Southwest Airlines has two different tiers of Elite Status, A-List and A-List Preferred. Both statuses provide some great benefits including preferred boarding, bonus points, and same-day standby. Typically the only option to earn A-List or A-List Preferred is through flying, earning tier-qualifying points, or being targeted for a Promotional Status. In the Basic Travel World, there is Another Option. The Southwest Status Match!

How to Status Match to Southwest A-List

In order to be eligible for a Southwest Airlines Status Match, you must first have some sort of Elite Status with a different Airline. There is no Master List of which Airlines and Elite Statuses qualify that I am aware of. I recently was Targeted for an American Airlines Platinum Status Challenge which offered me their Elite Status through the end of April 2020. Anytime that I receive these sorts of promotional Statuses, I like to look for ways to keep the good times rolling. 

See the Caesars Rewards and Wyndham Rewards Merry-Go-Round for one of my favorite Travel Strategies! 

Steps to Status Match to Southwest A-List

I found the Southwest Status Match Email and sent them my Rapid Rewards Account Information, followed by my American Airlines Platinum Information. Within 14 Hours I am now the Proud Owner of Southwest A-List! 

Step 1 – Begin an Email to [email protected]

Step 2 – Include in the Subject: Legal Name, Rapid Rewards Number, & Elite Status with Another Airline (In my case, American Airlines Platinum Status) 

Step 3 – Attach a Screenshot of the Elite Status from Another Airline 

Step 4 – Click Send! (Yes, I know, Basic)  

Congratulations! You’re now a Southwest A-List Member 🙂

I received the Congratulations Email the following morning after submitting my initial request. The Southwest A-List Status Match is granted for a promotional time period. For the next 90 Days I will be an A-List Member. If I book and fly Three Round-Trip Revenue Flights (or six one-way flights) within 90 Days of Today I can extend my A-List Status to 12 Months. 

Southwest A-List Benefits

• Priority Boarding
• Priority Check-in and Security Lane Access 
• 25% Bonus Earning on Rapid Rewards Points 
• Access to A-List Member Phone Line
• Same-day Standby Access to Other Flights 

Basic Recap

I LOVE being able to stretch my statuses and find ways to creatively have a better Basic Travel Experience. This is a great example of why Status Matching is one of my favorite Basic Travel Strategies. I’ll actually be flying Southwest down to New Orleans in a few weeks and am looking forward to testing out my New A-List Status. If you happen to have an Elite Airline Status, I’d suggest giving this a try and seeing what happens! 

Have you Been able to Status Match in the Past for Elite Perks?

More Basic Reading

• Top Credit Cards
• Learn how to utilize credit card points with our Basic Travel Course
• How to Earn the Southwest Companion Pass (BOGO Flights)
• American Airlines Platinum Status Targeted Offer 
• Brand New 75,000 Bonus Points Southwest Credit Card Offer (Ends February 18th) 
• Our 7 Favorite Travel Strategies of 2019!