Do you dream of sipping a refreshing beverage as you soar through the skies on your next Southwest Airlines flight? Perhaps a nice glass of wine, a cold beer, or a delicious mixed drink? While Southwest offers complimentary non-alcoholic beverages and snacks on many flights, those premium adult beverages come with a price tag. But what if I told you there are ways to enjoy them for free? Getting your hands on Southwest drink tickets can be a bit of a strategic game, and this comprehensive guide will walk you through every step!
Unlocking Free Drinks: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Southwest Airlines Drink Tickets
Ready to elevate your inflight experience? Let's dive into the various avenues to score those coveted drink tickets!
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| How Do You Get Drink Tickets On Southwest Airlines |
Step 1: Are You a Rapid Rewards A-List Preferred Member? (Engage!)
Hey there, savvy traveler! Before we go any further, let me ask you: are you currently a Southwest Rapid Rewards A-List Preferred member? If your answer is a resounding yes, then congratulations, you're already halfway there to enjoying complimentary premium drinks! If not, don't worry, we'll cover how you can work towards that status.
A-List Preferred status is undoubtedly one of the most reliable ways to consistently get free drink coupons. It's a fantastic perk for frequent Southwest flyers.
Understanding A-List Preferred Benefits
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What it is: A-List Preferred is the higher tier of elite status within Southwest's Rapid Rewards program.
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The Perk: As an A-List Preferred Member, you're eligible for up to two complimentary premium drinks per flight leg on select flights over 250 miles. This benefit was enhanced in November 2023, making it even more valuable!
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How to qualify: To reach A-List Preferred status, you need to either fly 40 qualifying one-way flights or earn 70,000 Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) within one calendar year.
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Step 2: Securing Drink Tickets Through Flight Bookings
Beyond elite status, certain fare types on Southwest automatically come with drink tickets.
Business Select Fares: The Direct Route
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The Fare: When you book a Business Select fare, you're automatically entitled to one complimentary premium drink per flight. This is the highest fare class offered by Southwest and typically includes other benefits like A1-A15 boarding and fully refundable tickets.
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How to access: Your drink coupon for Business Select fares is now digital and will be part of your mobile boarding pass. In some cases, if you opt for a printed boarding pass, it may also appear there.
Step 3: Leveraging the Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Cards
While Southwest credit cards don't directly give you physical drink coupons upon sign-up or yearly, they play a crucial role in earning points that can indirectly lead to free drinks or help you achieve elite status.
Earning Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) with Credit Cards
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The Connection: Certain Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards offer ways to earn Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) through your spending. For example, some cards offer 1,500 TQPs for every $5,000 spent.
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The Strategy: By accumulating enough TQPs through your credit card spending and flying, you can expedite your path to A-List Preferred status, which, as we discussed, comes with those lovely complimentary drink coupons.
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Step 4: Keep an Eye Out for Special Promotions and Gestures
While less common and not a guaranteed method, Southwest occasionally offers drink coupons through promotions or as a goodwill gesture.
Random Acts of Kindness (or Marketing!)
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Surprise!: Sometimes, Southwest might surprise you with digital drink coupons as part of a promotional campaign or to apologize for a delay or inconvenience. These are rare but a pleasant bonus when they happen.
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Loyalty Rewards: Very occasionally, highly loyal Rapid Rewards members who don't necessarily hold A-List Preferred status might receive a few digital coupons as a token of appreciation.
Step 5: Understanding How to Use Your Digital Drink Coupons
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Gone are the days of physical paper coupons for most travelers! Southwest has largely transitioned to a digital system, making it incredibly convenient.
Accessing Your Digital Drink Coupons
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Open the Southwest App: Ensure you have the latest version of the Southwest Airlines app on your smartphone.
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View Your Boarding Details: Once logged in and checked in for your flight, navigate to your boarding pass.
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Locate the Coupons: Below your QR code on your mobile boarding pass, you'll typically find your digital drink coupons. For A-List Preferred members, it will show "up to two complimentary premium drinks." For Business Select, it will show one.
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Add to Wallet (Optional but Recommended): For even easier access, consider adding your mobile boarding pass (with the drink coupons embedded) to your phone's digital wallet (Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, etc.) before you board. This way, you don't need to worry about internet access once airborne.
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Redeeming Your Drink Onboard
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Order Your Preferred Drink: When the flight attendant comes around for beverage service, simply tell them what premium drink you'd like.
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Show Your Mobile Boarding Pass: Present your phone with your digital boarding pass open. The flight attendant will scan the QR code on their device, which will register your complimentary drink(s).
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Enjoy!: Sip back and relax!
Important Note: Drink coupons are generally valid on flights over 250 miles where premium beverage service is offered. Also, remember that alcoholic beverages are only for those 21 years or older and must be consumed onboard.
Step 6: The "Cash" Option (When All Else Fails)
If you don't have drink tickets through any of the above methods, don't despair! You can always purchase alcoholic beverages onboard.
Payment Methods Accepted
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Cash-Free Zone: Southwest flights are largely cash-free when it comes to onboard purchases.
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Credit Card/Mobile Payment: Have your credit card or mobile payment method (Apple Pay, Google Pay, etc.) ready. The flight attendants have card readers to process payments.
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Typical Costs: Beers generally cost around $7, wines around $8, and hard seltzers/liquor around $9. Prices are subject to change.
FAQs: Your Quick Answers to Southwest Drink Ticket Questions
Here are 10 frequently asked questions, all starting with "How to," to quickly address common queries about Southwest drink tickets:
Tip: A slow skim is better than a rushed read.
How to get drink tickets on Southwest if I'm not A-List Preferred? You can get one complimentary drink ticket by purchasing a Business Select fare. Occasionally, Southwest may offer them as part of promotions or goodwill gestures, but these are not guaranteed.
How to use my digital drink coupons on Southwest? Open the Southwest app, navigate to your mobile boarding pass, and show the flight attendant the portion below your QR code that displays your digital drink coupons. They will scan it.
How to know if my flight is eligible for drink service? Premium drink service, including alcoholic beverages, is typically available on Southwest flights over 250 miles. Complimentary snacks and non-alcoholic drinks are available on select flights over 250 miles.
How to qualify for Southwest A-List Preferred status to get drink tickets? You can qualify for A-List Preferred status by flying 40 qualifying one-way flights or earning 70,000 Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) within a calendar year.
How to find my drink coupons on the Southwest app? Once you've checked in, open your mobile boarding pass in the Southwest app. The digital drink coupons will appear directly below the QR code used for boarding.
How to give my Southwest drink coupon to someone else? Southwest drink coupons are generally tied to the individual's mobile boarding pass and elite status/fare type. While not officially transferrable, some flight attendants may allow it if you are on the same reservation and you present the coupon. It's not guaranteed, so always ask politely.
How to tell if my Southwest credit card provides drink coupons? Southwest credit cards typically do not provide direct drink coupons. Instead, they can help you earn Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) which contribute to achieving A-List Preferred status, a tier that does include complimentary drink coupons.
How to get more than two drink coupons on a single Southwest flight? Southwest's current policy limits A-List Preferred members to a maximum of two complimentary premium drinks per flight leg, and Business Select fares to one. There's no official way to get more than two per segment.
How to deal with a flight attendant who doesn't recognize my digital drink coupon? While rare, if this happens, politely explain that you are an A-List Preferred member or on a Business Select fare and that your digital coupon is on your mobile boarding pass. You might need to show them the relevant section. Consider taking a screenshot of your boarding pass with the coupon visible before boarding as a backup.
How to pay for drinks on Southwest if I don't have a coupon? Southwest accepts major credit cards and mobile payment methods (like Apple Pay or Google Pay) for onboard drink purchases. Cash is not accepted.
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