How To Use The Southwest Airlines Free Status Match For Elite Perks (2024)

In a special promotion, Southwest Airlines is offering A-List status to those with elite status members with other airlines. The other airline must be a US-based carrier, including the likes of American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, Hawaiian Airlines, and Alaska Airlines.

For those with upcoming flights on Southwest Airlines or those who are looking to book, it is definitely worth considering taking part in the promotion to achieve A-List status in order to take advantage of the numerous perks offered by the program. A-List members benefit from the following:

• Priority boarding - A-List members and everyone on their reservation receive an earlier boarding position 36 hours before departure. When traveling on an airline with unallocated seating, like Southwest Airlines, this perk alone is significant.
• Priority Lane check-in and Express Lane security access to facilitate their journey through the airport, which can be a real blessing at peak times in some of Southwest Airlines' busy hubs, such as Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Denver International Airport (DEN).
• A dedicated telephone line for a more personalized and rapid service when contacting the airline.
• Free same-day flight changes - members can switch free of charge to another flight with space available that is departing on the same calendar day as the original booking and flying the same route.
• Same-day standby - members can list for same-day standby on an earlier flight via a Customer Service Agent at the airport or on the Southwest Airlines mobile app.
• 25% earning bonus - helping members to maximize their earning potential.

Photo:Markus Mainka| Shutterstock

Although these perks may not seem much in comparison to those offered to those with elite status at other airlines, it is important to remember that Southwest Airlines already offers the major perk of two free checked bags to all passengers - something unheard of on the majority of its competitor airlines.

A-List membership will be given for 90 days to those with eligible elite status with other airlines. However, in an additional promotion currently being held by the carrier, Southwest Airlines is offering to extend A-List membership by a further 12 months for passengers who book and complete six flights with the airline within 90 days of their status match. These must be paid tickets - award tickets are not eligible.

How to become an A-List member

To qualify for the promotion, prospective A-Listers need to follow just two easy steps:

1. Passengers must first be a member of Rapid Rewards, Southwest Airlines' loyalty program. Those who are not can join for free.
2. They must then send in their information to Southwest Airlines' dedicated email address. Applicants must submit their first name, last name, Rapid Rewards membership number, and a screenshot documenting their current elite status with another US-based carrier.

Photo:Markus Mainka | Shutterstock

According to the airline, applications can take up to 12 working days to process and verify. Current A-List members whose membership is about to expire are not eligible for this offer, and only one status match per person is available in each 12-month promotional period. More details and full terms and conditions can be found on Southwest Airlines' website.

Passengers wishing to be an A-List member without matching the necessary elite status from another airline must fly at least 20 qualifying one-way flights or earn 35,000 tier qualifying points in one calendar year. Meanwhile, those who take 40 qualifying flights or earn 70,000 tier qualifying points will be upgraded to A-List Preferred status. This entitles them to all the benefits of A-List status, plus free inflight WiFi, a 100% earning bonus, and two complimentary premium drinks on all flights over 176 miles in length.

Spending on eligible Rapid Rewards credit cards is one way to earn tier qualifying points without even flying, with up to 1,500 points available for every $5,000 spent.

Southwest Airlines is not the first US carrier to offer status matches to members of other airlines' loyalty programs. United Airlines currently has a status match promotion in place until December 2024. Those who meet the eligibility criteria will be granted Premier Silver, Premier Gold, or Premier Platinum status with the Star Alliance member for 120 days.

Meanwhile, American Airlines' status challenge, called Instant Status Pass, is only available to those with Delta Air Lines SkyMiles Platinum and Diamond Medallion status and United Airlines MileagePlus Premier Platinum and Premier 1K status. In the past, Spirit Airlines has allowed eligible elite members with other US-based airlines to status match at Silver or Gold level, although the process came with a $49 and $99 application fee, respectively. It remains to be seen if the ultra-low-cost carrier will run the same promotion again in the future.

Do you already have Southwest Airlines A-List status? How have you enjoyed the perks associated with membership? Will you be using your current elite status at another airline to reach A-List status as part of the carrier's current promotion? Let us know by commenting below.