Southwest Rapid Rewards is a straightforward loyalty program. It only has two status tiers — Southwest A-List and A-List Preferred — and elite members don’t get premium perks like lounge access or first-class upgrades since Southwest is a low-cost carrier without first class.
However, the program still brings a lot of value since it offers some of the cheapest award flights within the U.S. (including Hawaii) and a few international destinations without any blackout dates.
We have a lot to cover, so let’s dive right in.
How To Earn Southwest Elite Status
Getting a Southwest Elite status can be done by earning Qualifying Flights or Tier Qualifying Points (“TQP”).
The number of qualifying metrics you earn will then determine your elite status:
- A-List: 20 one-way qualifying flight segments or 35,000 tier qualifying points.
- A-List Preferred : 40 one-way qualifying flight segments or 70,000 tier qualifying points.
Each flight segment counts as one qualifying flight, so a round-trip flight with a connection each way would count as 4 segments toward your status requirements. Only revenue (cash) flights count toward elite status qualification – flights booked with Rapid Rewards points don’t count toward the flight segment requirement.
To earn Tier Qualifying Points, you can earn them by spending on a Southwest Airlines credit card or flying with Southwest.
Earning TQPs via Flying
Each Rapid Rewards point earned from a flight is equivalent to 1 TQP. Rapid Rewards points are calculated based on the base fare of the flight you purchased. For example, if you were to earn A-list status (35,000 TQPs), you would have to spend a total of $2,916.66 in base fares at Business Select rates (35,000 TQPs = $2916.66 x 12). However, flights booked with Rapid Rewards points do not earn Tier Qualifying Points.
Earning TQPs with Credit Cards
You can also earn TQPs from spending on Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards. You can earn 1,500 tier qualifying points per $5,000 spent on the card. For example, if you spent $30,000 in a calendar year on a Southwest card, you would earn 9,000 TQPs.
Upcoming Southwest Elite Changes
Southwest Airlines is making major shifts to its operations in early 2026, moving away from its signature open-seating policy that’s been in place for 50 years. Here’s what will be changing:
- Southwest will introduce assigned seating across all flights.
- The airline will offer extra-legroom seats for purchase.
- Standard seats near the front of the plane will become “preferred” seating with an additional cost.
For elite members, these changes bring significant new benefits. Let’s break down what you can expect with each status level.
A-List Member Benefits:
- You’ll get free “preferred” seat selection at booking, giving you access to standard seats located near the front of the plane at no extra cost.
- Within 48 hours of departure, you can select extra-legroom seats for free, subject to availability.
- These perks apply even when flying on Wanna Get Away fares, which typically won’t include complimentary seat selection.
A-List Preferred Benefits:
- You’ll have access to any seat on the aircraft for free at booking time, including extra-legroom seats.
- No need to wait until 48 hours before departure – you can select your preferred seat right when you book.
Companion Pass holders will see their elite seating benefits extended to their designated companion, allowing them to select seats together.
Southwest A-List Benefits
A-List members will receive the following benefits:
25% Points Bonus: Earn 25% more Rapid Rewards points on qualifying flights. For example, you could earn 7.5x points for Wanna Get Away, 10x points for Wanna Get Away Plus, 12.5x points for Anytime, and 15x points for Business Select.
Automatic “A” group boarding: A-List elite members will either be assigned an A Group boarding, or they can board between the A and B boarding groups. This is a great perk since seats are not assigned on Southwest, so boarding in A-Group guarantees you lots of seat options.
Priority check-in and security access: Southwest A-List elite members get access to priority check-in lanes for Southwest and priority airport security checkpoints.
Dedicated phone line: Southwest A-List elite members can access faster customer service by calling 1-888-737-1005.
Free same-day change: Southwest A-List elite members can change their flights without any price difference if there is a seat available on the same calendar day.
Free same-day standby: Southwest A-List elite members can add their name to the standby list for an earlier flight without any fees.
Southwest A-List Preferred Elite Benefits
A-List Preferred members will receive the following benefits:
100% Points Bonus: Earn 25% more Rapid Rewards points on qualifying flights. For example, you could earn 12x points for Wanna Get Away, 16x points for Wanna Get Away Plus, 20x points for Anytime, and 24x points for Business Select.
Two Free Premium Drinks: A-List Preferred members get two complimentary free premium alcoholic drinks on each flight of at least 176 miles.
Free In-Flight WiFi: A-List Preferred members get free Wi-Fi, normally costing $8 per day.
Automatic “A” group boarding: A-List elite members will either be assigned an A Group boarding, or they can board between the A and B boarding groups. This is a great perk since seats are not assigned on Southwest, so boarding in A-Group guarantees you lots of seat options.
Priority check-in and security access: Southwest A-List elite members get access to priority check-in lanes for Southwest and priority airport security checkpoints.
Dedicated phone line: Southwest A-List elite members can access faster customer service by calling 1-888-737-1006.
Free same-day change: Southwest A-List elite members can change their flights without any price difference if there is a seat available on the same calendar day.
Free same-day standby: Southwest A-List elite members can add their name to the standby list for an earlier flight without any fees.
How Long Is Southwest Status Valid For?
Your A-List status is valid from the day you earned it up until the remaining calendar year, plus the entire following year.
For example, if you earned A-List status in September 2024, you’ll have it until December 2024, plus the entire year of 2025 (a total of 15 months). However, if you earned status in December 2024, you’ll only have it until December 2025 (12 months).
What Is A Southwest Companion Pass?
Although not an official elite status level, Southwest also offers the Southwest Companion Pass.
The Southwest Companion Pass is the most valuable perk in travel. It allows you to bring one travel companion on any Southwest flight, whether paid in cash or points. Plus, there’s no limit on how many times you can bring a travel companion.
You must pay taxes and fees, which are about $6 per one-way trip for domestic flights. For international flights, it can range between $80-$100 per one-way trip.
How To Earn The Southwest Companion Pass
The Companion Pass isn’t officially listed as elite status. Still, it’s a benefit that A-List members can get once they earn 100 Qualifying flights or 135,000 Companion Pass Qualifying Points, which are different than Tier Qualifying Points.
Companion Pass Qualifying Points include many different options, but the main ways to earn these points are:
- Spending and welcome bonuses for Southwest credit cards.
- Cash bookings through Southwest.com
- Hotel booked through Southwest or RocketMiles
- Rapid Rewards Dining®
- Rapid Rewards Shopping®
The Companion Pass is valid for the year you earn the pass plus the following year. If you time it right, you could get up to two years of free flights for your companion.
For example, if you opened a personal and business Southwest card in January 2023 and hit the bonuses in February 2023, you would have a Companion Pass until December 31, 2024.
Southwest A List Status Match
Southwest Airlines offers a Status Match with any competing U.S. airline. All elite tiers will automatically match to A-List, but you can always call customer service to see if they offer a status match to A-List preferred.
After being granted an A-List status, you get to keep it for 90 days, with a chance to extend it up to 12 months.
To extend your status, you must book and complete six one-way flights (or three roundtrips) within the 90-day period.
To start the status match, you will need to email to [email protected] your information:
- First name
- Last name
- Rapid Rewards® number
- Screenshot of current elite status with a U.S. based carrier, other than Southwest Airlines
Is Southwest Elite Status Worth It?
Southwest elite status currently offers modest value through priority boarding, bonus points, and same-day flexibility, but lacks premium cabins and lounges typical of other airlines’ status programs.
The value proposition improves significantly in 2026 when Southwest introduces assigned seating, with A-List members getting free preferred seats at booking and extra-legroom seats within 48 hours of departure, while A-List Preferred members can select any seat including extra-legroom seats at booking. For most occasional travelers, paying for individual perks like EarlyBird Check-In when needed is more cost-effective than pursuing status.
However, frequent Southwest flyers who can organically earn status through regular travel will find increasing value in the program, especially with the upcoming seating benefits. Southwest credit cards can help accelerate status earning through spending, making it easier to reach these enhanced benefits.
