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Southwest appears to be keen (not for the first time) to boost the number of elite status holders that it has as it is now running an amazing five promotions that will allow members of its Rapid Rewards program to earn A-List or A-List Preferred status a lot quicker and a lot easier.
A-List & A-List Preferred
These are the requirements to earn A-List and A-List Preferred elite status:
- A-List: 35,000 tier qualifying points or 20 one-way flight segments.
- A-List Preferred: 70,000 tier qualifying points or 40 one-way flight segments.
And these are the benefits the two tiers offer:
A-List:
- Priority boarding
- 25% bonus on Rapid Rewards points earned
- Free same-day standby and same-day changes
- Priority Lane and Express Lane access
- Dedicated A-List member phone line
A-List Preferred:
- Free in-flight WiFi
- Priority boarding
- 100% bonus on Rapid Rewards points earned
- Free same-day standby and same-day changes
- Priority Lane and Express Lane access
- Dedicated A-List Preferred member phone line
- Two complimentary premium drinks per leg on flights of over 176 miles.
Link to comparison of Southwest elite tiers.
The five promotions
Southwest is now running five new promotions designed to make it easier to earn A-List and A-List Preferred status. Four of the promotions focus on making it easier to earn tier qualifying points and one promotion makes it easier to earn tier qualifying segments and registration is required for all.
Double tier qualifying points (everyone)
For all flights booked and taken between 28 August and 30 November 2024, Southwest Rapid Rewards members will earn 2x tier qualifying points. Registration required.
Tier qualifying points are earned on qualifying flights paid entirely with dollars, Southwest LUV Vouchers, gift cards or flight credits, and with no portion of the purchase price paid for with Rapid Rewards points.
Bonus tier qualifying points earned from this offer will post prior to 30 December 2024.
Triple tier qualifying points (business bookings)
Business travelers who book through Southwest Business channels (SWABIZ.com, GDS, or SPS) will earn 3x tier qualifying points per flight for flights booked and taken between 28 August and 30 November 2024. Registration required.
Tier qualifying points are earned on qualifying flights paid entirely with dollars, Southwest LUV Vouchers, gift cards or flight credits, and with no portion of the purchase price paid for with Rapid Rewards points.
Bonus tier qualifying points earned from this offer will post prior to 30 December 2024.
Earn tier qualifying segments on award bookings
Every one-way flight segment that is booked with Rapid Rewards points counts as one tier qualifying flight when the segment is booked and flown between 28 August and 30 November 2024. Registration required.
Bonus tier qualifying points through credit card purchases
Ordinarily, these are the tier point earning rates offered by each of the Southwest co-branded credit cards:
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card – none
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card – 1,500 TQP/$5,000
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card – 1,500 TQP/$5,000
- Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card – 1,500 TQP/$5,000
- Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card – 1,500 TQP/$5,000
Those earning rates have just been boosted (temporarily).
Between 1 September and 30 November 2024, holders of all Southwest Rapid Rewards cards can earn 2,000 tier qualifying points for every $5,000 in purchases made with their cards.
These tier qualifying points are in addition to current tier qualifying points that cardmembers can already earn meaning that for a limited time, all Southwest co-branded cards can earn TQP and that for a limited time, holders of 4 out of the 5 Southwest co-branded cards can earn 3,500 TQP/$5,000 spent.
Bonus tier qualifying points earned from this offer will be deposited within six weeks after the end of each month and by 30 December 2024, for November purchases.
Earn tier qualifying points with Southwest partners
For qualifying purchases made with select Southwest partners between 28 August and 30 November 2024, every base point earned counts as one tier qualifying point, up to a maximum of 5,000 tier qualifying points in total.
Eligible Rapid Rewards partners include Southwest Hotels, car rentals through Southwest.com, Rapid Rewards Shopping, Rapid Rewards Dining, Laithwaites, 1-800-FLOWERS, Reliant Energy, NRG Energy, Xoom, Energy Plus, Harry and David, and Rewards for Opinions.
Bottom line
If you’re aiming to earn or retain A-List or A-List preferred status with Southwest, the airline has now made life a little easier for you by launching five separate promotions which allow flyers to earn credits towards elite status quicker. Four of the promotions make it easier to earn tier qualifying points and one promotion makes it easier to earn tier qualifying segments.
Note: Keep in mind that you have to register before any of these promotions will kick in for you and that only purchases/bookings made after registration will earn the bonus TQP/segments that are being offered.
