Southwest Airlines offers two levels of elite status: A-List and A-List Preferred. However, its elite status is a bit unlike most major airlines. There are no upgrades to first class (that’s because Southwest first class isn’t a thing), and there’s no access to premium airport lounges (Southwest doesn’t have any).

However, Southwest’s elite status is worth pursuing if you find yourself taking advantage of its cheap fares to over 100 destinations in the U.S. and 10 other countries.

Whether you’re a Southwest regular or you are new to the airline and its elite status program, here's everything you need to know about Southwest A-List and A-List Preferred status, including how to earn it, what benefits come with it, and whether it’s really worth all the hype.

Southwest status match for 2023

Southwest is again running a corporate status match that might get certain business travelers automatic, temporary elite status.

Find out if you’re eligible by entering your name, Rapid Rewards Number and company info on Southwest’s business status match page anytime between now and Dec. 31, 2023. If you’re eligible, you’ll receive Rapid Rewards A-List status for 120 days — but possibly even longer.

If you either:

Book and complete two round trip qualifying flights or four one-way qualifying flights, or

Earn 5,333 Tier qualifying points from qualifying flights booked and flown within the 120-day period after enrolling.

Then, Southwest will extend your A-List status for an additional 12 months.

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BROWSE CARDS

How to get A-List and A-List Preferred elite status

How do you earn Southwest elite status? In short: Fly frequently, spend a significant amount of money with the airline, or both.

Here’s an overview of Southwest’s status levels, and what you'll need to do to reach them (you'll need to do either of these things, not necessarily both):

Tier qualifying points (TQPs) are earned for flights booked on Southwest (the pricier the flight, the more points you earn) and by spending on Southwest’s credit cards.

(Editor's note: Southwest recently announced some significant changes coming to the Rapid Rewards program, including lower requirements for A-List status in 2024. Read more on that here.)

Can I buy A List status on Southwest?

You can't buy A List status on Southwest outright, but spending on co-branded Southwest credit cards can help you earn status more quickly.

You earn 1,500 TQPs for every $10,000 spent using the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card, Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card, Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card and the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card.

Southwest status tiers and benefits

With Southwest elite status, you get benefits like a dedicated customer service phone line, bonus points earning and same-day standby benefits.

And even though the Southwest boarding process is quite unconventional, elite status holders get one of the best benefits you could possibly ask for while flying the airline: priority boarding. With it, Southwest automatically reserves your boarding position for you early, all but guaranteeing an A boarding group — and maybe even that coveted window seat in the emergency exit ro

Southwest A-List status benefits

A-List is the lower of the two tiers of Southwest elite status. Benefits of A-List status include:

Access to Fly By priority check-in and security access lanes (where available).

A dedicated A-List phone line.

A 25% earning bonus on all eligible revenue Southwest flights.

Same-day confirmed changes with no difference in base fare (if there is a seat available on the same calendar day).

Same-day standby benefits free of airline charges.

All passengers included on your reservation will receive priority boarding (meaning Southwest will automatically reserve a boarding position 36 hours prior to the flight, though you and passengers on your reservation will still need to check in within 24 hours of scheduled departure to retrieve your boarding passes).

Southwest A-List Preferred status benefits

The biggest difference between A-List and A-List Preferred is with the latter, you earn way more points per flight booked with Southwest, which means you’ll rack up points toward future flights even faster. Additionally, you’ll get free in-flight Wi-Fi.

In addition to all of the above the benefits provided by A-List status, A-List Preferred status includes:

Free in-flight Wi-Fi.

A dedicated A-List Preferred phone line.

A 100% earning bonus on all eligible revenue Southwest flights.

Two free premium beverages (beer, wine, spirits) on eligible flights (beginning Nov. 6, 2023).

With both A-List and A-List Preferred status, qualification is based on a calendar year, so get started on your mission in January.

Once you’ve earned status, you’ll get it immediately, and you’ll hold it for the entire calendar year immediately following.