MORE TO LOVE FROM RAPID REWARDS: SOUTHWEST AIRLINES EXPANDS REWARDS, REDEMPTION, AND MEMBER BENEFITS

Members will gain redemption options for rental cars, international partner travel and seat selection on different schedules.

Rhea-AI Summary

Southwest Airlines (LUV) will introduce a revised Rapid Rewards tier structure and new member benefits beginning January 1, 2027. A-List becomes Silver and A-List Preferred becomes Gold; a new Platinum tier includes unlimited Companion Pass trips, subject to availability. Milestone Rewards will offer benefits before and between tiers. All Rapid Rewards Credit Cardmembers will earn one tier qualifying point per dollar of eligible purchases.

Rental-car redemptions begin in November 2026, international loyalty partner redemptions in spring 2027, and seat-selection redemptions later in 2027. Southwest plans its Icon Lounge network with Chase for late 2027, with access through a new premium credit card. The airline expects to complete its fleetwide Starlink rollout in fall 2027.

Positive

• Minor point. Forward-looking: it has not happened yet and may not happen.Southwest expects to complete its fleetwide Starlink connectivity upgrade in fall 2027.

Negative

• None.

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New loyalty program benefits, expanded redemption options, premium experiences, and fleetwide Starlink connectivity bring more value to Rapid Rewards

DALLAS, Oct. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) announced today the next evolution of its award-winning Rapid Rewards^® program, making the loyalty program more rewarding for Customers throughout the travel journey.

Beginning January 1, 2027, Members will see a new lineup of Silver, Gold, and Platinum tiers, new Milestone Rewards to earn along the way to status, more opportunities for Companion Pass^® trips, and a faster path to tier status for Rapid Rewards Credit Cardmembers. Additional enhancements will give Members new ways to earn and redeem points through international loyalty partners and to enjoy using points for seat selection and rental cars.

"Rapid Rewards was built on a simple idea: make it easy for Customers to earn and use rewards," said Nandika Suri, Vice President of Rapid Rewards at Southwest Airlines. "As our Members engage more with Southwest, they've told us they want Rapid Rewards to reward them in more meaningful ways, whether they're working toward status or using the points they've earned. These updates build on that feedback by rewarding Members throughout their Southwest experience, while keeping the simplicity and value that have always set our program apart."

More Rewards Along the Way
Rapid Rewards will continue to offer the hallmark benefits that Members value, including no blackout dates, points that don't expire, and flexible options to earn tier status through both Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) and qualifying flights. The airline is introducing new enhancements to build on that foundation, including:

• New Platinum status, with Unlimited Companion Pass
  Southwest^® is introducing a new three-tier structure to give Members more opportunities that unlock valuable benefits as their engagement grows.
  
  Beginning in January 2027, A-List will become Silver and A-List Preferred will become Gold. In addition, Southwest is introducing a new tier to its program—Platinum. Platinum status will sit above Silver and Gold and will include unlimited Companion Pass trips¹.

• New Milestone Rewards; Reach First Reward Before Reaching Silver Status
  Starting in January 2027, Members will no longer have to wait until reaching a new tier to receive rewards. Southwest is adding Milestone Rewards along a Member's tier journey².
  • Before Members reach Silver, they'll be able to select rewards like Rapid Rewards points or seat certificates.
  • Between Gold and Platinum, Members can qualify to receive three Companion Pass trips.

• A Faster Path to Tier Status
  Beginning in January 2027, every Rapid Rewards Credit Cardmember, including Plus Cardmembers, will earn one TQP for every dollar spent on purchases with a Rapid Rewards^® Credit Card from Chase³. This change gives every Cardmember a simpler, faster path to tier status.

More Ways to Use Rapid Rewards Points

• New International Redemptions
  In Spring 2027, Members will be able to earn and redeem Rapid Rewards points for travel through new international airline loyalty partnerships, initially with Icelandair, China Airlines, and Etihad Airways. These partnerships will give Customers access to popular destinations from Reykjavik to Paris, Taipei to Tokyo, and Abu Dhabi to Johannesburg.

• Use Points for Seats and Rental Cars
  Later in 2027, Rapid Rewards Members will also be able to use points for seat selection on Southwest-operated flights, including Extra Legroom and Preferred seats⁴. Beginning in November 2026, Members can redeem Rapid Rewards points for rental cars across all participating car rental partners directly through cars.southwest.com.

A More Rewarding Travel Experience
In addition to new program rewards, Southwest is introducing new travel experiences:

• Southwest Icon Lounge™ - A New Way to Experience Southwest Hospitality
  The airline is bringing its Hospitality to a new part of the journey in late 2027 with the Southwest Icon Lounge™ network, in partnership with Chase. The lounges will combine premium amenities, thoughtful and local design, and the warmth of Southwest's culture to create distinctive spaces where Customers can relax, get work done, or simply enjoy the lounge before they travel.
  
  The Southwest Icon name celebrates Southwest's 55-year legacy—from Herb Kelleher's people-first philosophy to the Customers and Employees who continue to shape its story.
  
  Access to the Southwest Icon Lounge network will be available through a new, premium, Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Credit Card, issued by Chase, launching in 2027.

• Fleetwide Starlink Connectivity in 2027
  Southwest is bringing the fastest WiFi in the sky, powered by Starlink, to its entire fleet. In fall 2027, Southwest expects to become the first major U.S. airline to complete a fleetwide rollout of Starlink, providing access to high-speed connectivity from takeoff to landing.
  
  WiFi is available free to Rapid Rewards Members, thanks to T-Mobile^®5.

Additional details on tiers, Companion Pass, Rapid Rewards points redemption, international loyalty partnerships, and more can be found at southwest.com/rapid-rewards/2027/.

ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
Southwest Airlines Co. operates one of the world's most admired and awarded airlines, offering its one-of-a-kind value and Hospitality at 121 airports across 12 countries. Southwest took flight in 1971 to democratize the sky through friendly, reliable, and low-cost air travel and now carries more air travelers flying nonstop within the United States than any other airline.⁶ By empowering its more than 73,000⁷  People to deliver unparalleled Hospitality, the maverick airline cherishes a passionate loyalty among more than 134 million Customers carried in 2025. Southwest leverages a unique legacy and mission to serve communities around the world including harnessing the power of its People and Purpose to put communities at the Heart of its success. Learn more by visiting Southwest.com/citizenship.

¹ Companion Pass benefits allow a Member to designate one Companion to fly with the Member on Southwest®-operated flights. A Companion's reservation must be booked through Southwest. Companion Pass travel has no blackout dates but is subject to availability. While there are no seat restrictions, a seat must be available on a flight for a Companion. For more information regarding Companion Pass benefits, please visit https://www.southwest.com/rapid-rewards/2027/companion-pass-changes/.
² Eligible Rapid Rewards® Members who achieve a Milestone may select from available Milestone Rewards depending on the applicable Milestone level. Benefit selections are final. Benefits are subject to eligibility requirements, expiration dates, usage restrictions, and additional terms and conditions. Visit https://www.southwest.com/rapid-rewards/guides/milestone-rewards-explained/ for complete details.
³ Effective January 1, 2027, the earning of Tier Qualifying Points through credit card spend changes. Tier Qualifying Points are earned through flight purchases, the cash portion of a cash plus points reservation, points from spend on Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Cards at one Tier Qualifying Point earned per $1 spent on eligible purchases on the card, Getaways by Southwest purchases, Tier Qualifying Point bonus promotions, and buy Tier Qualifying Points promotions.
⁴ Rapid Rewards® Members may redeem points for available eligible seat selections on Southwest Airlines-operated flights after booking and ticketing and prior to check-in. Available seat types and the number of points required vary by flight and are subject to change until the seat selection is completed. Points may not be used to purchase seat selections at the airport, including at kiosks or the gate. Rapid Rewards terms and conditions apply.
⁵ Where available. Available only on WiFi-enabled designated aircraft.
⁶ Based on U.S. Dept. of Transportation quarterly Airline Origin & Destination Survey as of Q4 2025.
⁷ Fulltime-equivalent active Employees as of June 30, 2026.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Specific forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements related to (i) the Company's initiatives, strategic priorities, focus areas, core strengths, goals, and opportunities, including with respect to product offering enhancements; and (ii) the Company's expectations with respect to the timing of and Customer response to its product offering enhancements. These forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current estimates, intentions, beliefs, expectations, goals, strategies, and projections for the future and are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that are difficult to predict and that could cause actual results to vary materially from those expressed in or indicated by them. Factors include, among others, (i) the impact of geopolitical conflicts, fears or actual outbreaks of diseases, extreme or severe weather and natural disasters, actions of competitors (including, without limitation, pricing, scheduling, capacity, and network decisions, and consolidation and alliance activities), governmental actions, consumer perception, consumer uncertainties with respect to trade policies, tariffs, or government shutdowns, economic conditions, fears or actual acts of terrorism or war, sociodemographic trends, and other factors beyond the Company's control, on consumer behavior and the Company's results of operations and business decisions, plans, strategies, and results; (ii) the Company's ability to timely and effectively implement, transition, operate, maintain, and protect the technology systems, cybersecurity measures, artificial intelligence and other emerging technology capabilities, and infrastructure necessary to support its operations and initiatives; (iii) the Company's ability to effectively execute and evolve its strategic plans, initiatives, product offerings, and policies, including related consumer behavior and response; (iv) the impact of fuel price changes, fuel price volatility, and fuel availability on the Company's business plans and results of operations; (v) the impact of the Federal Aviation Administration and other governmental regulations and actions, including with respect to government shutdowns and Air Traffic Control staffing shortages and inefficiencies, as well as the Company's ability to obtain any required governmental approvals, on the Company's business plans, results, and operations; (vi) the Company's dependence on The Boeing Company ("Boeing") and Boeing suppliers with respect to the Company's aircraft deliveries, fleet and capacity plans, operations, maintenance, strategies, and goals; (vii) the Company's dependence on other third parties, including with respect to technology, revenue management, distribution channels, operational reliability, fuel supply, maintenance, and the impact on the Company's operations and results of operations of any third-party delays or nonperformance; (viii) the impact of labor matters on the Company's business decisions, plans, strategies, and results; (ix) the Company's ability to obtain and maintain adequate infrastructure and equipment to support its operations and initiatives; (x) the Company's dependence on its workforce, including its ability to employ and retain sufficient numbers of qualified Employees with appropriate skills and expertise to effectively and efficiently maintain its operations and execute the Company's plans; (xi) the cost and effects of the actions of activist shareholders; and (xii) other factors, as described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the detailed factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025.

 

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SOURCE Southwest Airlines Co.

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What changes to Southwest Rapid Rewards tiers begin in January 2027?

A-List becomes Silver, A-List Preferred becomes Gold, and a new Platinum tier includes unlimited Companion Pass trips. New Milestone Rewards provide benefits along the path to status, including reward choices before Silver and the opportunity to qualify for three Companion Pass trips between Gold and Platinum.

What restrictions apply when using Southwest Rapid Rewards points for seat selection?

Points may be used for eligible, available seats on Southwest-operated flights after booking and ticketing and before check-in. Seat types and points required vary by flight and may change until selection is completed. Points cannot be used for seat selection at the airport, including kiosks or the gate.

Which international loyalty partners will Southwest Rapid Rewards add in spring 2027?

The initial international airline loyalty partners will be Icelandair, China Airlines, and Etihad Airways. Members will be able to earn and redeem Rapid Rewards points for travel through these partnerships beginning in spring 2027.