Two airlines rewrote their 2027 status rules this week. Southwest is closing the credit card shortcut to its Companion Pass, and United is making top-tier status harder to reach. Both changes take effect January 1, but some decisions need to be made sooner.
Amex also made two quieter changes. One affects what happens to your points when you open a new card. The other narrows how Business Gold cardholders earn 4x. Here's what changed and what it means for your cards, points, and perks.
1. Southwest card bonuses will no longer count toward the Companion Pass
Southwest is overhauling Rapid Rewards on January 1, 2027. The Companion Pass, which lets a companion fly with you for just taxes and fees, becomes a benefit of a new top tier called Platinum. Reaching Platinum takes 140,000 Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) or 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year.
The biggest change for cardholders: from 2027, new cardmember welcome bonuses will no longer count toward the Companion Pass. Neither will referral bonuses, anniversary points, bonus-category points, or partner points. They still earn Rapid Rewards points, just not progress toward the pass.
There is a deadline. Southwest says cardmembers approved for a Rapid Rewards card on or before December 2, 2026 can still have that welcome bonus count toward the Companion Pass, even if they finish the spending requirement in early 2027.
Other changes:
- New tiers: Silver replaces A-List (35,000 TQPs or 25 flights). Gold replaces A-List Preferred (65,000 TQPs or 50 flights).
- Lower bonus for Gold: the flight-earning bonus drops from 100% to 60%. Platinum earns 120%.
- Card spend counts more: all Southwest cards will earn 1 TQP per dollar spent. Cardmembers who reach 130,000 TQPs in 2027 get a one-time 10,000 TQP boost to Platinum.
- Partial pass: a new milestone at 95,000 TQPs or 75 flights gives three Companion Pass trips.
- Existing passes: a Companion Pass earned under the 2026 rules stays valid through December 31, 2027.
PerksRadar's take: If you were planning to earn the Companion Pass with a card bonus, the December 2 approval date matters more than the spend timing. Check the current card offer and Southwest's FAQ before applying, and only apply if you can meet the spending requirement with normal purchases. Under the new rules, the pass is mainly for very frequent Southwest flyers or people who put a lot of spending on a Southwest card. If you already hold a pass, mark its December 31, 2027 end date so you can plan companion trips before it runs out.
2. United drops qualifying flights and raises the bar for Premier 1K
United is changing how members qualify for Premier status starting in 2027. Premier Qualifying Flights (PQFs) are going away, so status will be earned on Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) only. The lower combinations of points plus flights, such as Silver at 5,000 PQP plus 15 flights, will no longer exist.
Premier 1K rises from 28,000 to 32,000 PQP. Silver (6,000 PQP), Gold (12,000), and Platinum (18,000) stay the same on a PQP-only basis. You still need at least four flights on United or United Express.
Eligible United cardholders get a head start of 5% of the PQP required for each tier. For 1K, that's 1,600 PQP. This head start used to go to all elites, not only cardholders.
PerksRadar's take: Frequent flyers who took many short, cheap flights will feel this most. Look at how many PQPs you earned this year and compare that with the 2027 levels before deciding how to book next year. If you hold a United card, check which head start and PQP-earning offers apply to your specific card. Don't put extra spend on a card just to chase status unless the math works for your trips. Status is worth what its benefits are worth to you.
More changes mean more dates to remember. Choose your cards on PerksRadar and get reminders before your benefits reset.
3. Amex no longer combines points from new cards automatically
Until now, when you opened a new Amex card that earns Membership Rewards points, its points joined your existing balance automatically. That has changed. Newly opened U.S. cards now get their own separate rewards account. Your existing cards keep their current account.
You can still combine them. Amex lets you link accounts in the app or online, or by calling. But you have to do it yourself.
This matters most when you close a card. Amex's terms say you lose the points in a rewards account when you cancel the last card linked to it. If a new card's account was never linked, closing that card could wipe out its points even if you keep another Amex card.
PerksRadar's take: If you've opened an Amex card recently, log in and check how many Membership Rewards accounts you have. If you see more than one, link them. Make "check my points are linked" a step before you cancel or downgrade any Amex card. It takes a few minutes and can protect a large balance.
4. Amex Business Gold narrows its 4x advertising and wireless categories
Starting February 17, 2027, two of the Amex Business Gold's 4x categories get narrower. Advertising will earn 4x only when you buy directly from Meta, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, GoDaddy, or Yelp. Wireless phone service will earn 4x only when you pay a listed carrier directly, including Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Comcast, Spectrum Mobile, UScellular, Optimum, Ultra Mobile, and Mint Mobile.
The rest of the structure stays the same. The card still earns 4x in your top two eligible categories each billing cycle, on up to $150,000 in combined purchases each calendar year, then 1x.
PerksRadar's take: If most of your ad spend is with the big platforms and you use a major carrier, little changes. If you buy ads elsewhere or use a smaller wireless provider, those purchases may drop to 1x from February 17. That could shift which categories count as your "top two" each month. Check your recent statements to see where your 4x points came from, and read the updated terms in your account.
Planning around status and points changes in 2027? PerksRadar reminders can help you keep track of deadlines and the perks on each card.
What to check this week
- If you want a Southwest Companion Pass through a card bonus, note the December 2, 2026 approval date, and only apply if the spend fits your budget.
- Compare your 2026 United PQPs with the 2027 levels, especially if you're near 1K.
- Log in to Amex and link any separate Membership Rewards accounts before closing or downgrading a card.
- If you have the Business Gold, check where your 4x points came from and whether those merchants are still on the list after February 17.
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Offers and benefits can change. Check your account's current terms and your card's benefits guide before applying, transferring points, or making a booking.