Airline
Southwest changes Rapid Rewards on January 1, 2027. A-List becomes Silver, A-List Preferred becomes Gold, a new Platinum tier arrives, and tier qualifying points replace Companion Pass qualifying points. This page describes the rules that run through December 31, 2026 unless a line says otherwise. The full change list is in our alert at /alerts/southwest-2027-overhaul.
Southwest Airlines spent 50+ years as the friendly, no-frills US carrier, open seating, two free checked bags, points that didn't expire, and a loyalty program (Rapid Rewards) that pegged points to cash fares so casual flyers could understand what they were earning. Then Elliott Management bought a $1.9 billion stake in 2024 and forced 18 months of structural change. Bags returned to fee status May 28, 2025 (then increased again April 9, 2026). Open seating ended January 27, 2026, replaced by assigned seating with three tiers (Standard, Preferred, Extra Legroom). EarlyBird Check-In was retired. A new four-tier fare structure (Basic / Choice / Choice Preferred / Choice Extra) replaced the old Wanna Get Away lineup. Southwest in 2026 looks more like Delta and United every quarter.
What survived the overhaul still matters, and is genuinely strong. Rapid Rewards points don't expire as long as your account stays open (as of May 2026). Companion Pass: earn 135,000 Companion Pass Qualifying Points or 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year, gives a designated companion free flights (taxes only) on any Southwest flight, paid or award, for the rest of the qualification year plus the entire following year. It remains one of the strongest loyalty products in domestic US travel. Under the rules that run through December 31, 2026, the cult-favorite credit-card strategy (two Chase Southwest cards, with the welcome bonuses timed across consecutive calendar years) earns it almost entirely from spend. That window closes December 31, 2026. Chase Ultimate Rewards transfers 1:1 instantly to Southwest Rapid Rewards (though transferred points do NOT count toward Companion Pass qualifying points or A-List tier-qualifying points; both are earned by flying Southwest, and the Companion Pass also counts Rapid Rewards credit card points, debit card points, and partner base points). Among the cleanest flexible-currency on-ramps in the industry. Amex MR, Citi TYP, and Capital One Miles do not transfer to Southwest - Chase UR and Bilt are the flexible-currency on-ramps. Southwest flights are also bookable via the Chase Travel Portal. Free in-flight Wi-Fi is included for all Rapid Rewards Members (just sign up, no fee, any tier).
The other catch: dynamic award pricing has crept in since March 2025. The old "always book with points and cancel" hack is less reliable now, fare changes can mean the refund-and-rebook trick costs more points than your original booking. Redemption value is steady and predictable, with the best value on Choice fare-equivalent short-haul routes.
The actual numbers. Get your nerd on, memorize the cheap ones.
The cheat sheet.
Southwest doesn't publish a traditional zone-based award chart — Rapid Rewards points are pegged directly to cash fares ("revenue-based pricing"), so the price you see in points correlates with the cash fare on any given day.
| Fare | Earning (from Southwest) | Seat | Cancel/change | Bag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | 2x per dollar | Standard, assigned at check-in | Non-refundable; 6-mo non-transferable Flight Credit; change requires fare upgrade | Bag fees apply |
| Choice | 6x per dollar | Standard, select at booking | 12-mo Transferable Flight Credit; fare difference may apply on change | Bag fees apply |
| Choice Preferred | 10x per dollar | Preferred (or any Standard) | Refundable; fare difference on change | Bag fees apply |
| Choice Extra | 14x per dollar | Extra Legroom (or any seat) | Refundable; fare difference on change | 2 free checked bags |
Co-brand card earning stacks on top: Plus +2x, Premier +3x, Priority +4x on Southwest purchases.
| Pre-April 9, 2026 | Post-April 9, 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| 1st checked bag | $35 | $45 |
| 2nd checked bag | $45 | $55 |
| 3rd+ checked bag | $150 | $150 |
Free bag exemptions: Choice Extra fare (2 bags), A-List Preferred (2), A-List (1), Rapid Rewards Cardmembers (1, extends to up to 8 passengers on same reservation).
Once earned, your companion flies free on any fare, paid or award. Pay only ~$5.60 per segment in taxes.
Itineraries booked through Icelandair that include a Southwest-operated segment earn Rapid Rewards points on the Southwest segments. Redemptions stay on Southwest-operated flights.
Source of truth: southwest.com — fare types and benefits page, optional travel charges page. Pricing subject to change without notice.
Where your points punch above their weight.
Where this currency genuinely shines.
Programs that transfer points in.
6 programs that transfer in.
Programs that transfer points or miles into Southwest Rapid Rewards.
| From | Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1:1 | 1,000 UR = 1,000 Rapid Rewards points. | |
| 1:1 | No transfer fee. Rapid Rewards; no change fees, no award chart. | |
| 5:1 | Southwest Rapid Rewards. 5,000 Best Western points = 1,000 Rapid Rewards points (5:1) via the Redemption Mall. Poor value - top-off only. No transfer tax. | |
| 10:3 | Choice Rewards Exchange (powered by Points.com). Southwest Rapid Rewards. Starts at 6,000 Choice points for 1,800 Rapid Rewards points (10 Choice points = 3 Rapid Rewards points). Airline-miles exchanges are generally weak value. | |
| 5:2.4 | World of Hyatt conversion at 5,000 points to 2,400 Rapid Rewards points (5:2.4). Minimum 5,000 points, then 1,250 point increments. | |
| 3:1 | Base 3:1 with a 5,000-mile bonus per 60,000 points transferred (effectively ~2.4:1 in 60K increments). |
Shopping, hotels, car rental and more — earning without a transfer.
4 partners that pay in points.
Ways to earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points without transferring bank points. Rates are as the program states them and can change without notice — check the partner before you book.
| Partner | Earn rate | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Rapid Rewards Shopping | Points for every dollar you spend | The rate varies by store. Check the portal for the current rate before you shop. |
| Partner | Earn rate | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Hyatt (World of Hyatt) | 600 Rapid Rewards points for every qualifying stay booked directly through Hyatt | — |
| Marriott Bonvoy | 600 Rapid Rewards points for every qualifying stay | — |
| MGM Resorts | 600 Rapid Rewards points for every qualifying stay | — |
The status ladder. 2 rungs, each unlocking better lounges, bags, and bragging rights.
2 status levels.
20 qualifying one-way flights OR 35,000 Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) per calendar year
40 qualifying one-way flights OR 70,000 Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) per calendar year
135,000 Companion Pass Qualifying Points OR 100 qualifying one-way flights per calendar year (Rapid Rewards Cardmembers receive a 10,000-point boost annually, effective threshold = 125,000 for cardholders)
Where to vanish before takeoff. Your status (or ticket) opens which doors.
Who gets in, who doesn't, and the carve-outs.
Southwest does not operate any branded lounges. Rapid Rewards offers no general lounge access at any tier, A-List, A-List Preferred, and Companion Pass holders all use airport facilities like everyone else.
Workarounds for Southwest flyers who want lounge access:
Southwest has announced its first four airport lounges, planned for Austin, Baltimore (BWI), Honolulu and Nashville, with first guests expected in late 2027 and at least seven more planned over the next several years. Southwest says access will come through a new premium Rapid Rewards credit card issued by Chase, planned for 2027.
The high-leverage moves. Read this before you transfer a single mile.
The smart-money plays.
What to do when plans move: how to change or cancel an award, the fees, and your rights when a flight is delayed.
When plans change.
Stopover rules, surcharges, the stuff nobody tells you until you've been burned once.
The fine print, decoded.
Redeeming & surcharges
Earning & status
Transfers & sharing
Program history
Cards that earn Southwest Rapid Rewards directly, or that transfer into it from a flexible-currency program.
Southwest is showing a Rapid Rewards points sale in some accounts, with 40% to 50% off depending on how many points you buy, through October 29, 2026.
Southwest Rapid Rewards members will be able to earn and redeem points on Icelandair, China Airlines and Etihad starting in spring 2027, with terms still to come.
Southwest Rapid Rewards members earn bonus points on eligible Norwegian Cruise Line sailings booked through Southwest Cruises. The booking window closes October 31, 2026.
Etihad Guest and Southwest Rapid Rewards plan to let members earn and redeem on both airlines, starting in Spring 2027.
On January 1, 2027, A-List becomes Silver, A-List Preferred becomes Gold and Platinum is added. The Companion Pass, fare earn and card earn rules change too.
Southwest's 2026 Companion Pass rules end December 31, 2026, with a stated exception for card welcome bonuses when the cardmember is approved by December 2.
Rapid Rewards members 18 and older get 500 points for completing Southwest's Burnout Quiz, one award per member, through December 10, 2026 or until the 37,000,000 point pool is awarded.
Book Southwest with points on a Choice fare and cancel, and the points go back to your Rapid Rewards account. Summer 2027 is bookable now, through August 2, 2027. Basic fares are the exception.
Southwest plans its first ever airport lounges, with nothing open yet, first guests expected in late 2027 and a new premium Chase card planned for 2027 that will provide access.
Southwest's Fall Loyalty Offer fast-tracks A-List status in two qualifying round trips (through October 31, 2026), plus 20,000 Rapid Rewards points at four. Business channel (SWABIZ) bookings only; registration required and may be targeted.
Hold elite status with American, Delta, United, Alaska or JetBlue? Southwest will match you to A-List or A-List Preferred for 120 days, depending on your tier, and registration is open through December 30, 2026.
Last reviewed: September 2026
Loyalty programs change rules, fees, transfer ratios, and award pricing all the time — sometimes without warning. We do our best to keep these pages current, but the program's own site is always the final word. Always confirm specifics directly with Southwest Rapid Rewards before transferring miles or booking an award. Treat anything on this page as a starting point, not a guarantee. Crazy4Points is not responsible for actions taken based on information here — see our Terms of Service for full details.
