Southwest Airlines is, for better and for worse, one of a kind. It’s generally thought of as a budget airline, known for its open seating and free checked bags — and people tend to either love or hate it.
When it comes to elite status with Southwest, there aren’t the same perks available for loyal members that many other airlines offer. For instance, most airline elite status programs include free checked bags and a chance at complimentary seat upgrades. However, Southwest already offers free checked bags for all passengers and doesn’t offer business- or first-class seating options; therefore, you won’t find these on the perks list for Southwest’s elite status tiers.
Of course, this may change when Southwest implements its new assigned seating and boarding process in the coming years.
Still, Southwest offers some perks to its loyal passengers. Here’s what you need to know about A-List, A-List Preferred and the Companion Pass to decide whether they’re worth going after.
Related: Free bags and open seating: Why I choose Southwest every time
What is Southwest A-List status?
Southwest uses the term “A-List” when referring to its Rapid Rewards customers with elite status. The program has two status tiers: A-List and A-List Preferred.
While it isn’t technically an elite status tier, the airline also has the ultravaluable Companion Pass. This benefit allows you to bring a designated companion with you for free (plus applicable taxes and fees) on an unlimited number of Southwest Airlines flights for the duration of the pass.
How to qualify for Southwest elite status
There are two ways to earn A-List and A-List Preferred: with flights or tier qualifying points (TQPs). The latter can be earned on flights or via spending on select cobranded Southwest credit cards.
Here’s how to qualify for each level:
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- 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
To qualify for the Companion Pass, you can complete 100 one-way qualifying flights in a calendar year, which are counted identically to those for earning status. Once you hit 70, you’d reach A-List Preferred, and hitting 100 earns you the Companion Pass.
You can also achieve it by earning 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points in a calendar year. Companion Pass qualifying points can be earned on a wider range of activities than TQPs; you can view full details of what does (and doesn’t) count toward these tiers on Southwest’s website. For example, points earned on welcome bonuses on Southwest credit cards, purchases through the Rapid Rewards shopping portal and hotel stays and rental cars booked with Southwest partners count toward Companion Pass, but not elite status.
Note that transfers from Chase Ultimate Rewards and purchased points don’t count toward the Companion Pass or elite status.
Additionally, Southwest sometimes runs promotions that allow you to fast-track elite status or earn a Companion Pass for a shorter period. For example, a Southwest promotion last fall let members earn a two-month Companion Pass after a single qualifying round-trip flight.
Related: How to quickly earn the Southwest Companion Pass
Southwest status benefits
Southwest’s open seating policy has been one of its biggest benefits for many. Add-ons like EarlyBird Check-In and boarding upgrades give you an earlier boarding position, and thus a better shot at the seat you want. And if you have elite status, you’ll get automatic early check-in as one of your status benefits.
Both status tiers earn more Rapid Rewards points on paid Southwest Airlines flights. As a basic member, you’ll earn between 6 and 12 points per dollar, depending on your purchased fare. But you’ll earn even more points on those flights with A-List and A-List Preferred.
Here’s a breakdown of the key perks you’ll receive with each tier of Southwest elite status.
A-List
A-List is the lower status tier and the easier one to earn. With it, you’ll get these benefits:
- Priority boarding
- 25% earning bonus
- Free same-day change (taxes and fees may apply) and priority same-day standby
- Priority Lane and Express Lane at Southwest check-in
- Dedicated A-List member phone line
A-List Preferred
A-List Preferred comes with all the benefits of A-List, plus additional perks:
- Free inflight Wi-Fi
- Up to two complimentary premium drinks (on select flights over 250 miles)
- Priority boarding (boarding position automatically reserved 36 hours before flight)
- 100% earning bonus
- Free same-day standby and same-day change (taxes and fees may apply)
Companion Pass
The Companion Pass isn’t inherently an elite status tier and doesn’t come with benefits outside of the free designated companion you can add to your Southwest Airlines flights for just the cost of taxes and fees. However, if you earn it through flying, you’ll automatically earn A-List Preferred status on your way to earning the Companion Pass and get all those benefits on top of your Companion Pass.
Changes coming to Southwest elite status benefits
The above benefits could change as soon as early 2026, when Southwest plans to debut its assigned seating process and extra-legroom seats.
The carrier has already announced some of the seating perks that will come with elite status. A-List members will be able to choose premium “up front” seats for no additional fee and have a chance to snag extra-legroom seats within 48 hours of departure at no added cost, pending availability.
Meanwhile, A-List Preferred members will be able to choose any seat on Southwest flights — including extra-legroom seats — for free at the time of booking. For elite members who also earn the Companion Pass, their elite status seating benefits will extend to their designated companion.
Although Southwest loyalists are divided on the carrier’s decision to say farewell to open seating, these updates could make Southwest’s elite status more valuable for some travelers.
Related: How to earn and use the Southwest Companion Pass
Can a credit card help earn Southwest status?
Southwest has three personal and two business credit cards. None of them come with automatic status, but two of its personal cards and both business cards give you the option to spend your way to status. Plus, all five cobranded cards let you earn a Companion Pass through spending.
The following cards earn 1,500 TQPs toward A-List status for every $5,000 spent annually, with no limit to the number of TQPs you can earn:
If you’re going after a Companion Pass, any cobranded credit cards — including the low-annual-fee Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card — can help you get there. All the Rapid Rewards points you earn through Southwest credit card spending (including the welcome bonus) will count toward the 135,000 points you need to earn a Companion Pass. Plus, you’ll get a 10,000-point boost toward earning the Companion Pass each year just for being a Southwest cardholder.
The information for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: I was anti-Southwest until I got one of their credit cards — now I’m a convert
Is Southwest status worth it?
Since all passengers get two free checked bags and there’s no business class to be upgraded to, Southwest’s status has less obvious value than elite status with most other airlines.
Additionally, Southwest added the perk of free same-day standby for all fare types in 2023, and three of the four fare types include free same-day changes, so these perks probably aren’t worth chasing status.
However, A-List status could be worth it for someone who pays for EarlyBird Check-In or upgraded boardings on every flight, since these range from $15 to $50 per one-way segment. And those who pay for Wi-Fi ($8 per flight) and premium drinks (up to $9 per drink) may see real value in A-List Preferred status. Plus, it remains to be seen how much value elite Southwest flyers will get from the program after the carrier’s upcoming overhaul.
Still, you can get some A-List and A-List Preferred benefits by having a Southwest cobranded credit card. For example, the Southwest Performance Business card includes 365 inflight Wi-Fi credits and four upgraded boardings per year. Depending on which perks matter most, adding the right card to your wallet could be an easier alternative to chasing status.
The Companion Pass can be tremendously valuable to someone who regularly flies Southwest with a partner or family member. The ability to add a companion for just the cost of taxes and fees effectively cuts the cost of the flight in half for both people, which can provide lucrative savings to those who can take advantage of it.
On the other hand, those who typically travel alone will likely get very little value from the Companion Pass and not find it worth pursuing.
Bottom line
Southwest Airlines A-List and A-List Preferred status don’t offer as much additional value as elite status on other airlines, since passengers already get free checked bags and there are no upgrades to worry about. Still, those who fly Southwest Airlines regularly enough to earn status organically will appreciate the automatic check-in and bonus points they’ll earn with either status. And if you travel regularly with a partner, you’ll likely get tremendous value from earning a Companion Pass.
Be sure to check out our guides to other airline loyalty programs for a full breakdown of their elite benefits:
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