Question 1

How do I earn A-List and A-List Preferred status?

Accepted Answer

To qualify for A-List status, you’ll need to fly 25 one-way qualifying flights or earn 35,000 tier qualifying points per calendar year.

To qualify for A-List Preferred status, you’ll need to fly 50 Southwest Airlines® one-way qualifying flights or earn 70,000 tier qualifying points per calendar year.

A one-way qualifying flight is defined as a one-way revenue trip on Southwest Airlines from an origin city to a destination city, including any intermediate stops and/or connections on Southwest Airlines. Points must be earned and posted to your Rapid Rewards account prior to the end of the calendar year in order to count toward A-List or A-List Preferred status qualification.

The following won’t count toward qualification for A-List status: Rapid Rewards reward flights; Rapid Rewards Companion Pass travel; Rapid Rewards partner points except for tier qualifying points earned on the Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Premier, Priority, Premier Business, or Performance Business Credit Cards (as per the rules described below); bonus Rapid Rewards points, unless specifically designated as such; nonrevenue travel, unless specifically designated as eligible; stops at intermediate cities on connecting or through flights; and charter flights.

Tier qualifying points are not redeemable for travel on Southwest Airlines or through the More Rewards site. When you have either a Rapid Rewards Premier, Priority, Premier Business, or Performance Business Credit Card from Chase, you’ll earn 1,500 tier qualifying points for every $10,000 spent on eligible purchases with that card.

A-List and A-List Preferred qualification earned through a promotional offer may have different requirements. Please refer to the terms associated with such promotional offers.

Learn more about how to earn tier status.

Question 2

What benefits do I receive as an A-List Member?

Accepted Answer

As an A-List Member, you will enjoy Priority Lanes and Express Lanes (where available), a dedicated A-List phone line, reserved check-in, a 25% earning bonus on all qualifying Southwest flights, and same-day change and same-day standby benefits free of airline charges. Qualifying flights include flights paid entirely with dollars, Southwest LUV Vouchers®, gift cards, or flight credits, and with no portion of the purchase price paid for with Rapid Rewards points.

You and all Passengers included on your reservation will receive priority boarding, which means Southwest will automatically reserve a boarding position 36 hours prior to the flight. You and Passengers on your reservation will still need to check in within 24 hours of scheduled departure to retrieve your boarding passes. Some restrictions apply. These restrictions include, but are not limited to the following: Your reservation must be booked 36 hours prior to scheduled departure, and on Group Travel itineraries, priority boarding will only apply to A-List and A-List Preferred Members.

Question 3

What benefits do I receive as an A-List Preferred Member?

Accepted Answer

A-List Preferred Members get the benefits of A-List Members, plus free inflight WiFi on enabled planes and a 100% earning bonus on all eligible revenue flights.

Question 4

How long do my A-List or A-List Preferred status benefits last?

Accepted Answer

Rapid Rewards A-List and A-List Preferred qualifications are based on the calendar year. Once reached, you will begin enjoying the benefits immediately. You’ll maintain your A-List or A-List Preferred status for the remainder of the calendar year and the entire calendar year immediately following the year in which you qualified.

Southwest may from time to time offer promotional tier status. If you received tier status due to a promotional offer, the duration of your status may not be until the end of a calendar year. Please refer to the specific promotion for details.

Question 5

When are tier qualifying points earned on a Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Credit Card available for A-List and A-List Preferred status qualification?

Accepted Answer

When you're a Member who has either a Rapid Rewards Premier, Priority, Premier Business, or Performance Business Credit Card from Chase, you’ll earn 1,500 tier qualifying points for every $10,000 spent on that card. Once the $10,000 spend requirement is met, tier qualifying points will post to your Rapid Rewards® account within 30 days from the statement closing date.

Points must be earned and posted to your Rapid Rewards account prior to the end of the calendar year in order to count toward A-List or A-List Preferred status.

Question 6

How do I access Priority Lanes and Express Lanes as an A-List or A-List Preferred Member?

Accepted Answer

As an A-List or A-List Preferred Member, you will need to show your boarding pass in order to access Priority Lanes and Express Lanes (where available). Your boarding pass will include your A-List or A-List Preferred status as long as you include your Rapid Rewards account number in your flight reservation.

Question 7

How do A-List and A-List Preferred Members access the same-day standby benefit?

Accepted Answer

Customers can get added to the same-day standby list in person at the airport on the day-of-travel with a Southwest Customer Service Agent at the ticket counter or departure gate or on the Southwest app or mobile web.

This benefit will be provided for A-List and A-List Preferred Members traveling between the same origin and destination as your original flight, on the original date of travel.

On flights that don’t meet these qualifications, A-List and A-List Preferred Members will receive priority standby and will be required to pay the difference in fare and any additional government taxes and fees if a seat becomes available. A-List Preferred Members will be prioritized ahead of A-List Members.

If an A-List or A-List Preferred Member is traveling on a multiple-Passenger reservation, priority standby won’t be provided for non-A-List or non-A-List Preferred Members in the same reservation.

For A-List and A-List Preferred Members who have also qualified for a Companion Pass^®, they are eligible for A-List and A-List Preferred benefits.

Question 8

How do I access the priority phone line as an A-List or A-List Preferred Member?

Accepted Answer

You must call from the primary phone number in your account to authenticate for priority service. A-List priority phone line is 1-888-737-1005. A-List Preferred priority phone line is 1-888-737-1006.

Question 9

How do I access Free Inflight Internet benefits?

Accepted Answer

Our A-List Preferred Members and Business Select Customers have access to Free Inflight Internet. From the menu in the Portal, select “A-List Preferred & Business Select” to authorize your device using either your Rapid Rewards information or flight confirmation number.

Free Inflight Internet may be authorized by A-List Preferred Members and Business Select Customers on up to three devices per flight on their day of travel. A-List Preferred Members who purchase a Business Select fare may authorize up to six devices per flight on their day of travel.

Question 10

How do I qualify for a Companion Pass?

Accepted Answer

Companion Pass qualifying points are earned from revenue flights booked through Southwest, points earned on Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Cards, and base points earned from Rapid Rewards partners.

A Member who earns 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points or who flies 100 qualifying one-way flights booked through Southwest^® per calendar year will qualify for Companion Pass^®.

Members with an open Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Card on the first business day of each calendar year will earn one boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points each calendar year.

Points earned during a billing cycle on a Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Card from Chase are not available for redemption or qualification for Companion Pass status until they are posted on your billing statement and posted to your Rapid Rewards account. Only points posted to your Rapid Rewards account during the same calendar year are available for qualification for Companion Pass status.

The following don’t count as Companion Pass qualifying points: purchased points; points transferred between Members; points converted from hotel and car loyalty programs, e-Rewards®, Valued Opinions, and Diners Club®; Rapid Rewards reward flights or any travel with any portion of the purchase price paid for with Rapid Rewards points; points earned from Rapid Rewards program enrollment; tier bonus points; flight bonus points; and partner bonus points (with the exception of the Rapid Rewards Credit Cards from Chase).

No points will be awarded for flights taken by your designated Companion when flying on a Companion Pass reservation.

Learn more about how to qualify for a Companion Pass.

Question 11

How long does my Companion Pass last?

Accepted Answer

Rapid Rewards Companion Pass qualification will be based on the calendar year. Once you earn it and pick your Companion, you can begin enjoying the benefits immediately after designating a Companion. You’ll maintain your Companion Pass for the remainder of the calendar year in which you qualified and the entire calendar year immediately following the year you qualified.

To continue receiving Companion Pass privileges, you must re-qualify each calendar year. Companion Pass qualification earned through a promotional offer may have different parameters and you should refer to the terms associated with such promotional offer.

Question 12

How do I designate my Companion?

Accepted Answer

To designate your Companion online, log in to your Rapid Rewards account on Southwest.com and click on My Account at the top of your screen. When you're eligible to designate your Companion online, you’ll find a Choose Your Companion section. Click Enter Companion info link and follow the posted instructions.

Question 13

How do I change my Companion?

Accepted Answer

You may change your designated Companion up to three times each calendar year that you maintain Companion Pass privileges. Any reservation with your current designated Companion must be canceled before changing your designated Companion. To change your Companion, you must call 1-800-435-9792. Please allow up to 21 business days for processing.

Question 14

Can my Companion fly without me?

Accepted Answer

No, you and your Companion must fly together.