Status: checked against official sources; automated independent review
Part of Southwest Rapid Rewards hub
GUIDE
How to qualify for Southwest Rapid Rewards A-List status
Southwest Rapid Rewards A-List and A-List Preferred are the two elite tiers of Southwest Airlines' Rapid Rewards programme. [7] A member reaches A-List by flying 20 qualifying one-way flight segments or by earning 35,000 tier qualifying points in a calendar year, and reaches A-List Preferred with 40 qualifying one-way flight segments or 70,000 tier qualifying points over the same period. [7]
Facts checked: 18 October 2026
Key takeaways
- Southwest Rapid Rewards has two elite tiers, A-List and A-List Preferred, and each can be reached either by counting flight segments or by counting tier qualifying points in a calendar year. [7]
- Only one-way trips operated by Southwest count as qualifying segments; reward flights, charter flights, non-revenue travel and Companion Pass travel are excluded. [7]
- Status earned in a year covers the rest of that year and the whole of the following calendar year, then has to be earned again. [7]
- Both tiers carry an earning bonus on qualifying flights: 25% for A-List and 100% for A-List Preferred. [6]
How do you qualify for A-List and A-List Preferred?
As of 18 October 2026, the two tiers have separate thresholds, and each is met in full by either measure rather than by a combination of the two. [7]
| Tier | Qualifying one-way flight segments per calendar year | Tier qualifying points per calendar year |
|---|---|---|
| A-List | 20 | 35,000 |
| A-List Preferred | 40 | 70,000 |
The counting period is the calendar year, which the programme rules define as 1 January to 31 December. [7]
Southwest defines a qualifying one-way flight segment as a one-way trip it operates from an origin city to a destination city, including any intermediate stops or connections flown on Southwest, and it excludes reward flights, charter flights, non-revenue travel and Companion Pass travel. [7]
Tier qualifying points are a separate currency from redeemable Rapid Rewards points: they are earned from travel completed on Qualifying Flights, or from spending on the Southwest Rapid Rewards cards issued by Chase that the rules name, and they cannot be redeemed for travel, products or services. [7]
Where do tier qualifying points come from?
Qualifying Flights, as the rules define them, are flights operated by Southwest and paid entirely with US dollars, Southwest LUV Vouchers, gift cards, vacation travel credits or flight credits, plus flights paid with Cash + Points. [7] On a Cash + Points booking, tier qualifying points accrue only on the part of the base fare paid in dollars. [7] [2]
The card route has fixed conversion rates, and points earned in a billing cycle only become available for qualification once they post to the Rapid Rewards account. [7]
| Card from Chase | Tier qualifying points per US$5,000 of purchases |
|---|---|
| Premier Credit Card | 1,500 |
| Premier Business Credit Card | 2,000 |
| Priority Credit Card or Performance Business Credit Card | 2,500 |
Those card figures are calculated on a card year that starts with the account open date and runs to the first December statement date, then in 12-billing-cycle blocks after that. [7]
Southwest also lists what does not count toward A-List or A-List Preferred: programme enrolment points, reward flights, Companion Pass travel, partner points other than tier qualifying points from the eligible Chase cards, Rapid Rewards Debit Card points, bonus points not specifically designated as qualifying, non-revenue travel not designated as eligible, stops at intermediate cities on connecting or through flights, charter flights, vacation packages booked through online travel agencies, and tickets booked through online travel agencies where the operating carrier is not disclosed before purchase. [7] Purchased, gifted and transferred points are excluded from tier status as well. [6] [5]
What benefits do A-List and A-List Preferred include?
Several of the published benefits differ only by degree between the two tiers, so the table below sets them side by side. [4] [6]
| Benefit | A-List | A-List Preferred |
|---|---|---|
| Earning bonus on qualifying flights [6] | 25% | 100% |
| Seat selection at booking, or up to 60 minutes before scheduled departure [4] | Preferred or Standard seat | Extra Legroom, Preferred or Standard seat |
| Boarding [4] | Group 1 | Before Group 1 |
| Checked bags [4] | First checked bag free | Two free checked bags |
| Priority and Express Lanes, where available [4] | Access | Access |
Seat selection covers the member plus up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation, for a total of nine seats, and A-List members can move to an Extra Legroom seat within 48 hours of departure when one is available. [4] Southwest advises members to allow up to 14 days for a new tier to show in the Rapid Rewards account before relying on any of these benefits. [4]
A-List Preferred members seated in Preferred or Standard seats receive up to two complimentary premium drinks per leg, on select flights travelling 251 miles or more. [4] [7]
Separately, the programme rules describe an automatic priority boarding position, reserved 36 hours before departure for the member and everyone on the same reservation, for flights on or before 26 January 2026. [7] That reservation does not apply when the booking is made or changed inside the 36-hour window, when the Rapid Rewards number is not saved to the reservation at least 36 hours before check-in, on group travel itineraries, when a passenger travels standby on a different flight, when the flight is taken after the status has expired, or during irregular operations, and every passenger still has to check in within 24 hours of scheduled departure to collect a boarding pass. [7]
How long does the status last, and how do you renew it?
A-List and A-List Preferred run for the remainder of the calendar year in which they are earned and for the whole of the next calendar year, and the member must re-qualify each calendar year to keep the benefits running. [7] A member can hold only one A-List membership in a calendar year, however far past the 20-segment or 35,000-point mark they go. [7]
Southwest also matches elite status held with another US-based airline to promotional A-List or A-List Preferred for 120 days at no cost, and registration is open until 30 December 2026. [4] Southwest describes the carrier chart as a partial list and says it may review status with other airlines at its discretion. [4]
| Airline | Tier that matches to A-List | Tier that matches to A-List Preferred |
|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | Gold | Platinum, Platinum Pro, Executive Platinum, Concierge Key |
| Delta Air Lines | Silver | Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Delta 360 |
| United Airlines | Silver | Gold, Platinum, 1K |
| Alaska Airlines | Silver | Gold, Platinum, Titanium |
| JetBlue | Mosaic 1 | Mosaic 2, 3, 4 |
To hold promotional status for a further 12 months, a promotional A-List member must book and complete three qualifying round trips, or six qualifying one-way flights, on Southwest during the 120-day period, or earn 11,500 tier qualifying points; a promotional A-List Preferred member needs six qualifying round trips, or twelve qualifying one-way flights, or 23,000 tier qualifying points. [4] A member who does not extend returns to the Southwest status level held before enrolling, if that status has not already expired. [4]
Exceptions and limits
- Companion Pass is not a third elite tier. It qualifies separately at 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points or 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year, tier bonus points do not count toward it, and no points, tier qualifying points or Companion Pass qualifying points are awarded for flights taken by the Companion. [6] [7] See Companion Pass.
- Status match uses different numbers. The 11,500 and 23,000 tier qualifying point extension levels apply only to promotional status obtained through the status match promotion, not to normal qualification. [4] A member may enrol once in any 12-month period, and promotional status is available only where it is higher than the Southwest tier already held. [4]
- Partner-airline itineraries fall outside some benefits. Seat selection benefits may not apply on itineraries booked with partner airlines, and checked bag benefits do not apply on flights booked with a partner carrier. [4]
- Benefits follow the programme in force at the time. Southwest states that status levels, benefits and qualification requirements can change, and that benefits are determined by the programme in effect when they are earned or used. [4] [7] Southwest says a new Rapid Rewards programme starts on 1 January 2027. [2]
- Status can be taken away. Suspected fraud, misrepresentation, misuse or breach of the programme rules can lead to cancellation of the account and forfeiture of accrued points, A-List or A-List Preferred status, Companion Pass qualification and promotional rewards. [7]
Frequently asked questions
How many flights do you need for Southwest A-List status?
Twenty qualifying one-way flight segments in a calendar year, or 35,000 tier qualifying points instead. A-List Preferred needs 40 segments or 70,000 tier qualifying points. [7]
Does A-List status last more than one year?
Yes. Status earned in a calendar year lasts for the rest of that year and the entire following calendar year, and must then be re-earned. [7]
Do purchased or transferred Rapid Rewards points count toward A-List?
No. Purchased, gifted and transferred points do not count toward tier status or Companion Pass status. [6] [5]
Can you get A-List status by matching another airline's status?
Yes. Southwest matches elite status held with another US-based airline to promotional A-List or A-List Preferred for 120 days, with registration open until 30 December 2026. [4]
Is Companion Pass part of A-List status?
No. Companion Pass is a separate benefit with its own thresholds of 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points or 100 qualifying one-way flights per calendar year. [6] [7]
Sources
Sources checked on 18 October 2026. Other airline programmes, including American Airlines AAdvantage, Delta SkyMiles, United MileagePlus, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan and JetBlue TrueBlue, appear here only as status match counterparts; their own elite qualification rules are not covered.
- Rapid Rewards overview page, Southwest Airlines, checked 18 October 2026
- Rapid Rewards Status Match promotion terms and conditions, Southwest Airlines, checked 18 October 2026
- How to redeem Rapid Rewards points, Southwest Airlines, checked 18 October 2026
- How to earn Rapid Rewards points, Southwest Airlines, checked 18 October 2026
- Rapid Rewards terms and conditions, Southwest Airlines, checked 18 October 2026