Southwest Status Match: Get Free A-List

Share with a friend

Got elite status on another airline? You can apply for a Southwest status match and get free A-List status.

This is a great deal if you fly or have any upcoming flights on Southwest.

Pro-tip: Southwest A List status covers all your flights using your Southwest Companion Pass. The signup bonus on any of the Southwest credit cards counts towards earning a Companion Pass.

Southwest Status Match: Get Free A-List

Normally, you have to fly 20 one-way flights or earn 35,000 tier qualifying points a year to earn A-List status. But you can “earn” it in less than 5 minutes.

Southwest offers a status match to A-List status if you have elite status with any of these US airlines:

• Alaska Airlines
• American Airlines
• Delta Air Lines
• Frontier Airlines
• Jetblue Airways
• Spirit Airlines
• United Airlines

Pro-tip: Southwest doesn’t verify how you earned your status from another airline. You can use your airline status earned via a challenge or Founders Card.

Benefits of A-List Status

With A-List status, you get:

• Priority boarding
• Fly By Priority Check-in and Security Lane Access
• Free same-day standby
• Dedicated phone line
• 25% more points

When you’re A-List, Southwest automatically checks you in 36 hours before your flight. So you don’t have to buy Early Bird nor set an alarm to check in right at 24 hours before your flight.

In addition to the 36 hour checkin, the Priority Boarding, usually an A position boarding is the most valuable benefit.

Pro-tip: If by some weird fluke such as buying a last minute ticket or doing a same day ticket change and you get a B boarding slot or worse C, as an A-Lister you get to board after the A’s have boarded, before B boarding.

How to Match Your Status to Southwest

To match to A-List, complete the status match request online or email Southwest ([email protected]):

• First name
• Last name
• Rapid Rewards Number
• A screenshot of your current elite status with a US airline (not Southwest)

If you’re eligible, you’ll get A-List status for three months (90 days). It can take up to 12 business days for verification of a Southwest status match.

Each time I’ve status matched Southwest was quick to respond, usually within hours. Recently, I emailed on January 3 at 11:41 pm PT, they replied and matched my status on January 4 at 8:42 am PT.

You should time your match to maximize your status. I chose the date and time for my match because I had a flight on Jan 6. This way if it took a couple of days I’d have my A-List before I needed to check in for my flight

Pro-tip: Unlike some airlines that only offer once in a lifetime status matching, with Southwest, you can status match every 12 months.

Get A-List for 12 Months

You can maximize this offer and get A-List status for an extra 12 months. Extend your A-List status by flying three roundtrip or six one-way flights within 90 days.

Previously booked flights don’t count towards the three roundtrips or six one-way flights. You should consider canceling and rebooking any flights booked before your status match.

It could be worth paying more for those flights than having to buy three more roundtrips or six one-way flights.

Pro-tip: Here are all the ways to earn Southwest points without flying.

You can watch the video on how to do a Southwest Status match.

Conclusion

You can get a Southwest Status match to A-List status if you have elite status on a US airline. Your status will be valid for three months (90 days). You can extend it an extra 12 months if you fly three roundtrip or six one-way flights.

Pin this to your travel, travel hacks, and travel tips boards:

Comment or share this post.

Get the best credit card bonuses.

Follow us on Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube

Support us on Patreon | Buy Me a Coffee

Got a question? Or want help, suggestions, travel tips, learn how to travel for free, find out about travel deals, and maximize your miles and points? Use the subscription box below to sign-up and get post updates by email.

Miles and Points Strategy Consultations

Need help with your miles and points? You can book a miles and points consultation. Whether you're learning how to use travel rewards or have been in the game, this consultation is personalized for your needs. We can discuss credit cards, loyalty programs, anything and everything miles and points related.

 

Includes a summary and a written plan with recommendations on how to achieve your miles and points goals sent within 24 hours after consultation.

 

Note: This is a consultation not an award booking service.

 

Schedule your miles and points consultation now.

---

Traveling Well For Less has partnered with Your Best Credit Cards for our coverage of credit card products. Traveling Well For Less and YBCC may receive a commission from card issuers.

Capital One Venture X Business

With the Capital One Venture X Business the welcome offer is 150,000 mile bonus after spending $30,000 on purchases in the first three months.

 

My favorite perks about this card are free Capital One Lounge access, earning 2X points on all purchases, and transferring miles to over 15 travel loyalty programs.

 

Learn more about the Capital One Venture X Business and how to apply

---

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the best card to get started in the world of miles and points. It is the first card you should get to start traveling for free because the welcome offer is 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first three months.You can get up to $1,050 in Chase Travel value: the 60k points are worth $750 when booked through the Chase Travel portal. And you get up to $300 in statement credits on travel booked through the Chase portal your first year.

 

My favorite perks about this card are earning 5X points on travel when booked through the Chase portal (2X if direct purchase), 3X points on dining, $50 yearly credit on hotels booked through the Chase portal, no foreign transaction fees, and transferring points to 13 airline and hotel partners like Hyatt, United, and Southwest.

 

Learn more about the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and how to apply