Southwest’s Companion Pass Has a December 2 Deadline Hiding in It

Southwest Airlines’ overhauled Rapid Rewards program takes effect on January 1, 2027, and a detailed guide from The Points Guy shows where the traps are. Status carries over automatically: A-List becomes Silver for all of 2027 and A-List Preferred becomes Gold, both based on 2026 activity. Platinum is the only new tier and the only one that includes an unlimited Companion Pass.

Earning gets less generous in several places. Choice Preferred fares drop from 10 to 8 points per dollar and Choice Extra from 14 to 10. Gold flight purchases earn a 60 percent bonus, down from 100 percent for A-List Preferred, though members who keep Gold from their 2026 activity retain the 100 percent bonus through the end of 2027. Silver earns 40 percent, up from 25.

The date to watch is December 2, 2026. Applying for and being approved for a Southwest co-branded card before then lets the welcome bonus count toward a Companion Pass even if the spending requirement finishes in early 2027, though passes earned this way are valid only through the end of 2027. The current requirement is 135,000 Companion Pass Qualifying Points. After January 1, welcome bonuses will no longer count.

Platinum requires 140,000 tier qualifying points under the new rules. Milestone Rewards add a smaller prize: reaching 95,000 points or flying 75 qualifying one-way flights unlocks three Companion Pass trips, each covering a round trip. Passes expiring in 2026 or on December 31, 2027 are unaffected. Southwest is also planning a premium co-branded card with lounge access.

Sources: The Points Guy