CNBC
• Leslie Josephs
Southwest Airlines is replacing its A-List tier with Silver, Gold and Platinum status in 2027, while changing Companion Pass rules and adding rewards through international airline partners. The overhaul accompanies plans for airport lounges and upgraded onboard amenities as the carrier seeks to attract travelers willing to pay more.
Southwest Airlines
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Southwest plans to replace A-List with Silver, Gold and Platinum status in 2027, while changing how members earn status and qualify for Companion Pass. The overhaul reshapes the carrier’s loyalty program, including the role of qualifying points and credit-card activity.
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Southwest Airlines is replacing its A-List tier with Silver, Gold and Platinum status in 2027, while changing Companion Pass rules and adding rewards through international airline partners. The overhaul accompanies plans for airport lounges and upgraded onboard amenities as the carrier seeks to attract travelers willing to pay more.
Southwest Airlines confirmed a brief system outage on Friday after travelers began reporting delays that morning. The disruption affected boarding and checked-bag processes; the available reports do not specify how many flights or passengers were affected, or what caused the outage.
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Southwest Airlines is reportedly considering adding new or used Boeing 787s, a major departure from its 737-only fleet, as it evaluates long-haul international flying. Routes under consideration have included Europe and Latin America, with Africa and Asia also discussed, according to the articles.
Executives from American Airlines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines used Morgan Stanley’s Laguna conference to discuss where they see the airline market heading, offering a cross-section of views from three major U.S. carriers on industry conditions and the outlook ahead.
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American, United and Southwest are trimming marginal routes as jet fuel prices remain near record levels, while Air Canada is adjusting capacity and pricing. The moves come as resilient demand supports bookings, but travelers are already facing fares nearly 25% higher than a year ago.
Southwest Airlines CFO Tom Doxey said the carrier expects loyalty benefits from lounges it plans to open next year, as the airline seeks to attract more high-spend customers and strengthen the value of its customer proposition.
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