On January 1, 2027, Southwest retires the points that have powered its most famous perk, and the southwest companion pass 2027 rules that replace them cut out the shortcut most couples relied on. Credit card welcome bonuses will no longer move you toward the pass. Instead, you will need 95,000 Tier Qualifying Points for three companion trips, or 140,000 for unlimited ones.
For years the classic play was simple: open a Southwest card or two, collect the bonuses and bring a partner along for little more than taxes. Under the southwest companion pass 2027 setup, that path is mostly gone, and the new one rewards people who fly a lot or spend heavily on a Southwest card.
What changes on January 1 and what stays the same
Southwest is folding the pass into its new tier system. Companion Pass qualifying points are retired after December 31, 2026, and every route to a free companion then runs through Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) or qualifying one-way flights.
The southwest companion pass 2027 structure has two levels. A new Milestone Reward, between Gold and the new Platinum tier, grants three companion trips, while Platinum brings the unlimited version. Some basics survive: you can still name only one companion at a time, you still get three companion changes per year, and there are still no blackout dates, though seats depend on availability. Taxes and fees on companion tickets begin at $5.60 each way.
How the southwest companion pass 2027 rules compare to 2026
| Item | Through 2026 | From 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited companion trips | 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points or 100 qualifying flights | Platinum: 140,000 TQPs or 100 one-way qualifying flights |
| Limited companion trips | Not offered | Three trips at 95,000 TQPs or 75 one-way qualifying flights |
| Card welcome, referral and anniversary bonuses | Count toward the pass | Do not count |
| Category and partner bonus points | Count toward the pass | Do not count |
| Companion changes | Three per year | Three per year |
The target for unlimited trips barely moves, from 135,000 to 140,000. The real shift is which points count. Bonuses still post as regular Rapid Rewards points you can spend on flights; they simply stop counting toward the pass.
Who loses the most under the new Companion Pass math
Bonus collectors. If your plan relied on a large card bonus doing most of the heavy lifting, the southwest companion pass 2027 version does not reward that. Card spending is the only card activity that earns TQPs, at one per dollar.
Run the numbers using only Southwest’s figures. Getting to three trips purely on a card means $95,000 in eligible purchases. For unlimited trips, Southwest adds a one-time 10,000 TQP boost once you hit 130,000 TQPs, so a card-only route to Platinum takes about $130,000 in spending. The boost also counts toward qualifying through 2028, which helps if you land close to the line.
Frequent flyers fare better. Flights earn TQPs at 2X the fare for Basic, 6X for Choice, 8X for Choice Preferred and 10X for Choice Extra. A Choice Extra buyer would need about $9,500 in fares to reach 95,000 TQPs from flying alone. Anyone who already takes 75 one-way flights a year can qualify for the southwest companion pass 2027 trips on segments and ignore the points side.
What to do before December 31, 2026
The deadline is the most valuable part of this announcement. Members who earn the pass in 2026 under today’s rules keep unlimited companion trips through December 31, 2027, which beats anything the southwest companion pass 2027 rules offer casual flyers.
- Check your balance. See how far your 2026 qualifying points are from 135,000.
- Close the gap with what still counts today. Under the 2026 rules, card welcome bonuses still count, and that is exactly what goes away next year.
- Finish any registered promotion. Southwest says it will honor Companion Pass promotions you already registered for once you meet their terms.
- Pick your companion carefully. Each swap can still need as long as 21 business days, and you only get three a year. Our guide on how to change your Southwest Companion Pass online walks through that process.
What Southwest has not explained yet
Several open questions affect the southwest companion pass 2027 value. The published rules do not spell out how long the three Milestone trips stay valid. A new premium Chase-issued card with Icon Lounge access is expected in 2027, but no annual fee has been published. Award pricing for new partners Icelandair, China Airlines and Etihad Airways has not been released either. The full official rules are on Southwest’s Companion Pass changes page.
Frequently asked questions
Will Southwest have a Companion Pass in 2027?
Yes. It stays, but you earn it through Tier Qualifying Points or flights: three trips at 95,000 TQPs or 75 flights, and unlimited trips with Platinum at 140,000 TQPs or 100 flights.
Do credit card bonuses count toward the Southwest Companion Pass in 2027?
No. Welcome, referral and anniversary bonuses, plus category and partner bonus points, stop counting in 2027. Card purchases still earn 1 TQP per dollar with no cap.
How many times can you change your Southwest companion per year?
Three times per year, the same as today. A swap can need as long as 21 business days to go through.
Should you chase the Companion Pass before 2026 ends?
If you are within reach of 135,000 qualifying points, push to finish this year: it is the last chance to earn unlimited southwest companion pass 2027 travel without new-style spending. Heavy Southwest flyers can relax, since the flight-count path barely changes. Casual travelers who relied on card bonuses should plan on paying for their companion’s seat once the new rules kick in. The pass is still alive; it just stopped being a sign-up perk.
