Southwest Companion Pass 2027 Changes: What Hawaii Travelers Need to Know
8 min read · As of October 15, 2026 · By Scottie Kobayashi
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Quick overviewTap to expand
- The Southwest Companion Pass 2027 changes take effect January 1, 2027. The Companion Pass will be earned only with Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) or qualifying one-way flights.
- Unlimited Companion Pass trips now come with the new Platinum status: 140,000 TQPs or 100 qualifying one-way flights. Three Companion Pass trips unlock at 95,000 TQPs or 75 flights.
- Southwest credit card welcome bonuses, anniversary points, referral bonuses, bonus-category points and partner points no longer count toward the Companion Pass in 2027.
- The one exception: if you are approved for a Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card on or before December 2, 2026, that welcome bonus can still count toward a Companion Pass valid through December 31, 2027.
- The good news: every Southwest card earns 1 TQP per $1 spent with no cap, which makes Silver and Gold status much easier for Hawaii families to reach.
The Southwest Companion Pass 2027 changes are the biggest shakeup to Rapid Rewards in years. Starting January 1, 2027, the Southwest Companion Pass becomes a status perk earned only with Tier Qualifying Points or qualifying flights, which means credit card welcome bonuses will no longer count toward it. At the same time, every Southwest credit card will earn 1 TQP per dollar, so status gets easier while the pass gets harder.
Southwest announced all of this on October 15, 2026. If you live in Hawaii and fly Southwest interisland or to the mainland with your partner, keiki or parents, this one affects how you plan your 2027 and your card strategy. Here is what changed, in plain language, and what I would do about it.
What did Southwest change on October 15, 2026?
Southwest is rebuilding Rapid Rewards on January 1, 2027. A-List becomes Silver, A-List Preferred becomes Gold, and a new top tier called Platinum includes unlimited Companion Pass trips. Companion Pass qualifying points are retired after December 31, 2026, and Tier Qualifying Points become the single currency for status, milestones and the Companion Pass.
- New tiers: Silver (35,000 TQPs or 25 flights), Gold (65,000 TQPs or 50 flights) and Platinum (140,000 TQPs or 100 flights).
- New Milestone Rewards: at 20,000 TQPs or 15 flights you pick 2,000 Rapid Rewards points or two Preferred Seat Certificates. At 95,000 TQPs or 75 flights you get three Companion Pass trips.
- Card earning: all Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards, including the Plus card, earn 1 TQP per $1 spent on purchases with no earning cap.
- Coming in 2027: award redemptions on Icelandair, China Airlines and Etihad starting in spring 2027, points for seat selection, a new premium Chase card with lounge access, and Southwest Icon Lounges, including one planned for Honolulu.
If you already earned a Southwest Companion Pass in 2026, nothing changes for you right away. Southwest says a Companion Pass earned under the 2026 rules keeps unlimited trips through December 31, 2027.
How do you earn the Southwest Companion Pass in 2027?
In 2027, Hawaii travelers earn the unlimited Southwest Companion Pass by reaching Platinum status with 140,000 Tier Qualifying Points or 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year. A smaller reward, three one-time Companion Pass trips, unlocks at 95,000 TQPs or 75 qualifying one-way flights. TQPs come mainly from paid Southwest flights and Southwest card spending.
| Companion Pass rule | 2026 (through Dec 31, 2026) | 2027 (starting Jan 1, 2027) |
|---|---|---|
| Earning currency | Companion Pass qualifying points | Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) |
| Three Companion Pass trips | Not offered | 95,000 TQPs or 75 qualifying flights |
| Unlimited Companion Pass trips | 135,000 qualifying points or 100 qualifying flights | 140,000 TQPs or 100 qualifying flights (Platinum) |
| Companions at one time | 1 | 1 |
| Companion changes per year | 3 | 3 |
| Companion cost | Taxes and fees from $5.60 one-way | Taxes and fees from $5.60 one-way |
The 2027 Southwest Rapid Rewards ladder
Tier Qualifying Points needed in one calendar year (or the qualifying one-way flights shown)
One detail matters a lot for how you use those three trips. Southwest says each of the three Companion Pass trips covers a one-way or a round trip, and a one-way uses up the whole trip. For a Hawaii family, that means saving them for round trips, ideally the pricier mainland ones, instead of a quick one-way hop to Maui.
Do Southwest credit card welcome bonuses still count toward the Companion Pass?
No. Starting January 1, 2027, Southwest credit card welcome bonuses do not count toward the Companion Pass, because they do not earn Tier Qualifying Points. Southwest lists welcome bonuses, referral bonuses, anniversary points, bonus points from category spending such as 2x on gas, and partner points from hotels and rental cars as activities that stop helping.
Those points still land in your account and still book flights. They just will not move you toward the pass anymore. And for a lot of us in Hawaii, the welcome bonus was the whole strategy.
| Activity | Counts toward Companion Pass in 2026? | Counts in 2027? |
|---|---|---|
| Southwest card welcome bonus | Yes | No (except the Dec 2 window) |
| Everyday card spending | Yes, at the card's points rate | Yes, 1 TQP per $1 |
| Bonus category points (like 2x) | Yes | No, only the base 1 TQP per $1 |
| Card anniversary points | Yes | No |
| Referral bonuses | Yes | No |
| Hotel and car rental partner points | Yes | No |
| Paid Southwest flights | Yes | Yes |
| Annual 10,000-point cardmember boost | Yes, 10,000 qualifying points each year | One-time 10,000 TQPs after you reach 130,000 TQPs (2027 only) |
Can you still use a card bonus for a Companion Pass if you apply now?
Yes, but only through December 2, 2026. Southwest says cardmembers approved for a Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card on or before December 2, 2026 who meet the welcome bonus requirements can have those points count as Companion Pass qualifying points, even if they finish the spending in early 2027.
Approval by December 2, 2026 is the cutoff. Under the old rules, a pass earned with 2026 qualifying points runs through December 31, 2027, so this window gets you about one year of Companion Pass, not the nearly two years locals used to get by hitting the pass in January. All other 2026 qualifying activity must post by December 31, 2026.
Before you apply, read the card's offer terms for eligibility rules and confirm your math. You still need 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points in total, and the 10,000-point cardmember boost counts if you already hold a Southwest card in 2026. If the numbers do not add up, a card opened just for the pass may not be worth it.
What's the good news for Hawaii travelers?
The good news is that Southwest status gets much easier to earn with a credit card. Starting January 1, 2027, every Southwest Rapid Rewards card earns 1 Tier Qualifying Point per $1 spent with no cap, including the Plus card. For Hawaii families who put their regular spending on one card, Silver and Gold are now realistic goals.
| 2027 tier | How to qualify | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Silver | 35,000 TQPs or 25 flights | Preferred or Standard seat at booking, Group 1 boarding, 1 free checked bag, 40% flight earning bonus |
| Gold | 65,000 TQPs or 50 flights | Any seat at booking including Extra Legroom, boarding before Group 1, 2 free checked bags, 2 premium drinks, 60% bonus |
| Platinum | 140,000 TQPs or 100 flights | Unlimited Companion Pass trips, boarding before Gold, 3 free checked bags, 120% bonus, Gold seat and drink perks |
- Seat benefits cover the whole family. Southwest says Silver, Gold and Platinum seat selection extends to up to 8 additional passengers on the same reservation, which is a big deal for families flying to Vegas or California together.
- A Honolulu lounge is coming. Honolulu is one of the first four planned Southwest Icon Lounge locations, with Southwest saying the first lounges should open by the end of 2027. Access will come through a new premium Chase card launching in 2027. I will update our HNL lounge guide once details are confirmed.
- New ways to spend points. Rental car redemptions start in mid-November 2026, international partner awards on Icelandair, China Airlines and Etihad start in spring 2027, and redeeming points for seats is planned for later in 2027. Pricing for partner awards has not been published yet.
Will you earn fewer points on Southwest flights in 2027?
Yes, on the two most expensive fares. Starting January 1, 2027, Choice Preferred fares earn 8 points per base-fare dollar instead of 10, and Choice Extra fares earn 10 instead of 14. Basic (2x) and Choice (6x) stay the same. These same rates apply to Tier Qualifying Points, before any elite bonus.
Points per base-fare dollar: 2026 vs 2027
Applies to both Rapid Rewards points and TQPs, before elite bonuses
Gold members also drop from a 100% flight bonus to 60%. Southwest says anyone who earns A-List Preferred from 2026 activity keeps the 100% bonus through December 31, 2027. For most Hawaii flyers buying Basic or Choice fares to the mainland, the earning cut will barely register. If your work pays for Choice Extra, you will notice it.
What does the new Southwest Companion Pass look like for a Hawaii family?
For most Hawaii families, the unlimited Companion Pass will be out of reach in 2027, while Silver and Gold become very doable. Using card spend alone, Southwest's 1 TQP per $1 rate means $35,000 for Silver, $65,000 for Gold, $95,000 for three Companion Pass trips and $130,000 for Platinum after the one-time 10,000 TQP cardmember boost.
- The everyday family. Put about $3,000 a month of household spending on a Southwest card and you reach about 36,000 TQPs in a year. That is Silver from card spend alone, before a single flight.
- The family that flies a few times a year. Card spend plus a handful of paid trips to Vegas, California or the neighbor islands can push you toward Gold at 65,000 TQPs, which brings free Extra Legroom seats at booking for you and up to 8 others on the reservation.
- The neighbor island commuter. A weekly round trip, like Maui to Honolulu for work, is 104 one-way flights a year. That clears the 100-flight Platinum bar and unlocks the unlimited Companion Pass without any card spending.
- The big spender. Reaching the three Companion Pass trips through card spend alone takes $95,000 a year. For most local households, that is not realistic without a business running through the card.
Compare that to the old way. Under the 2026 rules, a single large welcome bonus plus the 10,000-point cardmember boost and some normal spending could get a couple to 135,000 qualifying points. That is the shortcut that is going away.
What should Hawaii travelers do before December 31, 2026?
If you were planning to earn a Companion Pass with a card bonus, decide before December 2, 2026. After that, shift your Southwest strategy from chasing the pass to earning status through everyday spending, and keep your welcome bonuses for programs where they still go further. Here is the order I would work through.
- Check your 2026 Companion Pass progress in your Rapid Rewards account. If you are close to 135,000, finish it. All qualifying activity must post by December 31, 2026, and the pass runs through December 31, 2027.
- If you need a card bonus to finish, get approved on or before December 2, 2026, and read the offer terms first.
- Already have a 2026 pass? Book your 2027 trips with your companion early. Southwest says the pass stays unlimited through December 31, 2027.
- Pick one Southwest card for everyday spend in 2027 if Southwest is your main airline. Every dollar counts as 1 TQP, and bonus categories no longer add extra TQPs, so simple is fine.
- Rethink where your welcome bonuses go. Check our best credit cards for Hawaii residents guide, and learn what your points are actually worth on our points and miles value page.
- Compare your mainland options with our guide to flying to the mainland from Hawaii before you commit to one airline for 2027.
Southwest Companion Pass 2027 FAQ
Is the Southwest Companion Pass going away in 2027?
No. The Southwest Companion Pass continues in 2027, but it becomes part of the status program. You get three Companion Pass trips at 95,000 Tier Qualifying Points or 75 qualifying one-way flights, and unlimited trips with Platinum status at 140,000 TQPs or 100 flights. The companion still flies for taxes and fees from $5.60 one-way.
Do Southwest credit card welcome bonuses count toward the Companion Pass in 2027?
No. Starting January 1, 2027, welcome bonuses, referral bonuses, anniversary points, bonus-category points and partner points do not earn Tier Qualifying Points, so they do not count toward the Companion Pass. The exception is a card approved on or before December 2, 2026, where the welcome bonus can still count as 2026 Companion Pass qualifying points.
How long is a 2026 Southwest Companion Pass valid?
A Southwest Companion Pass earned in 2026 under the current rules stays valid for unlimited companion trips through December 31, 2027. Southwest has confirmed existing pass holders keep their benefits for the full term, so 2026 pass holders in Hawaii can keep booking interisland and mainland trips with their companion all of next year.
How many Tier Qualifying Points does a Southwest credit card earn in 2027?
Every Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card, including the Plus card and business cards, earns 1 Tier Qualifying Point per $1 spent on eligible purchases starting January 1, 2027, with no earning cap. Authorized user spending counts toward the primary cardmember. Bonus categories like 2x still earn only 1 TQP per dollar.
What is the 10,000 TQP boost for Southwest cardmembers?
In 2027 only, a primary Southwest Rapid Rewards cardmember who reaches 130,000 Tier Qualifying Points gets a one-time 10,000 TQP boost, which reaches the 140,000 needed for Platinum. Southwest says it posts within 30 days, requires an open account in good standing, and is limited to one boost per member.
Will Southwest have a lounge in Honolulu?
Southwest has named Honolulu as one of the first four planned Southwest Icon Lounge locations, along with Austin, Baltimore and Nashville. Southwest says it expects to open its first lounges by the end of 2027 but has not published opening dates. Access will come through a new premium Southwest card from Chase launching in 2027.
Do interisland flights count toward Southwest Platinum status?
Yes. Qualifying one-way flights operated by Southwest count toward the 100-flight Platinum requirement, and interisland hops count as flights just like mainland trips. Award flights and Companion Pass travel do not count. A Hawaii resident flying one interisland round trip every week would log about 104 one-way flights in a year.
Want to earn more credit card points?
The rules just changed, and the right card for your family in 2027 may not be the one you planned on. Hawaii Reward Travel has helped over 400 clients in Hawaiʻi build a credit card points strategy that fits how they actually spend.
Join the ʻOhana programScottie's Take
Honestly, I feel mixed about these changes. The upgrades are real. Earning 1 TQP per dollar on every Southwest card, milestone rewards, a lounge planned for Honolulu and partner awards to Asia and beyond are all good things for us here at home. Silver and Gold just got a lot easier for regular local families.
But the Companion Pass was the thing that made Southwest stand out from every other airline. It made it very affordable for locals to travel with their companions, whether that was taking your spouse to Vegas or bringing Grandma along to see the grandkids on the mainland. A couple of well-timed card bonuses and you had a year or more of your partner flying for about $5.60 each way. That is a huge deal when everything costs more to get off the rock.
Now that the pass is tied to 140,000 TQPs, it is built for the most frequent flyers, not the average Hawaii family. So I am rethinking everything with Southwest card bonuses and our strategy. If you are close to a pass right now, finish it before the deadlines. If not, I would put welcome bonuses where they stretch further and use a Southwest card for everyday spending only if Southwest is your main airline.
How are you feeling about it? Were you counting on a Companion Pass for 2027? Drop a comment or reach out, and let's figure out your best move together.
Sources (checked October 15, 2026)
- Southwest Airlines: Rapid Rewards 2027 overview and FAQ
- Southwest Airlines: Companion Pass in 2027
- Southwest Airlines: Earned status or Companion Pass in 2026
- Southwest Airlines: Milestone Rewards explained
- Southwest Airlines: Credit cards and tier status in 2027
- View from the Wing: Southwest overhauls Rapid Rewards
- Frequent Miler: Major Southwest changes coming in 2027
Program rules change often. We will review this article by January 15, 2027.
