Southwest is offering both a status match and a status challenge to A-List and A-List Preferred status to those who have status with the major US-based airlines. The match gets you 120 days of status initially, then the challenge aspect of it extends that to 12 months of status if you complete qualifying activity.
The Deal
- Match your existing airline status to Southwest A-List or A-List Preferred status. Status lasts 120 days, then can be extended to 12 months when completing the following qualifying activity during those initial 120 days:
- To keep A-List status:
- Fly three round trips (or six qualifying one-way flights) on Southwest, or
- Earn at least 11,500 tier qualifying points from flights.
- To keep A-List Preferred status:
- Fly six round trips (or twelve qualifying one-way flights) on Southwest, or
- Earn at least 23,000 tier qualifying points from flights.
- To keep A-List status:
- Direct link to offer.
Key Terms
- To qualify for this Southwest Rapid Rewards Status Match Promotion and receive promotional A-List or A-List Preferred status, Member must (a) be an elite status member on another U.S.-based airline at the corresponding level stated in the Status Match chart above; (b) complete the registration form, providing all of the information required in the form, and submitting proof of Member’s current status with another airline and the elite status level with an elite card or statement from such airline, which must be verified by Southwest Airlines.
- Registration must be completed between now and December 30, 2026 (“Registration Period”).
- Enrollment in this Status Match promotion more than once during a twelve-month period is not allowed.
- Qualification and confirmation of promotional A-List or A-List Preferred status must be completed prior to booking of travel on Southwest to receive A-List or A-List Preferred benefits.
- Please allow up to 12 business days to process the promotional A-List or A-list Preferred status match.
- Current A-List or A-List Preferred Members are not eligible for this Southwest Rapid Rewards Status Match Promotion.
- If Member qualifies for promotional A-List or A-List Preferred status under this Southwest Rapid Rewards Status Match Promotion, Member will receive A-List or A-List Preferred status benefits on all qualifying flights booked after qualifying for this Southwest Rapid Rewards Status Match Promotion if Member provides their Rapid Rewards account number when making their reservation.
- This Southwest Rapid Rewards Status Match Promotion is only available to Member if Member has not received promotional A-List or A-List Preferred status in any other promotion in the last 12 months.
- If Member provides proof of his or her other current elite member status on another airline (U.S. based or otherwise) that is not specifically listed in the Status Match Chart, then Southwest Airlines, at its sole discretion, may, but is not required to, review such elite status, qualify Member for this Southwest Rapid Rewards Status Match promotion, and provide promotional A-List or A-List Preferred status to Member in accordance with its terms.
- To extend promotional A-List or A-List Preferred tier status for 12 months: After Member enrolls and qualifies for this Southwest Rapid Rewards Status Match Promotion between Member’s enrollment date for this Southwest Rapid Rewards Status Match Promotion and the end of Member’s 120-day promotional period (“Promotion Period”):
- promotional A-List Members must either (1) book and complete three qualifying round trip flights (or six qualifying one-way flights) on Southwest during the Promotion Period or (2) earn 11,500 tier qualifying points from (a) Member’s qualifying flights booked and flown during the Promotion Period or (b) the qualifying purchases made during the Promotion Period; or
- (b) promotional A-List Preferred Members must either (1) book and complete six qualifying round trip flights (or twelve qualifying one-way flights) on Southwest during the Promotion Period or (2) earn 23,000 tier qualifying points from (a) Member’s qualifying flights booked and flown during the Promotion Period or (b) the qualifying purchases made during the Promotion Period.
- Valid only on new reservations booked and flown within the Promotion Period. If promotional A-List or A-List Preferred status is not extended for 12 months by Member meeting the above requirements, then Member will return to their original status level (if any) held prior to enrolling in this Southwest Rapid Rewards Status Match Promotion, unless such status has already expired.
- A qualifying one-way flight for this Southwest Rapid Rewards Status Match Promotion is a one-way revenue flight on Southwest Airlines from an origin city to a destination city, including any intermediate stops and/or connections on Southwest Airlines during the Promotion Period. A qualifying round trip flight for this promotion is a revenue flight on Southwest Airlines from an origin city to a destination city and back to the originating airport or carrier-recognized co-terminal during the Promotion Period. For purposes of this promotion, a “qualifying flight” must be a flight operated by Southwest Airlines during the Promotion Period and paid entirely with U.S. dollars, Southwest LUV Vouchers, gift cards, or flight credits, and those paid with Cash + Points. Flights paid for with Cash + Points will count toward a Member’s qualifying one-way flights for this promotion when flown.
- Companion Pass travel, charter flights, Getaways by Southwest vacation bookings, reward travel, and group travel do not qualify as one-way or round trip revenue flights for extension of promotional A-List status.
- Tier qualifying points are earned through the purchase of revenue flights.
Quick Thoughts
This is a pretty good status match/challenge opportunity for a few reasons. For starters, you get status for 120 days initially, then during that initial qualifying period you can complete a fairly reasonable amount of activity in order to extend that status for 12 months. If you’ve matched to A-List status, that requirement is three round trips or six one-ways or 11.5K tier qualifying points from flights, while for A-List Preferred status it’s six round trips or 12 one-ways, or 23K tier qualifying points from flights.
Another reason this status match might be appealing is that it’s not – currently – a once-per-lifetime status match like some airlines run. Instead, you’re only blocked from taking advantage of this status match if you’ve already matched to A-List or A-List Preferred status in the last 12 months. There’s no guarantee that won’t change in the future, but for now it makes it less of a risk to utilize this match as it’ll hopefully mean you can match again in the future if desired.
In case you’re wondering what benefits you’ll receive courtesy of a status match, Southwest has provided the following helpful table:
With A-List members getting their first checked bag free, the ability to select any Preferred or Standard seat at booking at no additional cost, as well as an upgrade to Extra Legroom seats within 48 hours, you’ll be getting benefits that replace many of the most valuable benefits available on Southwest credit cards.
As for the statuses that you can match from, here’s how they match up:
As you can see, only five other domestic airlines are eligible to match to A-List or A-List Preferred, so if you have status with other airlines like Spirit or Frontier, you’re out of luck I’m afraid.
It is nice that low level status holders with other airlines can match to A-List though. For example, some people will easily qualify for Alaska Airlines Silver status through award flights alone. American Airlines Gold status can be achieved through spend on American Airlines credit cards, or as a Hyatt Milestone Reward from 70+ elite night credits. United meanwhile is targeting some MileagePlus members with the ability to fast track to Silver status when applying for a United credit card.
Note that award flights don’t count for qualifying activity in order to extend the status, nor does Companion Pass travel for the person traveling as a companion (the Companion Pass-holder is still eligible provided they book a revenue flight).
If you’ll be booking revenue flights in order to extend your status for a full 12 months, there’s a Southwest Business promo that should stack.
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