Southwest Airlines has launched a new status match challenge that allows travelers with elite status from other airlines to receive Rapid Rewards A-List or A-List Preferred.

While Southwest has offered status matches in the past, this version is extra enticing because it allows travelers to match all the way up to A-List Preferred, the airline’s top elite tier.

 

How the Southwest Status Match Works

To participate, you’ll need to submit proof of elite status with a competing airline.

Southwest determines which tier you receive based on both the airline and the level of status you currently hold. Top-tier elites with certain carriers may qualify for A-List Preferred, while midtier status generally matches to A-List.

The table below shows some of the most common airline statuses that qualify and how they map to Southwest tiers, though additional airlines and elite status levels may also be eligible.

If you’re approved, Southwest will grant A-List or A-List Preferred status for a promotional period of 120 days. During that window, members can complete a challenge to extend their status through the end of the following calendar year.

To keep matched status, travelers must earn:

• A-List: Fly three round-trip flights (six one-way flights) on Southwest or earn 11,500 tier qualifying points (TQPs) from flights
• A-List Preferred: Fly six round-trip flights (12 one-way flights) or earn 23,000 TQPs from flights

This requirement is lower than Southwest’s standard qualification thresholds, which normally require 20 flights or 35,000 TQPs for A-List and 40 flights or 70,000 TQPs for A-List Preferred in a calendar year.

Travelers who earn Southwest’s Companion Pass can also bring a designated companion on flights for just the cost of taxes and fees, and that companion will typically enjoy some of the same travel conveniences — such as boarding with you.

What You Get With A-List Preferred

Southwest’s A-List Preferred status includes several useful perks that frequent flyers will find valuable, including:

• Priority boarding
• Two free checked bags
• Free same-day standby
• A dedicated customer service phone line
• 100% bonus Rapid Rewards points on paid flights
• Complimentary in-flight Wi-Fi

A-List Preferred members also receive the core benefits included with standard A-List status, such as priority check-in and access to security lanes where available. A-List members receive one free checked bag, while A-List Preferred members receive two.

Related: All About the Southwest Airlines® Credit Cards

A Rare Chance To Match to A-List Preferred

Status matches aren’t unusual in the airline industry, but Southwest has historically limited these opportunities to A-List status only. Offering a path to A-List Preferred makes this promotion even more compelling for travelers who already hold mid- or top-tier elite status with another airline.

For frequent flyers curious about switching airlines — or those who occasionally fly Southwest but haven’t earned status organically — this challenge provides a relatively low-risk way to test out the airline’s elite benefits.