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.
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