Southwest Companion Pass Is Changing in 2027: What Families Need to Know
Southwest just announced some BIG changes to Rapid Rewards for 2027 — and if Companion Pass has been part of your family's travel strategy, this is one you'll want to pay attention to.
Beginning January 1, 2027, the way you earn Companion Pass is completely changing.
Credit card welcome bonuses will no longer help you earn it the way they do today, there's a brand-new qualification system coming, AND there's an important December 2, 2026 deadline for anyone hoping to qualify under the current rules.
There's a lot to unpack, so let's make this as simple as possible.
What's Changing With Southwest Companion Pass in 2027?
Right now, you can earn Companion Pass by earning 135,000 qualifying points or completing 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year.
Credit card welcome bonuses can currently count toward that 135K requirement.
That's the big thing that's changing.
Starting January 1, 2027, Southwest is moving away from Companion Pass qualifying points and will instead use Tier Qualifying Points, or TQPs.
Under the new system:
95,000 TQPs or 75 qualifying one-way flights gets you three Companion Pass trips.
140,000 TQPs or 100 qualifying one-way flights gets you Platinum status, which includes unlimited Companion Pass trips.
And here's the part points and miles people really need to know:
Credit card welcome bonuses will NOT count toward those TQP requirements.
So if you've been planning to earn Companion Pass with credit card welcome offers, 2027 changes that strategy in a pretty major way.
So What's So Important About December 2?
Southwest created a transition period for people who may already be working toward Companion Pass under the current rules.
If you're approved for an eligible Southwest credit card by December 2, 2026, the welcome bonus can still count toward the current 135,000-point Companion Pass requirement.
And here's where it gets interesting:
You don't necessarily have to finish the spending requirement by December 31.
If you're approved by the December 2 deadline, you can complete the required spending in early 2027 and that eligible welcome bonus can still count toward your 2026 Companion Pass qualification.
Here's an example:
Let's say you already have 80,000 Companion Pass qualifying points from 2026.
You're approved for an eligible card by December 2 and its welcome offer earns you another 60,000 qualifying pointsafter completing the spending requirement.
Even if you don't finish that spending until early 2027, those 60K points can still count toward your 2026 qualification under Southwest's transition rules.
80K + 60K = 140K.
You've crossed the current 135K requirement.
But opening a card by December 2 does NOT automatically earn you Companion Pass.
You still have to have enough qualifying activity to reach the full 135,000-point requirement.
That's why I'd do the math on YOUR situation before making any decisions based on this deadline.
How Long Would That Companion Pass Last?
This is another really important piece.
If you qualify for Companion Pass through this transition period, your Companion Pass will be valid through December 31, 2027.
It will not extend through 2028.
So when you see people talking about the December 2 deadline, don't interpret it as some magic date where opening a card guarantees you almost two years of Companion Pass.
It doesn't.
The deadline simply gives certain people one final opportunity to qualify under the current 135K-point system before Southwest moves to the new program.
What Will Earning Companion Pass Look Like in 2027?
Beginning January 1, the focus moves to Tier Qualifying Points and qualifying flights.
You'll have two Companion Pass milestones:
95,000 TQPs or 75 qualifying flights:
You'll receive three Companion Pass trips.
140,000 TQPs or 100 qualifying flights:
You'll earn Platinum status and receive unlimited Companion Pass trips.
Credit card spending can help earn TQPs, but welcome bonuses won't count toward those thresholds.
That makes this a very different program for someone who primarily earns rewards through credit card welcome offers rather than frequently flying Southwest.
Does This Change Our Family's Strategy?
For us personally? Not really.
We've been taking mostly international trips lately, so Southwest hasn't been a huge part of our travel strategy anyway.
We're using our points to get our family to places like Thailand, Portugal, Italy, Morocco and other international destinations — so naturally, we're putting more of our attention toward points and airline programs that can get us there.
But even when we're flying domestically, something else has changed for us:
We just haven't been finding that many Southwest flights that are cheaper than the other airlines we're comparing.
And I'm always going to compare.
I'm not booking an airline just because I have points with them or because there's a popular travel benefit attached to it. I want to know what actually makes the most sense for that specific trip.
So while I know these changes are going to be a BIG deal for some families, they're not making me panic or completely rethink our strategy.
And that's actually an important points and miles lesson on its own.
A Great Travel Benefit Isn't Great If You Don't Use It
It's really easy to see everyone talking about Companion Pass and immediately think:
Do I need to get this before December 2?!
Maybe.
But maybe not.
If Southwest serves your home airport well, your family flies Southwest several times a year and you'd regularly bring the same companion, Companion Pass can be incredibly valuable.
In that case, I'd absolutely be looking at your current 2026 qualifying points and figuring out what these transition rules mean for you before December 2.
But if your family mostly flies internationally, you rarely find Southwest to be your best option, or you wouldn't realistically use Companion Pass very often?
You don't need to completely rearrange your strategy because there's suddenly a deadline.
The goal isn't to earn every travel perk. It's to earn the points, miles and benefits that actually make YOUR family's travel cheaper.
For our family right now, that's meant focusing more heavily on flexible points, international airline programs and hotel points that help us book the trips we're actually taking.
Your family's strategy may look completely different — and that's exactly how it should be.
The Bottom Line
Southwest Companion Pass isn't disappearing in 2027, but earning it is changing significantly.
The biggest things to remember are:
The current 135,000-point qualification system ends after 2026.
Credit card welcome bonuses won't count toward the new TQP thresholds beginning in 2027.
If you're approved for an eligible card by December 2, 2026, there's a transition rule that may allow the welcome bonus to count toward your 2026 qualification even if you complete the required spending in early 2027.
You still need enough qualifying activity to reach the full 135K requirement.
Companion Pass earned through that transition will expire December 31, 2027.
Beginning in 2027, three Companion Pass trips require 95K TQPs or 75 qualifying flights, while unlimited Companion Pass comes with Platinum status at 140K TQPs or 100 qualifying flights.
If Southwest is a major part of your family's travel, I'd figure out your 2026 numbers now rather than waiting until December.
If it isn't? Don't let a deadline convince you that you suddenly need a travel benefit that doesn't fit the way your family actually travels.
That's the part of points and miles that matters most.
This article is current as of October 16, 2026. Loyalty program rules can change, so always review Southwest's current terms before making travel or credit card decisions.
Disclaimer: Moms Chasing Miles is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as bankrate.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers.
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
