Southwest Airlines is replacing its two loyalty tiers, A-List and A-List Preferred, with Silver, Gold and Platinum levels starting in January 2027, CNBC and the Austin American-Statesman reported Thursday.

A-List members will move to Silver and A-List Preferred members to Gold, the Statesman reported. Platinum members will get unlimited Companion Pass trips. Silver members will board in Group 1, Gold members before Group 1, and Platinum members before both, CNBC said.

"If you think about A-List and A-List Preferred, we don't even have [boarding] groups A, B and C anymore," Tony Roach, Southwest's chief customer and brand officer, told CNBC. "So it was time to do a refresh to somewhat incorporate all the changes to seating and all these new experiences that we've been adding."

Customers can earn 1 Tier Qualifying Point, or TQP, per $1 spent on Southwest co-branded credit cards with Chase, CNBC reported. Starting with the 2027 earning year, Companion Pass benefits will be earned through TQPs or qualifying flights, by hitting a milestone reward or with Platinum status. Current Companion Pass holders keep them for the rest of their term.

Members between tiers will get new perks, CNBC reported. After 95,000 points or 75 qualifying flights, customers will get three Companion Pass trips.

Members will also be able to earn and redeem points on Icelandair, China Airlines and Etihad Airways through new partnerships, the Statesman reported. Southwest named its planned lounges "Icon Lounge," and the first are slated to open in Austin, Baltimore, Honolulu and Nashville in late 2027. Access will go to holders of a new high-end Chase card set to launch next year.

The changes follow Southwest's move away from open seating and two free checked bags, CNBC reported. Southwest shares climbed nearly 4% Thursday, the Statesman said.

What we know: The new tiers and earning rules start in January 2027.
What we don't: The new card's fee and the lounge visit rules.