WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Southwest Airlines (LUV) announced a major overhaul of its Rapid Rewards loyalty program, introducing Silver, Gold and Platinum membership tiers beginning January 1, 2027. Existing A-List status will become Silver, while A-List Preferred will transition to Gold.
The new Platinum tier will include unlimited Companion Pass trips, while Milestone Rewards will allow members to earn benefits before reaching a new status level. Rapid Rewards credit cardholders will also earn one Tier Qualifying Point for every $1 spent on eligible purchases.
Beginning in spring 2027, members will be able to earn and redeem points through international partnerships with Icelandair, China Airlines and Etihad Airways. Southwest also plans to allow points to be used for seat selection later in 2027.
The airline will launch its Southwest Icon Lounge network in late 2027 and expects to complete a fleetwide rollout of Starlink high-speed WiFi that fall, with WiFi remaining free for Rapid Rewards members where available.
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