Feeling parched just thinking about your next Southwest flight? You're not alone! While Southwest Airlines offers complimentary non-alcoholic beverages and snacks on most flights over 250 miles, those premium adult beverages often come with a price tag. But what if I told you there are legitimate ways to get free drink coupons and enjoy a complimentary cocktail, wine, or beer at 30,000 feet? Intrigued? Let's dive in!
This comprehensive guide will walk you through the various strategies to score those coveted Southwest Airlines free drink coupons, ensuring your next flight is a little more refreshing and a lot less expensive.
Unlocking Free Drinks: Your Step-by-Step Guide
Getting free drink coupons on Southwest Airlines isn't always as simple as asking. It often involves a combination of loyalty, strategic booking, and staying informed. Here's how you can increase your chances:
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| How Do I Get Free Drink Coupons From Southwest Airlines |
Step 1: Are You a Rapid Rewards Member Yet? If Not, Join Immediately!
Before we go any further, if you're not already a member of Southwest's Rapid Rewards program, stop reading this right now and go sign up! It's absolutely free, takes only a few minutes, and is the foundation for most of the free drink coupon strategies we'll discuss.
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Why it's crucial: Rapid Rewards is Southwest's frequent flyer program. Being a member is the primary way Southwest recognizes your loyalty and often sends out targeted offers, including drink coupons. Without an account, you're missing out on a world of potential benefits.
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How to join: Simply visit the Southwest Airlines website (southwest.com) and look for the "Rapid Rewards" section to sign up. It's quick, easy, and the first essential step on your path to free drinks.
Step 2: Mastering Rapid Rewards Tier Status: Aim for A-List Preferred
Southwest's Rapid Rewards program has different tiers, and achieving a higher status significantly increases your chances of receiving complimentary drinks.
Sub-heading: Understanding A-List and A-List Preferred
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A-List Status: While A-List offers great perks like priority boarding and dedicated customer service, it does not inherently include free drink coupons.
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A-List Preferred Status: This is where the magic happens for free drinks! As an A-List Preferred Member, you're entitled to up to two complimentary premium drinks per flight leg.
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How to earn A-List Preferred:
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Fly 40 one-way qualifying flights in a calendar year.
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Earn 70,000 tier qualifying points (TQPs) in a calendar year. TQPs are earned from paid flights and eligible credit card spend.
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How you get the coupons (digital!): For A-List Preferred members, these drink coupons are now digital and will show directly on your mobile boarding pass. Simply show your mobile boarding pass to the Flight Attendant for validation.
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Important Note: If you're an A-List Preferred member and you purchase a Business Select fare (which also includes a complimentary drink), you'll still only receive a maximum of two complimentary premium drinks per flight leg.
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Tip: Don’t skip — flow matters.
Step 3: Strategic Flight Booking: The Power of Business Select Fares
While not "free" in the traditional sense as you're paying for the fare, Business Select tickets include a complimentary premium drink, making it a reliable way to get one without extra effort.
Sub-heading: The Business Select Advantage
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What is Business Select? Business Select is Southwest's highest fare class. It comes with premium benefits like A1-A15 boarding, refundable fares, and increased Rapid Rewards points earnings.
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The Free Drink Perk: Every Business Select fare includes one complimentary premium drink (on flights over 250 miles). This is typically noted on your boarding pass, whether printed or digital.
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Is it worth it? This option is best if you're already considering a Business Select fare for its other benefits. If your sole purpose is a free drink, the cost difference might not make it worthwhile compared to just purchasing the drink onboard. However, if you value early boarding and flexibility, the free drink is a nice bonus.
Step 4: Leveraging Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Cards
Certain Southwest Airlines co-branded credit cards, issued by Chase, can be a fantastic pathway to free drink coupons, often as a thank you for being a cardholder.
Sub-heading: Credit Card Perks and Anniversary Gifts
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Annual Drink Coupons: Many Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cardholders report receiving physical or digital drink coupons as an anniversary benefit for holding the card. These aren't guaranteed for every card or every year, but they are a common perk.
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Earning TQPs: Southwest credit cards also allow you to earn Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) through your spending, which can help you achieve A-List or A-List Preferred status, thus leading to digital drink coupons.
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For example, some cards offer 1,500 TQPs for every $5,000 spent. Check the specific terms of your card for details.
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Check your card benefits: Always review the benefits guide for your specific Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card to see if complimentary drink coupons are included as an annual perk.
Step 5: Staying Engaged: Opt-In to Southwest Communications
Sometimes, getting free drink coupons is as simple as being on Southwest's radar and opting in for communications.
Tip: Stop when you find something useful.
Sub-heading: Don't Miss Out on Special Offers!
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Email Subscriptions: Ensure you are subscribed to all Southwest Airlines email communications and newsletters. Southwest occasionally sends out promotional offers, including drink coupons, to their subscriber list.
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Rapid Rewards Profile Settings:
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Log in to your Rapid Rewards account on Southwest.com.
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Navigate to "My Account" and then "Profile/Communication."
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Make sure all relevant boxes for receiving offers and updates are checked, especially those related to promotions and Rapid Rewards benefits.
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Social Media and Special Occasions: Keep an eye on Southwest's social media channels, especially around holidays like Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, or even Southwest's birthday (June 18th). They sometimes have surprise giveaways or special promotions that include free drinks.
Step 6: The Power of Politeness and Customer Service (The "Soft" Approach)
While not a guaranteed method, a little kindness can go a long way.
Sub-heading: Asking Nicely and Resolving Issues
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Polite Request Onboard: On occasion, if you're friendly and polite with the flight attendants, they might offer a complimentary drink. This is entirely at their discretion and should never be expected, but a warm smile and pleasant demeanor can sometimes work wonders.
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Customer Service Recovery: If you've had a significant service issue, a flight delay, or cancellation, reaching out to Southwest's customer service (either by phone or social media) might result in goodwill gestures, which could include drink coupons. Be polite, explain your situation clearly, and see what they can offer.
Important Considerations for Your Free Drink Coupons
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Flight Length: Complimentary premium drinks (and even standard drink service) are generally offered on Southwest flights over 250 miles. Shorter flights (sometimes even those under 175 miles or 40 minutes) might only offer water or have no service at all due to limited time or turbulence.
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Expiration Dates: Drink coupons, whether physical or digital, often have expiration dates. Always check the validity period to ensure you can use them.
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No Cash Value: Southwest drink coupons have no cash value and cannot be exchanged for other goods or services.
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Age Restriction: You must be 21 or older to consume alcoholic beverages on board.
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Digital vs. Physical: While Southwest has shifted towards digital coupons for A-List Preferred members and Business Select fares, some promotional coupons might still be physical. Always check the instructions on the coupon itself.
10 Related FAQ Questions:
How to join the Southwest Rapid Rewards program?
You can easily join the Southwest Rapid Rewards program by visiting southwest.com and clicking on the "Rapid Rewards" tab to sign up for a free account.
Tip: Don’t just scroll — pause and absorb.
How to check if I have Southwest drink coupons?
If you're an A-List Preferred member or on a Business Select fare, your digital drink coupon eligibility will typically be noted on your mobile boarding pass within the Southwest app or mobile wallet. For physical coupons, they would have been mailed to you or given at check-in.
How to redeem a Southwest digital drink coupon?
Simply show the "drink coupon" portion of your mobile boarding pass (found in the Southwest app, Apple Wallet, or Google Wallet) to a Flight Attendant during drink service on eligible flights.
How to earn A-List Preferred status for free drinks?
You can earn A-List Preferred status by flying 40 one-way qualifying flights or earning 70,000 Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) in a calendar year.
How to find Southwest's official inflight drink menu?
You can usually find the inflight drink and snack menu on the Southwest Airlines website under their "Onboard Experience" or "Food and Drinks" section, or within the Southwest app.
Tip: Bookmark this post to revisit later.
How to get free drinks if my flight is very short?
Southwest generally only offers complimentary premium drinks on flights over 250 miles. For very short flights, water may be the only beverage offered, and free drink coupons may not be valid.
How to use a Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card for drink coupons?
Many Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards offer drink coupons as an annual anniversary benefit. Check your specific card's benefits guide or look for communications from Chase (the card issuer) regarding these perks.
How to contact Southwest Airlines customer service about drink coupons?
You can contact Southwest Airlines customer service by calling 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792) or by reaching out to them through their official social media channels.
How to know if a Southwest drink coupon is expired?
The expiration date will be clearly printed on a physical drink coupon or indicated alongside a digital coupon on your boarding pass or in your Rapid Rewards account details.
How to bring your own non-alcoholic drinks on a Southwest flight?
You are generally allowed to bring your own non-alcoholic beverages through security (after adhering to TSA liquid rules) and consume them onboard. Just ensure they are in a sealed container and consumed responsibly. Note that you cannot consume alcoholic beverages onboard that were not served by a flight attendant.
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