Becoming an A-List member with Southwest Airlines can significantly enhance your travel experience, offering perks that make your journeys smoother and more rewarding. While it requires a bit of dedication to the airline, the benefits, especially for frequent flyers, are well worth the effort. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know, step-by-step, to achieve Southwest A-List status.
Unlocking the Skies: Your Journey to Southwest A-List Status
Are you tired of being among the last to board, scrambling for overhead bin space, or missing out on those prime window seats? Do you dream of a more seamless airport experience, with dedicated lanes and priority services? If so, then becoming a Southwest A-List member is your ticket to a more elevated travel journey. Let's embark on this quest together!
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| How Do You Become An A List Member With Southwest Airlines |
Step 1: Are You Ready to Embrace the Southwest Way?
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty, let's ask yourself: Are you a frequent Southwest flyer, or are you willing to shift your loyalty to them? Southwest operates on a unique model with open seating and a focus on point-to-point travel, which might be different from what you're used to with other airlines. Understanding their system and embracing their unique approach is the first, crucial mental step. If you're ready to fly the friendly skies with Southwest consistently, then let's proceed!
Step 2: Understanding A-List Qualification Requirements
To achieve A-List status, Southwest offers two distinct paths you can pursue within a calendar year (January 1st to December 31st). You only need to meet one of these criteria:
Path 2.1: Accumulating Qualifying Flights
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The Flight Count: You need to fly 20 qualifying one-way flight segments with Southwest Airlines.
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What counts as a "qualifying one-way flight"? This means a revenue flight (paid for with money, LUV Vouchers, gift cards, or flight credits, not points) from an origin city to a destination city, including any intermediate stops and/or connections on Southwest Airlines. Each segment counts as one flight. So, a roundtrip flight with no connections would be two qualifying one-way flights. A roundtrip with a connection each way would be four qualifying one-way flights.
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Path 2.2: Earning Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs)
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The Point Power-Up: Alternatively, you can earn 35,000 Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) within a calendar year.
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How are TQPs different from regular Rapid Rewards points? While both are points, TQPs are specifically designed to track your progress towards elite status and are earned in specific ways. Regular Rapid Rewards points, which you earn for flights and other activities, can be used to book reward travel.
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Sources of TQPs:
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Flying Southwest: This is the most direct way to earn TQPs. The number of TQPs you earn per dollar spent on a flight depends on the fare type:
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Basic fares: 2 TQPs per dollar (for flights booked on or after May 28, 2025)
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Wanna Get Away Plus® fares: 6 TQPs per dollar
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Anytime fares: 10 TQPs per dollar
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Business Select® fares: 14 TQPs per dollar
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Important Note: TQPs are earned on the base fare of the ticket, excluding taxes and fees. If you use Cash + Points, TQPs are earned only on the cash portion of the base fare.
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Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Cards: Certain eligible Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Cards (issued by Chase) allow you to earn TQPs through spending. You can earn 1,500 TQPs for every $5,000 spent on eligible purchases. This is a powerful way to bridge any gaps in your flight-based TQP earnings.
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Reminder: Focus on key sentences in each paragraph.
Step 3: Strategizing Your Path to A-List
Now that you know the requirements, it's time to strategize! Consider your travel habits and how you can best meet the criteria.
Sub-heading 3.1: Focusing on Flights
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For the Frequent Flyer: If you're consistently flying Southwest for business or leisure, focusing on the 20 qualifying one-way flights might be your easiest route. Make Southwest your primary airline whenever possible.
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Maximizing Segments: When booking, consider flights with connections if they don't significantly inconvenience you, as each segment adds to your flight count. For example, a flight from your home city to a connecting city and then to your final destination counts as two segments.
Sub-heading 3.2: Leveraging Tier Qualifying Points
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For the Moderate Flyer with High Spending: If you don't fly quite enough to hit 20 segments, but you're a significant spender on a Southwest credit card, TQPs might be your preferred method.
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Smart Spending: Use your eligible Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card for everyday expenses to accumulate TQPs faster. Remember, every $5,000 spent earns 1,500 TQPs.
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Combining Strategies: The most effective approach for many is a combination of flying and credit card spending. For example, if you fly 10 qualifying one-way flights (which might give you a certain number of TQPs depending on the fares), you can then make up the remaining TQPs through credit card spending.
Sub-heading 3.3: Monitoring Your Progress
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Stay Informed: Log into your Rapid Rewards account regularly on Southwest.com to track your progress towards A-List status. Southwest provides a clear breakdown of your qualifying flights and TQPs earned.
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Calendar Year Reset: Remember, the qualification period is a calendar year (January 1st to December 31st). Your progress resets at the beginning of each new year.
Step 4: Exploring Accelerators and Special Opportunities
Southwest sometimes offers promotions or status challenges that can help you reach A-List faster.
Sub-heading 4.1: Status Match Opportunities
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Leveraging Other Airline Status: If you hold elite status with another domestic airline, Southwest might offer a "Status Match" challenge. This typically grants you a temporary A-List status for a period (e.g., 90 days), during which you need to complete a reduced number of qualifying flights (e.g., 3 roundtrips or 6 one-ways) to extend your A-List status for a longer period (usually the rest of the current year and the entire next calendar year).
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How to Check: Keep an eye on Southwest's promotions page or contact their Rapid Rewards customer service to inquire about current status match opportunities. You'll likely need to provide proof of your elite status with another airline.
QuickTip: Slowing down makes content clearer.
Sub-heading 4.2: Targeted Promotions
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Email Alerts: Ensure you're signed up for Southwest Rapid Rewards emails. They occasionally send out targeted promotions that can help you earn bonus TQPs or accelerate your path to A-List.
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Credit Card Offers: Sometimes, new or existing Southwest credit card holders might receive special offers for earning bonus TQPs with certain spending thresholds.
Step 5: Enjoying Your A-List Benefits!
Once you've achieved A-List status, congratulations! You'll automatically unlock a host of benefits designed to make your Southwest travel more enjoyable. These benefits are valid for the remainder of the calendar year in which you qualify and for the entire following calendar year.
Sub-heading 5.1: Key A-List Perks
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Priority Boarding (A1-A15): This is arguably the most significant A-List benefit for many. Southwest will automatically reserve a boarding position for you (and everyone on your reservation) 36 hours prior to the flight, putting you in the coveted A-group (typically A1-A15). This means early access to overhead bin space and your preferred seat choice.
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25% Earning Bonus: You'll earn a 25% bonus on all Rapid Rewards points earned from qualifying Southwest flights. This helps you accumulate points for future reward travel even faster.
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Same-Day Standby (and potentially Same-Day Change): A-List members can take advantage of same-day standby, even with Basic fares. This allows you to list for an earlier flight on the same day between the same origin and destination. For Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, and Business Select fares, A-List members also get free same-day changes without paying a fare difference if a seat is available.
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Priority Lane and Express Lane Access: Where available, you can enjoy the speed and convenience of a dedicated lane at Southwest check-in counters and airport security checkpoints (often referred to as "Fly By" lanes).
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Dedicated A-List Member Phone Line: No more long waits! You'll have access to a special phone line that connects you directly with a Southwest Customer Representative, saving you valuable time.
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One Checked Bag Free (as of May 28, 2025): While Southwest historically offered two free checked bags for all passengers, starting May 28, 2025, A-List members will receive their first checked bag free. This is still a valuable perk if you typically check a bag.
Step 6: Maintaining Your A-List Status
To continue enjoying these benefits, you'll need to re-qualify each calendar year by meeting the flight or TQP requirements. Keep flying Southwest, keep using your eligible credit card, and keep an eye on your progress!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 10 common questions about Southwest A-List status, with quick answers:
How to check my A-List progress?
Tip: A slow skim is better than a rushed read.
You can easily check your A-List progress by logging into your Rapid Rewards account on Southwest.com. Your "My Rapid Rewards" dashboard will display your current qualifying flights and Tier Qualifying Points.
How to earn Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs)?
TQPs are primarily earned by flying on revenue Southwest flights (the number of TQPs per dollar depends on the fare type) and through spending on eligible Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards (1,500 TQPs for every $5,000 spent).
How to use A-List priority boarding?
As an A-List member, your boarding position (and for those on your reservation) will be automatically reserved for you 36 hours before the flight. You still need to check in within 24 hours to retrieve your boarding pass.
How to get free checked bags as an A-List member?
As of May 28, 2025, A-List members receive their first checked bag free. Simply present your Rapid Rewards number at check-in.
How to use the A-List dedicated phone line?
The dedicated A-List phone number is typically listed on the Southwest website or provided in your A-List welcome materials. Have your Rapid Rewards number ready when you call.
QuickTip: Focus on what feels most relevant.
How to utilize same-day standby as an A-List member?
You can request to be added to the same-day standby list with a Southwest Customer Service Agent at the airport or through the Southwest app/mobile web.
How to qualify for A-List Preferred status?
A-List Preferred status requires flying 40 qualifying one-way flights or earning 70,000 Tier Qualifying Points in a calendar year, offering even more benefits like free in-flight Wi-Fi and a 100% earning bonus.
How to get A-List status through a status match?
Southwest occasionally offers status match promotions where you can get temporary A-List status by demonstrating elite status with another airline, then extend it by flying a reduced number of flights within a specific timeframe. Check their promotions page for current offers.
How to maximize TQPs with a Southwest credit card?
Use your eligible Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card for as many of your everyday purchases as possible, as you earn 1,500 TQPs for every $5,000 spent, which can significantly boost your qualification progress.
How to ensure all my flights count towards A-List?
Always ensure your Rapid Rewards account number is added to your reservation when booking a Southwest flight. Only revenue flights (paid with money, LUV Vouchers, gift cards, or flight credits) count towards A-List qualification.
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