Southwest Just Announced a Change to Its Loyalty Program — and It’s a Win for Passengers

It makes it easier to earn points and status.

By Michael Cappetta Michael Cappetta

Michael Cappetta is a travel writer with over 10 years of experience in journalism and television news. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Published on November 22, 2024

Close Airplane wing of a Southwest Airlines flight as it departs from Maui. Photo:

Stephen M. Keller/Courtesy of Southwest Airlines

Frequent flyers of Southwest Airlines will have new ways to earn loyalty status in 2025. 

The airline recently announced updates to its Cash+Points program, which allows passengers to redeem points in combination with a cash payment when they don’t have or don’t want to use all of their points on a ticket. The changes include providing loyalty points for the cash portion of the redemption booking, and other perks. Currently, travelers do not earn Rapid Rewards points on cash payments toward a mileage ticket, but after January 1, 2025, points can be earned on the cash portion. 

The Dallas-based airline originally introduced the cash and points program in May 2024, which provided members of the loyalty program to use as little as 1,000 points with cash subsidizing the remainder of the ticket’s value. 

Southwest Airlines confirmed the changes in a statement to Travel + Leisure, and said that the latest updates are part of a “reimagining” of the airline’s customer experience. 

“Rewards Members will continue to enjoy benefits from our industry-leading loyalty program,” and airline spokesperson said. 

The airline also announced that the cash payments, which will now generate points, will contribute towards the earning threshold towards A-List and A-List Preferred statuses. These two status provide special perks and benefits for frequent flyers on Southwest. The A-List status requires taking 20 one-way flights, or accumulating 35,000 loyalty points. The benefits for A-List include priority boarding, 25 percent earnings bonuses, and other perks. A-List Preferred requires 40 flights or 70,000 points, and provides similar amenities with the addition of free inflight internet, 100 percent earning bonuses on points, and complimentary premium drinks. 

In addition to the point earning, and loyalty credit, cash payments of Cash+Points tickets will also count towards points for the popular Companion Pass, which offers free flights for a designated companion of a Southwest frequent flier, when flying with them on a paid ticket. The airline recently updated the Companion Pass program to allow for modifications and updates through the airline’s website.