Southwest Premier Card Offers Fast Track to Companion Pass Before 2027
The Southwest Premier Card provides a path to the Companion Pass with an 85,000-point welcome bonus, but eligibility for using bonuses toward the pass ends in 2026 ahead of major program changes.
The Southwest Premier Card carries a $149 annual fee and currently offers an 85,000-point welcome bonus after spending $2,000 in the first three months. This bonus provides a significant boost toward earning Southwest's coveted Companion Pass before a key rule change takes effect in 2027.
Cardholders receive a suite of travel benefits designed to offset the annual cost. The first checked bag is free for the cardholder and up to eight companions on the same reservation. A complimentary Preferred seat becomes available 48 hours before departure, and early boarding in Group 5 is included. Annually, members get a 15% discount on flights, excluding Basic fares, and 25% savings on inflight Wi-Fi and drinks via statement credit. The card has no foreign transaction fees.
Earning rates on purchases are structured to reward Southwest spending and everyday categories.
| Earning Category | Points per Dollar | Annual Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Southwest purchases | 3x | None |
| Grocery stores & restaurants | 2x | First $8,000 combined |
| All other purchases | 1x | None |
Cardholders also receive 6,000 bonus points on each account anniversary, valued at approximately $72 in airfare. Through 2026, spending earns 1,500 Tier Qualifying Points for every $5,000 spent, aiding status qualification. The card is not available to anyone who currently holds a Southwest personal credit card or received a welcome bonus on one in the past 24 months, though holding a Southwest business card does not preclude application.
Companion Pass Strategy
The card's 85,000-point welcome offer is a fast route to the Companion Pass. Travelers earn the pass by accumulating 135,000 qualifying points or 100 qualifying flights in a calendar year. The current welcome bonus alone provides 67% of the required points. Crucially, welcome bonuses earned before the end of 2026 will still count toward Companion Pass qualification. Starting January 1, 2027, credit card welcome bonuses will no longer contribute to the pass. This makes applications in 2026 time-sensitive for those targeting the benefit.
Eligibility and Tier Changes
Major changes to Southwest's loyalty program begin in 2027. The current A-List status tiers will be replaced by Silver, Gold, and a new Platinum level. The requirements and benefits will shift accordingly.
| New Tier (2027) | TQP Requirement | Key Perks |
|---|---|---|
| Silver | 35,000 | Priority services, 25% points bonus, same-day standby |
| Gold | 65,000 | Includes Silver benefits, plus enhanced perks |
| Platinum | 140,000 TQPs or 100 flights | Unlimited Companion Pass access, all lower-tier benefits |
Concurrently, all Southwest credit cards will earn one Tier Qualifying Point per dollar spent, eliminating the accelerated TQP earning via spending brackets. The Companion Pass itself, which grants a designated companion free travel for the remainder of the earning year and the next, will still be achievable through flight and point activity, but the shortcut provided by credit card bonuses will disappear.
For travelers aiming to leverage card bonuses for the pass, the current Southwest Premier offer and competing cards like the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority card with a 90,000-point bonus are available. Cardholders should note application deadlines, such as the Priority card offer ending July 2, to capture these raised bonuses before the 2026 cutoff.
