Southwest Makes A-List Status Easier To Earn, Adds Perks

Updated: July 25, 2025

Published: October 16, 2023

Southwest Airlines has announced some major changes to its Rapid Rewards elite program, and I’d say this has some really interesting implications.

In this post:

Southwest Rapid Rewards A-List changes 2024

Southwest Airlines has revealed some positive changes to its A-List elite status program (this is separate from Companion Pass, which is Southwest’s awesome program that lets you take a companion with you by just paying taxes and fees).

The most significant change is that status will be easier to earn, but on top of that we’re also seeing some new perks added. Here’s how Southwest’s VP of Marketing, Jonathan Clarkson, describes these changes:

“We’re making our award-winning Rapid Rewards program even stronger, by adding new enhancements to our loyalty program, making it even easier for Members to earn and enjoy their benefits. By lowering the tier requirements and making credit card spend count double toward tier requirements, we’re able to deepen engagement with our brand and cobranded credit cards, while maintaining the core program values that our Customers know and love—including unlimited reward seats, no blackout dates, and points that don’t expire.”

Let’s go over the details…

Southwest lowers A-List elite requirements

Starting January 1, 2024, Southwest Rapid Rewards will lower the segment requirements to earn both A-List and A-List Preferred:

A-List will require 20 one-way flights or 35,000 elite qualifying points; previously it required 25 one-way flights
A-List Preferred will require 40 one-way flights or 70,000 tier qualifying points; previously it required 50 one-way flights

Lowering elite requirements by 20% — at least for those earning status based on segments flown — is pretty significant.

A-List elite status will require fewer segments

Southwest A-List easier to earn with credit cards

Rapid Rewards members earn tier qualifying points for credit card spending. Note that only spending on the following cards counts toward tier qualifying points:

Spending on the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card (review) doesn’t earn tier qualifying points.

Credit card spending will be more rewarding

Complimentary premium drinks for A-List Preferred

As of November 6, 2023, Southwest A-List Preferred members receive up to two complimentary premium drinks per flight, added directly to their mobile boarding pass. That’s an awesome perk that many elite flyers will appreciate.

A-List Preferred members will get free drinks

Southwest Cash + Points awards

As of spring of 2024, Rapid Rewards members have the option to pay for flights with a combination of cash and points, starting with as few as 1,000 points.

Southwest will add Cash + Points redemptions soon

My take on these Southwest Rapid Rewards changes

These changes are wholly positive — Southwest Airlines is making A-List elite status significantly easier to earn, whether you qualify based on the number of segments you fly, or the amount you spend on credit cards. On top of that, A-List Preferred members are getting a new perk of two free drinks per flight.

Bigger picture, I can’t help but wonder if this might be the start of a trend. I recently wrote about how in the United States, ultra low cost carriers are in trouble. Admittedly Southwest isn’t at all an ultra low cost carrier (quite the opposite, actually), but the airline is facing similar challenges.

As we get out of the peak summer season, Southwest is dealing with decreasing leisure demand, business travel that hasn’t recovered to pre-pandemic levels, rising labor costs, and an industry offering a lot of domestic capacity.

For the past few years, it seems like airlines have been able to get away with just about anything, no matter how customer unfriendly the change was. The tides finally seem to be turning…

Bottom line

Southwest Airlines is making positive changes to its A-List elite status as of 2024. The airline is reducing requirements to earn either status tier — the number of segments required is being reduced by 20%, while credit card spending will count toward status at twice the pace. On top of that, Southwest is adding two free drinks for A-List Preferred status.

This definitely reflects how consumers are once again more in the driver’s seat, and I’m curious to see if this could be the start of a similar trend at other airlines, as they deal with reduced leisure and business demand.

What do you make of these Southwest A-List changes?

More discussion »

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John Guest

October 16, 2023, 4:43 pm

It seems to me that WN is recognizing they have lost a lot of loyalty for a variety of reasons. The ONLY reason I still fly WN is because of the companion pass, and come Jan 1, that is no longer a factor. Since I still have over half a million points, I won't stop flying them, but I'll only fly them when it makes sense. I no longer fly enough for A List, let alone Preferred; but the two free drink thing just cracks me up. I've got a stack of those coupons, mostly expired (but they still take them), and when I was flying for work, a drink on Monday morning at 6AM wasn't in the cards. I rarely drink anymore anyway, so it's not really something that appeals to me. The only reason I will keep the credit card is for the early boarding credits, since I'll be dropped down to 0 status next year, and I figure those could be handy.

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Tim Dunn Diamond

October 16, 2023, 3:45 pm

These changes highlight that WN is losing loyal passengers and are trying to do what it can to get them back. it is a completely different and opposite problem of what the big 3 are facing and esp. DL and that should tell you something.

betterbub Diamond

October 16, 2023, 1:37 pm

Why do airlines treat free drinks as some kind of amazing benefit? People can't go 3 hours without an alcoholic drink?

DC Guest

October 16, 2023, 1:02 pm

Hmmm.... seems like this is how you encourage flight purchases and credit card spend. Makes it more likely I may spend a bit more on the card if on the border for A list status... as opposed to my Delta card which has no role in my wallet anymore.

NedsKid Diamond

October 16, 2023, 12:12 pm

As someone who doesn't drink, this new perk with my A List Preferred is worthless to me. Just like the stack of drink coupons I used to get. I have no problem with people receiving that benefit at all, and I used to enjoy that as well once upon a time until ceasing partaking became necessary as a byproduct of a life-changing illness. But it would be nice to have some sort of alternative.