Southwest Airlines

Dallas -- Starting January 1, 2027, Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards members get a new Platinum tier with unlimited Companion Pass trips, a faster route to status for credit cardholders, and points that work for seats and rental cars. The airline also plans a fleetwide Starlink WiFi rollout and a branded lounge network.

Platinum joins a renamed tier lineup in January 2027

A-List becomes Silver and A-List Preferred becomes Gold. Platinum sits above both and includes unlimited Companion Pass trips. Rapid Rewards keeps its no-blackout-dates policy and points that don't expire. Members can still earn tier status through Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) or qualifying flights.

Dallas – October 12, 2026 -- Southwest Airlines is letting Rapid Rewards Members earn a promotional Companion Pass by booking one qualifying round trip by August 6, 2026. The pass lets a friend or family member fly with them for free on later trips.

Register and book by August 6 to qualify

Members must register for the promotion and buy a Southwest revenue flight, either one qualifying round trip or two qualifying one-ways. Payment can be Rapid Rewards points, a mix of cash and points, or another eligible form of payment. Members must complete their travel by November 18, 2026.

Your companion flies for the cost of taxes and fees from January 5 to March 3, 2027

The promotional pass is valid for unlimited use on qualifying flights from January 5 through March 3, 2027. Members designate a Companion, who pays only taxes and fees, starting at $5.60 one-way.

Dallas – October 12, 2026 -- Southwest Airlines will open its first-ever airport lounges in late 2027, starting at four U.S. airports, with access tied to a new premium credit card.

Four airports get lounges first, with seven more to follow

Construction has begun on the first four lounges. They are located at Austin-Bergstrom International, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall, Daniel K. Inouye (Honolulu) International, and Nashville International.

Southwest says at least seven more lounges are planned over the next several years. They will open in high-demand business and leisure markets, though the airline has not named those locations.

Dallas – October 12, 2026 -- Southwest Airlines is offering up to 40% off base fares on select flights between Oct. 5, 2026, and March 3, 2027, but only if travelers book by Sept. 17 during its Week of WOW sale.

The sale started today and also covers hotels, rental cars and Getaways by Southwest vacation packages. Restrictions, exclusions and blackouts apply, seats, days and markets are limited, and the fare discount requires a 21-day advance purchase.

Five nonstop routes carry the 40% discount

Southwest named these nonstop routes as on sale at up to 40% off base fares on Southwest.com:

• Austin and San Diego
• Nashville and Chicago (Midway)
• Denver and San Diego
• Seattle and Nashville
• Austin and San Jose

The discount is applied before government taxes and fees, and additional fees may apply.

Dallas – October 12, 2026 -- Southwest Airlines is giving Rapid Rewards members a way to turn a cluttered phone screen into free points: upload a screenshot of your homepage notifications and earn between 1,000 and 10,000 points. The offer is part of "Enter Airplane Mode," a new brand campaign aimed at burned-out travelers.

Southwest cites a survey showing 76% of respondents feel burnout

In a Southwest-sponsored survey of more than 2,000 U.S. adults aged 18 to 64, conducted in August 2026, 76% said they are experiencing burnout. Another 68% said a trip is one way to regain control of their time. Sabrina Callahan, Southwest's Chief Digital & Marketing Officer, said the campaign encourages customers to turn their "breaking point" into a "booking point."

Dallas – – October 06, 2026 -- Southwest Airlines has launched a plugin inside ChatGPT that lets travelers search and shop for Southwest flights directly within the chatbot, marking the first phase of an AI-powered booking rollout built with OpenAI and Amazon Web Services.

Southwest becomes the first U.S. airline to offer a dedicated ChatGPT plugin

The tool allows customers to discover destinations and explore flight options without leaving the ChatGPT interface, giving Southwest a presence earlier in the travel-planning process. The company describes it as a step toward a simpler, more direct path from initial inspiration to an actual booking.

Dallas – September 17, 2026 -- Southwest Airlines kicked off its Week of WOW sale, offering up to 40% off base fares for flights booked by Sept. 17 for travel between Oct. 5, 2026, and March 3, 2027.

Discounted routes include Austin-San Diego and Nashville-Chicago

Nonstop routes on sale include Austin to San Diego, Nashville to Chicago Midway, Denver to San Diego, Seattle to Nashville, and Austin to San Jose, all available now on Southwest.com. The fare discount requires a 21-day advance purchase and applies before government taxes and fees, with restrictions, exclusions, and blackout dates in effect.