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New Southwest Rapid Rewards promotion offers 4 additional ways to earn elite status

Aug. 29, 2024
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4 min read
Southwest Boeing 737 PIT
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Earning A-List or A-List Preferred elite status in Southwest's Rapid Rewards loyalty program has just become easier.

A new limited-time acceleration promotion offers members four unique ways to earn elite status through 2025. Activities that previously did not count toward status are now included in tier qualifying points and flight segment calculations.

Here's how you can fast-track your way to elite status with Southwest's new promotion.

How to earn Southwest A-List elite status with new promotion

Rapid Rewards members would typically need to earn the following to qualify for elite status through 2025:

  • A-List: 20 one-way qualifying flight segments or 35,000 tier qualifying points
  • A-List Preferred: 40 one-way qualifying flight segments or 70,000 tier qualifying points

However, you can now earn elite status faster through Nov. 30 with Southwest's latest promotion.

Currently, you can fast-track your way to elite status by:

  • Registering at southwest.com, then booking travel through Nov. 30; doing so will get you at least double the tier qualifying points, with business travelers booking flights through Southwest Business channels (swabiz.com, a global distribution system or Southwest Partner Services) earning triple the tier qualifying points.
  • Purchasing flights with Rapid Rewards points for travel through Nov. 30; doing so will count toward tier status flight segment requirements, but keep in mind that this only includes awards booked after registering for this promotion, so if you want these flights to count toward your segment requirements, you may wish to cancel them, register and rebook.
  • Using a Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card, a Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card (see rates and fees), a Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card (see rates and fees) or a Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card (see rates and fees) after registration to earn an additional 2,000 tier qualifying points for every $5,000 spent on the card from Sept. 1 to Nov. 30; these points are in addition to the tier qualifying points already awarded on these cards for reaching spending requirements.
  • Booking a car rental or hotel via Rapid Rewards or making purchases with select Rapid Rewards partners between now and Nov. 30; each base point you earn will count as 1 tier qualifying point, up to 5,000 tier qualifying points. No registration is required.
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The information for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Travel booked through Southwest Vacations Packages is not eligible for this promotion.

KATIE GENTER/THE POINTS GUY

What are the benefits of Southwest A-List elite status?

With Southwest A-List status, you'll get the following:

  • Priority boarding
  • A 25% bonus on points earned from paid flights
  • Free same-day standby and changes (taxes and fees may apply)
  • Priority check-in and security lane access
  • Access to a dedicated A-List member phone line

Southwest A-List Preferred elite status provides all the benefits of A-List status, as well as:

  • A 100% bonus on points earned from paid flights
  • Free inflight Wi-Fi
  • Two free premium drinks on flights of 176 miles or more

While not a status level, Southwest's famous Companion Pass can also be earned after taking 100 one-way qualifying flights or earning 135,000 qualifying points.

You can earn A-List and A-List Preferred status by completing the required number of qualifying flight segments or earning tier qualifying points. The latter can be earned on flights, via spending on select cobranded Southwest credit cards or through these new earning opportunities.

Bottom line

If you thought you might struggle to secure A-List or A-Lift Preferred status in Southwest's Rapid Rewards program for the 2025 calendar year, this new promotion might push you over the line. Register first, then enjoy four new and unique ways to earn additional tier qualifying points and flight segments to reach your status goals sooner.

Featured image by ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

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  • Intro Offer

    As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.

  • Annual Fee

    $325

  • Recommended Credit

    Excellent to Good

Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.