Southwest Airlines is introducing unlimited Companion Pass trips as part of a major loyalty overhaul

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Your next ticket on Southwest Airlines might come with an unexpected perk: a free ticket for a friend to join you. During a press event Thursday in Texas, the airline announced a revamp of its loyalty program, including a new Platinum loyalty tier that will give customers unlimited Companion Passes to have a friend or family member join them for their travels. Those free flights also won’t be restricted to just Platinum flyers. The brand is also introducing new Milestone Rewards that will let customers unlock new benefits as they work toward Platinum status, including up to three Companion Pass trips before they get there. The changes are part of a sweeping overhaul of not only the brand’s loyalty program, as Southwest transitions away from its legacy as a low-cost airline and positions itself to better compete with the likes of United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and American Airlines. A new way to earn unlimited Companion Pass trips For longtime Southwest flyers, Southwest’s Companion Pass isn’t new. The perk has been one of the airline’s most recognizable loyalty benefits for a while now.  Traditionally, qualifying members could designate someone to accompany them on flights, paying only applicable taxes and fees for the companion’s ticket. Under the new program, Southwest’s loyalty program looks a bit more like its competition.  The airline plans to introduce three elite status levels: Silver, Gold, and Platinum. The airline’s existing A-List status will become Silver, while A-List Preferred will become Gold. Platinum will sit above both and include unlimited Companion Pass trips. [Image: Southwest Airlines] While unlimited Companion Pass trips are restricted to Platinum customers, travelers who don’t reach Platinum can earn new Milestone Rewards that will get them up to three passes as they move up in status throughout the year. Southwest says the changes are intended to reward members throughout their loyalty journey rather than requiring them to reach a new status tier before receiving additional benefits. “Rapid Rewards was built on a simple idea: make it easy for Customers to earn and use rewards,” said Nandika Suri, vice president of Rapid Rewards at Southwest Airlines, in a statement. “As our Members engage more with Southwest, they’ve told us they want Rapid Rewards to reward them in more meaningful ways, whether they’re working toward status or using the points they’ve earned. These updates build on that feedback by rewarding Members throughout their Southwest experience, while keeping the simplicity and value that have always set our program apart.” The unlimited Companion Pass benefit is notable because most U.S. airlines offer more restrictive companion-ticket benefits, often requiring the airline’s premium credit card. For example, Delta Air Lines offers an annual Companion Certificate to eligible Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Reserve American Express cardholders. The certificate is issued after the card renews and can be used for one qualifying round-trip companion ticket. Southwest is also changing how customers can qualify for its loyalty tiers. Starting January 1, 2027, every Rapid Rewards credit cardholder will earn one Tier Qualifying Point for every dollar spent on purchases using an eligible Southwest Chase credit card. That includes holders of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card, giving customers another way to make progress toward status without relying exclusively on flights. For frequent travelers who also put substantial everyday spending on their airline credit cards, the change could make elite status easier to achieve. Southwest will continue allowing members to qualify through flights or Tier Qualifying Points. Rapid Rewards points will also continue to have no expiration dates, and award flights will remain available without blackout dates. Rapid Rewards points will soon work on international airlines Southwest is also expanding where travelers can use their rewards. Starting in the spring of next year, members will be able to earn and redeem Rapid Rewards points through new international airline loyalty partnerships. The initial partners will be Icelandair, China Airlines, and Etihad Airways, giving Southwest customers access to destinations including Reykjavik, Paris, Taipei, Tokyo, Abu Dhabi, and Johannesburg. The change is significant for an airline that has historically focused primarily on domestic travel, with international service concentrated in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. Members will be able to use points for seats and rental cars Starting later this year, Southwest flyers will also have more options for redeeming their points for things other than air travel.  Beginning in November, members will be able to redeem points for rental cars through participating rental car companies on Southwest’s booking website. Later in 2027, they’ll be able to use points to select seats on Southwest-operated flights, including Preferred and Extra Legroom seats. That change is particularly noteworthy given Southwest’s broader transformation. Starlink WiFi is coming to every Southwest plane Onboard internet has recently become a focus for several U.S.-based airlines, and Southwest is also making a major investment in onboard connectivity. The airline plans to equip its entire fleet with Starlink satellite internet by fall 2027, offering high-speed WiFi from takeoff to landing. Despite United also investing in the service, Southwest says it expects to become the first major U.S. airline to complete a fleetwide Starlink rollout.  The service will be free for Rapid Rewards members through the airline’s partnership with T-Mobile. What the changes mean for Southwest travelers The Rapid Rewards overhaul is the latest step in Southwest’s transformation from a low-cost airline known for its relatively simple policies into a carrier offering more of the premium experiences traditionally associated with its competitors. But how accessible those benefits will be depends on the requirements for earning them. With Platinum status requiring substantial flying or credit card spending, the most valuable rewards will remain geared toward Southwest’s most engaged customers.