Summary

  • Elite status with Rapid Rewards offers useful perks like priority check-in and boarding, bonus points earning, and free offers onboard.
  • Qualifying for A-List and A-List Preferred is based on flights or points.
  • The Companion Pass benefit is a coveted perk for Southwest Airlines frequent flyers. It is earned from continued points earning, but is separate to status level.

As well as earning points to use for free flights, most loyalty programs also offer elite status. This gives great perks when flying. As with point earning and redeeming, this is limited to only Southwest Airlines flights for the Rapid Rewards program. Earning status is straightforward and offers useful benefits for frequent flyers. These are both tangible benefits with value and benefits that improve the airport and travel experience.

A limited elite recognition program

Offering status for the most frequent travelers is a major benefit of most airline loyalty programs. With the larger airlines in the main airline alliances, this can include global lounge access and preferential treatment when flying with any partner airline, and lucrative complimentary upgrade offers. Such benefits are much more limited with Southwest Airlines and Rapid Rewards but still valuable for frequent airline users.

Southwest Airlines

Photo: Southwest Airlines

Elite status with Rapid Rewards

There are just two elite status levels in the Rapid Rewards program, earned with increasing levels of flying or other points earning strategies. These are called A-List and A-List Preferred, and they offer solid benefits when flying Southwest Airlines. There are no reciprocal benefits on offer with any other airlines.

Status is based on either the number of flights taken on Southwest Airlines (each flight segment counts) or the total number of qualifying points earned in a calendar year.

Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 N8801Q-1

Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying

The following earnings are needed:

Rapid Rewards Elite status level

Qualifying points

Total flight segments

A-List

35,000

25

A-List Preferred

70,000

50

Qualifying points are different from the total points earned in the program. The following all count as qualifying points:

  • Base points earned from flight tickets (the additional bonuses for elite status do not count)
  • Spending on certain Southwest Airlines co-branded credit cards. Spending on the Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card, Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card, Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card, and Rapid Rewards Performance Business all count. You earn 1,500 qualifying points for every $10,000 in spending – this is different earning from that of standard points.
Rapid Rewards

Photo: Tada Images | Shutterstock

Benefits when flying Southwest Airlines

As Southwest Airlines is not part of the major airline alliances, and Rapid Rewards has no other airline partners, benefits only apply on Southwest-operated flights. These are useful for frequent fliers, but there are no big savings as you get with many other loyalty programs – and there are no upgrades (as Southwest Airlines only has one cabin) and no free or additional baggage.

A Southwest Airlines aircraft about to land.

Photo: Jeramey Lende | Shutterstock.

The benefits of A-List status include:

  • A 25% bonus on points earned from flights. These are standard points and are not elite qualifying.
  • Priority check-in and security express lane (where offered at the airport). This includes the use of Priority Lane for check-in and Express Lane for security.
  • Priority boarding. An earlier boarding position is assigned 36 hours in advance. This is very useful as Southwest Airlines has unassigned seating.
  • Free same-day flight change and same-day standby. With status, this is also available for lower Wanna Get Away fares.
  • Dedicated telephone support.

Higher level A-List Preferred status adds:

  • A 100% bonus on points earned from flights (again, these are not elite qualifying).
  • Free inflight WiFi (where available).
  • Complimentary drinks. Members receive two complimentary premium drinks (including alcoholic drinks) on all flights over 176 miles.

The Southwest Companion Pass

The Southwest Companion Pass benefit is not directly tied to elite status but is also awarded based on flight segments or Qualifying points. This is a great perk (one of the best in the loyalty market) that offers one free ticket for a named companion when you buy a cash or points ticket.

Two Southwest Airlines aircraft

Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock

The Companion Pass requires one of the following:

  • 100 Southwest Airlines flight segments.
  • 135,000 Qualifying Points.

Eligible earnings here are wider than those for elite status. These earnings include (in addition to that of elite status):

  • All points earned from credit card spending. There is also a 10,000-point bonus for cardholders (effectively reducing the requirement to 125,000 points).
  • Points from partner hotel stays and car rental.
  • Most other partner and retail spending earnings.
Southwest Boeing 737-700

Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying

Earning status with a status match

It is also sometimes possible to obtain Rapid Rewards status through a status match. Airlines often offer such promotions to attract passengers in key markets who regularly fly with other airlines.

In mid-2024, such an offer was in place from Rapid Rewards to match into the lower-level A-List from several US airlines, including American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, Hawaiian Airlines, and Alaska Airlines. A match to higher level A-List Preferred is not offered.

Related

How To Use The Southwest Airlines Free Status Match For Elite Perks

Those with eligible elite status with other US carriers can now obtain A-List status with Southwest Airlines.

Do you have A-List or A-List preferred status with Rapid Rewards? Feel free to share your experiences with the program, and what benefits you find most useful in the comments.


  • Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 San Francisco

    Southwest Airlines

    IATA/ICAO Code:
    WN/SWA

    Airline Type:
    Low-Cost Carrier

    Hub(s):
    Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Dallas Love Field, Denver International Airport, Harry Reid International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Houston Hobby Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, Midway International Airport, Oakland International Airport, Orlando International Airport, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport

    Year Founded:
    1967

    CEO:
    Robert Jordan

    Country:
    United States

  • RapidRewards Tall

    Rapid Rewards

    Participating Airlines:
    Southwest Airlines

    Owner:
    Southwest Airlines

    Region:
    North America

    Countries:
    United States

    Established Date:
    1996-04-25

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