Southwest Status Match: Get A-List or A-List Preferred for Free

If you hold elite status with another major U.S. airline, Southwest is offering a chance to try out its A-List or A-List Preferred perks for 120 days at no cost. And if you fly enough during that trial period, you can lock in the benefits for a full year. Here's what you need to know.

How the Match Works

Southwest will match your current elite status from American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, or JetBlue Airways. Depending on your existing tier, you'll get either A-List or A-List Preferred status for four months. The chart on Southwest's site shows exactly which tiers qualify for each level. For example, American Gold matches to A-List, while Platinum and above match to A-List Preferred.

Once you're approved, you'll immediately start enjoying benefits like free checked bags, priority boarding, and seat selection. The goal is to get you hooked on the Southwest experience — and if you fly enough during those 120 days, you can keep the status for another 12 months.

What You Need to Do to Keep Status

To extend your promotional status for a full year, you'll need to complete one of the following within the initial 120-day period:

For A-List: fly three round trips or six one-way revenue flights on Southwest, or earn 11,500 tier qualifying points from flights or qualifying purchases. For A-List Preferred: fly six round trips or twelve one-way revenue flights, or earn 23,000 tier qualifying points.

Keep in mind that award tickets, Companion Pass travel (for the companion), and group bookings don't count. Only revenue flights paid with cash, LUV Vouchers, gift cards, flight credits, or Cash + Points qualify. Tier qualifying points from credit card spending or partner promotions also count toward the points threshold.

A Few Things to Watch Out For

First, you can't already hold A-List or A-List Preferred status through another promotion or by earning it naturally. If you've had promotional status from Southwest in the past 12 months, you're not eligible. Also, you must submit proof of your current airline status — like a screenshot of your elite card or account page — and allow up to 12 business days for verification.

Second, the match is only for the five listed U.S. carriers. If you have status with Spirit, Frontier, or international airlines, you're out of luck unless Southwest decides to review it at their discretion. But it's worth a shot if you have status with an airline not listed — you can still apply and they may consider it.

Finally, remember that the clock starts ticking as soon as you're approved. Plan your travel carefully so you can meet the requirements within 120 days. If you fall short, your status reverts to whatever you had before (which might be nothing).

Is It Worth It?

For frequent Southwest flyers or those who can shift their travel to the airline, this is a solid deal. A-List gives you free first checked bag, priority boarding, and 25% bonus points on flights. A-List Preferred adds a second free bag, 100% bonus points, and premium drinks. These perks can easily save you money on baggage fees and make your travel experience smoother.

The requirements are reasonable — three round trips in four months is doable for many travelers. And since you're not locked into a lifetime ban (just a 12-month cooldown), you can try again next year if you don't make it this time.

Bottom Line

• Southwest matches elite status from American, Delta, United, Alaska, and JetBlue for 120 days.
• To keep status for 12 months, fly 3 round trips (A-List) or 6 round trips (A-List Preferred) within 120 days, or earn the equivalent tier qualifying points.
• Registration is open until December 30, 2026. You can't have had promotional Southwest status in the last 12 months.
• Only revenue flights count — award tickets and companion travel are excluded.

Common Questions