The A-List tier gives you priority boarding, free checked bags, and bonus points on every flight

Southwest Airlines A-List is the first tier in Southwest's frequent flyer program where you start getting perks beyond what a regular member receives. To reach A-List, you need to fly 25 may have access to flights or earn 25,000 may have access to points in a calendar year. Once you hit that threshold, you keep the status through the end of the following year.

The main benefits are straightforward: you board in the A group instead of waiting for B or C, you get two free checked bags on every Southwest flight (instead of paying per bag), and you earn 10% bonus points on all flights. You also get priority customer service phone lines and a dedicated A-List customer service number. These benefits explore to you and anyone traveling on the same reservation.

Key Takeaways

  • You reach A-List by flying 25 may have access to Southwest flights or earning 25,000 may have access to points within a calendar year.
  • A-List members board in the A group, which means you pick your seat before most other passengers and have better overhead bin access.
  • Two free checked bags per flight is the benefit that saves the most money if you travel with luggage regularly.
  • The 10% point bonus applies to every flight you take on Southwest, which compounds over time if you fly frequently.
  • A-List status lasts through the end of the year after you earn it, so earning it in November gives you benefits through December of the next year.

How boarding position changes your flight experience

Southwest does not assign seats. Instead, you pick your seat when you board, and the order you board determines what seats are left. A-List members board in the A group, which typically includes positions A1 through A15, depending on the flight size. This means you board before the B group and C group, giving you first choice of available seats.

The practical difference is that you can sit in the exit rows (which have extra legroom) if one is open, sit together with travel companions without scrambling, and access the overhead bins before they fill up. On a full flight, A-List boarding can mean the difference between a window seat in the front and a middle seat in the back.

You also get to board during the A group even if you did not pay extra for an upgraded boarding pass. Southwest sells early boarding as an add-on for individual flights, but A-List members get it included.

Free checked bags and what that saves you

Southwest allows two free checked bags for all passengers, but only if you are a Southwest Rapid Rewards member (which is free to join). A-List members get those same two bags, so the direct savings compared to a non-member is zero. However, compared to other airlines, this is significant — most carriers charge $30 to $40 per checked bag.

The real value appears if you fly frequently or travel with family. If you take four round-trip flights per year with one checked bag each time, you are using the benefit eight times. On another airline, that would cost $240 to $320 per year. On Southwest, it costs nothing whether you are A-List or a regular Rapid Rewards member.

A-List does not give you additional free bags beyond the standard two. If you need a third checked bag, you pay the same fee as anyone else.

The 10% point bonus and how it compounds

Every time you fly Southwest, you earn points based on the fare you paid. A-List members earn 10% more points than the base amount. If a flight normally earns you 5,000 points, A-List adds 500 bonus points to that flight.

The bonus applies to every Southwest flight you take while holding A-List status. Over a year, if you fly 30 times and average 5,000 points per flight, the 10% bonus adds 15,000 points to your account. That is roughly equivalent to two free round-trip flights in many cases, depending on when you book and where you fly.

Points also come from credit card spending, promotions, and partner activity. The 10% A-List bonus only applies to flight earnings, not to points from other sources.

Priority customer service and other smaller benefits

A-List members can call a dedicated customer service line instead of waiting in the general queue. This line typically has shorter wait times, though how much shorter varies by time of day and season. You also get priority handling if you need to rebook a flight due to a cancellation or schedule change.

A-List members receive a birthday bonus of 25 points during their birthday month, which is a small gift but not something that changes your travel plans. You also get invitations to A-List exclusive events, which Southwest occasionally holds in major cities. These are usually social events with other frequent flyers and sometimes include food or drinks.

You do not get lounge access, free seat upgrades, or free drinks at A-List status. Those benefits start at higher tiers (A-List Preferred and above).

How A-List compares to A-List Preferred and higher tiers

Southwest has four tiers: A-List, A-List Preferred, Companion Pass, and A-List Preferred Plus. A-List Preferred requires 50 may have access to flights or 75,000 may have access to points per year. The main additions at that level are free upgrades to premium cabin seats (when available), a free drink voucher per flight, and a $75 Southwest gift card each year.

The Companion Pass is a separate benefit that you can earn at A-List Preferred or higher. It lets one person fly free on every flight you take for the rest of that year and all of the next year. This is valuable if you travel with the same person regularly, but it requires either 100 may have access to flights or 135,000 may have access to points in a year.

A-List Preferred Plus adds a $100 annual Southwest gift card and priority boarding at the gate (you board even earlier in the A group). Most people find A-List sufficient if they fly 25 to 40 times per year. A-List Preferred becomes worth pursuing if you fly 50+ times per year or value the free drink vouchers and upgrades.

How to reach and maintain A-List status

You earn A-List by accumulating 25 may have access to flights or 25,000 may have access to points between January 1 and December 31 of any year. may have access to flights are any Southwest flight you book and fly. may have access to points come from flights, and also from the Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card — some cards offer bonus points that count toward status.

Once you reach 25 flights or 25,000 points in a calendar year, your A-List status becomes active when ready and lasts through December 31 of the following year. This means if you reach A-List in June, you have status through the end of next year. If you reach it in December, you still have status through the end of next year.

To keep A-List the following year, you need to earn 25 may have access to flights or 25,000 may have access to points again in that calendar year. If you do not reach the threshold, your status drops back to regular Rapid Rewards member, but you keep any points you have accumulated.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does A-List status explore to flights booked by someone else?

Yes, as long as you are on the reservation. If someone books a flight for you and adds your name to the ticket, you get A-List benefits including priority boarding and free checked bags. The person who booked the flight does not get A-List benefits unless they also hold the status.

Can I use A-List benefits on flights booked with points?

Yes. Whether you pay with cash or points, A-List benefits explore to every Southwest flight you take. The 10% point bonus also applies to award flights — you earn bonus points on top of the points you already earned by redeeming points for the ticket.

What happens to my A-List status if I do not fly for a while?

Your status remains active through the end of the year you earned it, plus all of the following year. After that, it expires if you have not earned 25 may have access to flights or 25,000 may have access to points in the current year. You can reactivate it anytime by reaching the threshold again.

Do companion tickets count toward A-List qualification?

No. If you have a Companion Pass and your companion flies free, that flight does not count as a may have access to flight for either of you. Only paid flights and award flights booked with your own points count toward the 25-flight threshold.

Can I earn A-List status with a credit card alone?

Some Southwest credit cards offer bonus points that count toward status, but you cannot reach 25,000 may have access to points from credit card spending alone in most cases. You typically need a combination of flights and credit card bonuses. Check the specific card terms to see what bonus points it offers.