Southwest Launches A-List Elite Status Promotions

Southwest Airlines has just launched three promotions, intended to make it easier to earn elite status with the airline. It’s anyone’s guess if this is being offered simply because business travel hasn’t fully recovered, or if it has more to do with the fall-out from Southwest’s operational meltdown a couple fo months ago.

Southwest makes it easier to earn elite status

A-List and A-List Preferred are Southwest Rapid Rewards’ elite status tiers, offering perks like priority boarding, bonus points, and more. These elite tiers require the following amount of activity in a calendar year:

• A-List requires 25 one-way flights or 35,000 tier qualifying points
• A-List Preferred requires 50 one-way flights or 70,000 tier qualifying points

With Southwest, you ordinarily earn 6-12x tier qualifying points per dollar spent, depending on the type of fare you’re booking. Note that this is separate from Companion Pass, which is Southwest’s amazing perk whereby you can have a companion fly with you for free.

Anyway, Southwest has just launched three separate promotions, which all Rapid Rewards members should be eligible for. You can find these promotions if you log into your Rapid Rewards account. You just need to register once to take advantage of all three.

Southwest offering double tier qualifying points

For a limited time, Southwest is offering double tier qualifying points toward A-List or A-List Preferred status for revenue flights. This promotion exclusively gets you double tier qualifying points, and not double segments. The promotion is valid when you register, book, and fly between March 1 and May 31, 2023. The bonus tier qualifying points will post to eligible accounts by June 30, 2023.

If you have any existing travel on Southwest booked and are going for status, it could be worth trying to rebook it, if the fare hasn’t changed too much. With this offer you’d earn 12-24x qualifying points per dollar spent, rather than 6-12x qualifying points per dollar spent.

Southwest award flights count toward status

For a limited time, Southwest is counting award flights toward A-List and A-List Preferred status. With this, every flight purchased with points counts as one tier qualifying flight, and 10% of points redeemed qualify as tier qualifying points. The promotion is valid when you register, book, and fly between March 1 and May 31, 2023. The bonus tier qualifying points will post to eligible accounts by June 30, 2023.

Earn tier qualifying points with credit cards

For a limited time, Southwest is offering 3,000 tier qualifying points for every $5,000 in purchases you make with any Rapid Rewards credit card. The promotion is valid for purchases made between March 1 and May 31, 2023, and they’re in addition to any tier qualifying points you may already earn as a cardmember. The bonus tier qualifying points will post to eligible accounts by June 30, 2023.

Bottom line

Southwest Rapid Rewards has three new offers that make it easier to earn A-List or A-List Preferred status in 2023. They’re all valid between March 1 and May 31, 2023. Just make sure you register and follow the rules regarding dates, booking requirements, etc.

Will you benefit from these promos from Southwest Rapid Rewards?