Southwest Airlines is the world’s largest budget airline based in the United States. The airline flies to various destinations around the world with 735+ Boeing 737 jets from 11 hubs located at different airports across the country.
The 11 major hubs for Southwest include Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago–Midway, Dallas–Love, Denver, Houston–Hobby, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Oakland, Orlando, and Phoenix–Sky Harbor.
Explore requirements, and benefits of Southwest A-List Preferred status.
At Southwest, passengers can choose among Business Select, Anytime, Wanna Get Away Plus and Wanna Get Away fares. Frequent flyers, and loyal customers are also offered the Rapid Rewards Loyalty program which consists of two tiers: A-List, and A-List Preferred. Besides, there is also a special reward program known as Southwest Companion Pass.
We have already explored A-List status so, this blog will be based on the requirements, and benefits of Southwest A-List Preferred.
What is Southwest A-List Preferred status?
The majority of airline companies across the globe feature loyalty programs that are offered to loyal customers to enhance their travel experience. Being a budget airline, Southwest also features its own loyalty program known as Rapid Rewards.
Southwest A-List Preferred is one of the two-tier levels of the Rapid Rewards Loyalty Program that comes with various benefits including priority travel services, in-flight services, earning bonus, and more.
We will explore all the benefits of A-List preferred in detail but before that, let’s find out the requirements to qualify for this level.
Requirements to qualify for A-List Preferred status
Southwest customers need to gain qualifying flights or qualifying points to qualify for the A-List Status levels.
A total of 50 One-way qualifying flights or 70,000 tier qualifying points are required to meet the A-List Preferred status level. For example, you need to simply fly 50 qualifying one-way flights, or earn 70,000 tier qualifying points in a calendar year (January 1 – December 31 of each year).
The qualifying flights can be achieved by flying with Southwest from an origin city to a destination city that may include intermediate stops and/or connections on Southwest. If you fly a one-way flight booked through Southwest from your origin to your destination, it is counted as one flight segment. It is estimated as a one-way revenue trip on Southwest Airlines.
The qualifying points are earned when you purchase qualifying flights or use your Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card or the Rapid Rewards Premier Credit, Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card, or Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Cards.
Let’s take an example: You can earn 2,000 points when you fly on Southwest Anytime fare with a $200 base fare. You will earn 10 Qualifying Points per dollar spent. Likewise, you will earn 2,640 points (12 Points earned per dollar spent) when you fly on Southwest Business Select fare with a $220 base fare.
Passengers flying on Business Select fares earn 2X the points per dollar per qualifying flight than Wanna Get Away fares.
With the Rapid Rewards Credit card, you can earn up to 1,500 Qualifying Points per dollar spent.
| CARD BENEFITS | PRIORITY CREDIT CARD | PREMIUM BUSINESS CARD | PERFORMANCE BUSINESS CARD |
| Anniversary Points | 7,500 Points | 6,000 Points | 9,000 Points |
| Points per $1 | 3X | 3X | 4X |
| Points earned per $1 spent on Rapid Rewards hotels and car rental partner purchases | 2 points per $1 | 2X | 3X |
| Points earned per $1 spent on local transit and commuting, including rideshare | 2 points per $1 | 2 points per $1 | 2 points per $1 |
| Points earned per $1 spent on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming | 2 points per $1 | N/A | 2 points per $1 |
| Points earned per $1 spent on all other purchases | 1 point per $1 | 1 point per $1 | 1 point per $1 |
| Percentage Back on all inflight purchases | 25% back | 25% Inflight Purchase Discount | N/A |
| EarlyBird Check-in | 2 EarlyBird Check-In | 2 EarlyBird Check-in per year | N/A |
| Upgraded Boarding Per year | 4 Upgraded Boardings/year | N/A | 4 Upgraded Boardings per year |
| Southwest Annual Travel Credit | $75 | $500 fee credit for points transfers per year | $500 fee credit for points transfers per year |
| Tier Qualifying Points | 1,500 Points for every $10,000 spent | 1,500 Points for every $10,000 spent | 1,500 Points for every $10,000 spent |
Every $10,000 in eligible net purchases using a Card = 1,500 Tier Qualifying Points
Important Note: Points can be earned from qualifying flights, including flights booked and flown through Southwest and flights paid entirely with dollars, Southwest LUV Vouchers, gift cards or travel funds, and with no portion of the purchase price paid for with Rapid Rewards points.
Now, let’s explore the benefits of A-List Preferred status.
What are the benefits of Southwest A-List Preferred?
A-List Preferred Status is the highest level of the Rapid Rewards Tier Levels so, it offers exclusive benefits to the qualifying members.
Here are the major benefits of Southwest A-List Preferred Status
100% Earning Bonus
A-List Status holders get 100% bonus points on every qualifying flight. The bonus points can be used to achieve your next reward flight faster.
Priority Boarding
Southwest passengers, and everyone on their reservation is offered priority boarding service with which they can reach the aircraft seat faster avoiding long lines.
Free Inflight Wi-Fi
A-List Preferred status holders receive a complimentary inflight Wi-Fi facility on Southwest flights. They can use the free Wi-Fi to surf the internet or send an email during the flight. Free Wi-Fi facility is available on aircraft equipped with Wi-Fi Technology.
Priority Lane, and Express Lane
Priority and Express Lanes are the dedicated lanes at Southwest Check-in Counter and airport security checkpoints. These lanes make your check-in, and security screening faster than ever.
Priority, and Express Lanes are subject to availability. You can check the airports where these lanes are available by visiting this page.
Same-Day confirmed change
A-List Preferred members are offered a same-day confirmed change with no difference in base fare if there is a seat available on the same calendar day.
Same-Day Standby
Southwest A-List Preferred status holders can contact a Southwest Gate Agent at the airport to add them to the standby list for an earlier flight.
Dedicated A-List Member Phone Line
A-List members get a special A-List phone line to assist them to connect directly with a Customer Representative.
Conclusion on Benefits of Southwest A-List Preferred
As we are at the conclusion of this blog, we explored all the requirements, and benefits of Southwest A-List Preferred status.
In a nutshell, A-List Preferred status is the highest level of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Loyalty program that is offered to loyal, and frequent flyers for an enhanced travel experience.
If Southwest customers collect at least 50 Qualifying one-way flights, or earn 70,000 Tier Qualifying Points in a calendar year, they are eligible for A-List Preferred Level.
The major benefits of A-List status are:
- Priority Boarding
- Free Inflight Wi-Fi
- 100% Earning Bonus
- Same-Day Flight Change
- Same-Day Standby Priority
- Priority Lane, and Express Lane
- Dedicated A-List member phone line
FAQs on Benefits of Southwest A-List Preferred
Does Southwest A-List Preferred get priority boarding?
Southwest Airlines A-List Preferred status members, and everyone on their reservation receive priority boarding service for an earlier boarding position.
What is the difference between Southwest A-List and A-List preferred?
Southwest A-List Preferred is the highest level of the Rapid Rewards Loyalty Program whereas A-List is the base level. A-List Preferred requires 50 one-way Qualifying flights or 70,000 Tier Qualifying Points. On the other hand, passengers need to acquire 25 one-way qualifying flights or 35,000 Tier Qualifying Points to qualify for A-List Status.
What does A-List Preferred get you?
Free Inflight Wi-Fi, a 100% earning bonus, priority boarding, priority lane & express lane, dedicated phone line, and same-day flight change are the major benefits of Southwest A-List Preferred status.
Does Southwest A-List Preferred status expire?
Member will maintain A-List Preferred status for the remainder of the calendar the status was earned and for the entire calendar year immediately following. A-List Preferred members must re-qualify each calendar year (January 1 – December 31 of each year) to continue receiving benefits.
