Southwest's latest Rapid Rewards promotion presents four new pathways to achieve elite status

Achieving A-List or A-List Preferred elite status within Southwest's Rapid Rewards loyalty program has just become more attainable.

A new limited-time promotion allows members four distinct methods to earn elite status through 2025. Activities that previously weren't eligible now contribute to tier qualifying points and flight segment totals.

Discover how to expedite your journey to elite status with Southwest's new promotion.

Ways to gain Southwest A-List elite status through the latest promotion

To qualify for elite status through 2025, Rapid Rewards members typically need to earn the following:

• A-List: 20 one-way qualifying flight segments or 35,000 tier qualifying points
• A-List Preferred: 40 one-way qualifying flight segments or 70,000 tier qualifying points

Now, you can accelerate your path to elite status with Southwest's current promotion until Nov. 30.

At this moment, you can expedite your journey to elite status by:

• Register at southwest.com and book travel by Nov. 30 to earn at least double tier qualifying points. Business travelers booking through Southwest Business channels (swabiz.com, a global distribution system, or Southwest Partner Services) will earn triple tier qualifying points.
• Buying flights with Rapid Rewards points for travel before Nov. 30 will contribute to tier status flight segment requirements. Remember, this applies only to awards booked after registering for this promotion, so if you want these flights to count, consider canceling them, registering, and rebooking.
• Using a Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card, Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card, Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card, or Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card after registration allows you to earn an extra 2,000 tier qualifying points for every $5,000 spent on the card from Sept. 1 to Nov. 30. These points are in addition to those already earned for meeting spending thresholds.
• Renting a car or booking a hotel through Rapid Rewards, or making purchases with select Rapid Rewards partners between now and Nov. 30, will count each base point earned as 1 tier qualifying point, up to a maximum of 5,000 tier qualifying points. No registration needed.

The details for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card have been independently gathered by Dinogo. The information on this page has not been reviewed or endorsed by the card issuer.

Travel arranged through Southwest Vacations Packages does not qualify for this promotion.

What advantages does Southwest A-List elite status offer?

Achieving Southwest A-List status grants you the following perks:

• Priority boarding
• A 25% bonus on points from paid flights
• Complimentary same-day standby and changes (taxes and fees may apply)
• Priority check-in and access to expedited security lanes
• A dedicated phone line for A-List members

Southwest A-List Preferred elite status includes all the benefits of A-List status, plus:

• A 100% bonus on points from paid flights
• Complimentary inflight Wi-Fi
• Two free premium drinks on flights of 176 miles or longer

Although it's not a status level, Southwest's renowned Companion Pass can be obtained by completing 100 one-way qualifying flights or earning 135,000 qualifying points.

You can achieve A-List and A-List Preferred status by either completing the necessary qualifying flight segments or earning tier qualifying points. These points can be accumulated through flights, spending on select cobranded Southwest credit cards, or by taking advantage of the new earning opportunities.

Final thoughts

If you were worried about reaching A-List or A-List Preferred status in Southwest's Rapid Rewards program for the 2025 calendar year, this new promotion could be your ticket. Start by registering, then take advantage of four fresh and unique ways to earn extra tier qualifying points and flight segments to achieve your status goals more quickly.