turns into Silver, Gold, and Platinum
Southwest has traditionally used its distinctive “A-Listing” branding for elite standing, as proven under:
| Standing / Profit | Factors Required (per Calendar 12 months) | Or: Qualifying One-Method Flights (per Calendar 12 months) |
|---|---|---|
| Member | Free enrollment; no qualification necessities | None |
| A-Listing | 35,000 TQPs | 20 |
| A-Listing Most well-liked | 70,000 TQPs | 40 |
| Companion Move (CP) | 135,000 Companion Move qualifying factors | 100 |
Beginning January 1, 2027, this system will swap to the extra typical Silver, Gold, and Platinum tier names:
| New Tier | Corresponding Earlier Standing / Profit | Factors Required (per Calendar 12 months) | Or: Qualifying One-Method Flights (per Calendar 12 months) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Member | Member | Free enrollment; no qualification necessities | None |
| Silver | A-Listing | 35,000 TQPs | 25 |
| Gold | A-Listing Most well-liked | 65,000 TQPs | 50 |
| Platinum | Similar to the previous Companion Move (CP) | 140,000 TQPs | 100 |
One distinction is value clarifying. Underneath the present system, Companion Move is technically not an elite standing tier. It’s a separate profit you can qualify for no matter your elite standing. Underneath the brand new system, Platinum might be an precise standing tier, with limitless Companion Move journeys as considered one of its advantages. The points-based qualification necessities can even use TQPs throughout the board. Structurally, not less than, the brand new system is extra constant.
There’s additionally a transition profit for 2027 solely: Southwest credit score cardholders who earn 130,000 TQPs will obtain a one-time bonus of 10,000 TQPs, taking them straight to Platinum standing.
New Milestone Rewards
Southwest can also be introducing Milestone Rewards alongside the trail to Silver, Gold, and Platinum.
First Milestone:
- Earn 20,000 Tier Qualifying Factors (TQPs) or full 15 qualifying one-way flights.
- Get your alternative of: 2,000 Fast Rewards factors or two Most well-liked Seat Certificates for upcoming journey.
Second Milestone:
- Earn 95,000 Tier Qualifying Factors (TQPs) or full 75 qualifying one-way flights.
- Three Companion Move journeys, every of which can be utilized for both a one-way or spherical journey itinerary.
Including these two milestones to the desk provides us the next:
| TQP Threshold | Standing or Reward Earned |
|---|---|
| 20,000 | Select 2,000 Fast Rewards factors or two Most well-liked Seat Certificates |
| 35,000 | Silver, changing A-Listing |
| 65,000 | Gold, changing A-Listing Most well-liked |
| 95,000 | Three Companion Move journeys, every legitimate for a one-way or round-trip itinerary |
| 140,000 | Platinum, together with limitless Companion Move journeys |
Even this watered-down model of Companion Move, restricted to 3 journeys, comes with a really excessive qualification threshold. It in all probability gained’t be sensible for many of our readers.
Incomes TQPs Via Credit score Card Spending
Beforehand, the Southwest Plus card didn’t earn TQPs by means of spending. Different Southwest playing cards did, however at comparatively gradual charges, similar to 1,500 TQPs for each $5,000 spent. Beginning January 1, 2027, all Southwest bank cards will earn one TQP per greenback spent on eligible purchases, no matter any bonus classes. For instance, a purchase order in a 2x class will earn two redeemable Southwest factors per greenback, however just one TQP per greenback. This makes incomes TQPs by means of spending quicker, however placing $140,000 on a Southwest card remains to be an outrageous quantity of spending. It’s laborious to think about many individuals doing that.
Associate Airline Redemptions Coming in 2027
Southwest factors have historically been used to ebook Southwest-operated flights. Underneath the brand new program, members can even be capable to redeem factors for flights on a number of associate airways:
- China Airways (Word: Regardless of the same names, China Airways and Air China are totally different airways.)
- Icelandair
- Etihad Airways
These redemptions are anticipated to launch in spring 2027. Additional particulars haven’t but been introduced.
Southwest Icon Lounges Coming in Late 2027
The primary Southwest Icon lounges are anticipated to start opening in late 2027, with preliminary areas at Austin (AUS), Baltimore/Washington (BWI), Honolulu (HNL), and Nashville (BNA).
Southwest is definitely constructing its personal airport lounges. Is that this nonetheless the low-cost airline we used to know? With all these adjustments, it’s laborious to inform how Southwest thinks it would distinguish itself from the opposite main airways.
A New Premium Credit score Card Coming in 2027
The announcement additionally included this line:
Entry to the Southwest Icon Lounge community might be out there by means of a brand new, premium, Southwest Fast Rewards® Credit score Card, issued by Chase, launching in 2027.
So a brand new premium Southwest bank card is unquestionably on the way in which. Keep tuned for particulars.
Starlink Wi-Fi Is Coming
Starlink is turning into an more and more in style alternative amongst U.S. airways, so it’s hardly stunning that Southwest is becoming a member of in. At this price, dependable in-flight web ought to finally turn into one thing we will take as a right when flying U.S. carriers.
Different Smaller Modifications
There are additionally a number of different particulars value highlighting:
- Decrease incomes charges on higher-priced fares. Beginning January 1, 2027, Selection Most well-liked fares will earn 8 factors per greenback as a substitute of 10, whereas Selection Additional fares will earn 10 factors per greenback as a substitute of 14. Fundamental will stay at 2x and Selection at 6x. These are the factors earned from taking paid flights, calculated on the bottom fare excluding taxes and charges. They’re separate from the rewards earned by paying with a bank card.
- Modifications to elite standing incomes bonuses. When A-Listing turns into Silver, its bonus on factors earned from qualifying flights will improve from 25% to 40%. Nevertheless, when A-Listing Most well-liked turns into Gold, its bonus will drop from 100% to 60%—a big reduce. The brand new Platinum tier will supply a 120% bonus. There’s one transition exception: members who qualify for 2027 A-Listing Most well-liked standing by means of their 2026 exercise will retain their 100% bonus by means of December 31, 2027, after transitioning to Gold.
- Greater flight-count necessities for standing. Though Gold’s TQP requirement might be barely decrease than the present A-Listing Most well-liked requirement, qualifying by means of flight exercise will turn into tougher. Silver would require 25 qualifying one-way flights, up from 20 for A-Listing, whereas Gold would require 50, up from 40 for A-Listing Most well-liked. Each characterize a 25% improve.
- Silver loses the discounted second checked bag. A-Listing members at present pay $35 for a second checked bag. Underneath the brand new program, Silver members can pay the usual payment. Nevertheless, members who qualify for 2027 A-Listing standing by means of their 2026 exercise will retain the $35 second-checked-bag profit by means of the top of 2027.
- New choices to redeem factors for rental vehicles and seat choice. Starting in November 2026, members will be capable to redeem factors immediately by means of vehicles.southwest.com for leases with taking part automobile rental companions. Later in 2027, members can even be capable to use factors to pay for Most well-liked or Additional Legroom seat choice. Seat redemptions have to be accomplished after reserving and ticketing however earlier than check-in; factors can’t be used to buy seat alternatives on the airport. Whether or not these choices supply good worth will depend upon the redemption charges.
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