This post may contains affiliate links The owner of this blog may be compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. Even though the owner(s) of this blog may receive compensation for our posts or advertisements, we always give our honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed through these channels are purely the bloggers’ own.
Southwest Status
Southwest Status is not the same as other airlines, as there isn’t first class upgrades available. However, that’s not to say the status is without its perks.
A-list
A-list status is achieved by 25 qualifying one-way flights or 35,000 tier qualifying points. This status gives you priority boarding for everyone in your reservation, and 25% earning bonus on flights.
A-list Preferred
A-list preferred status is achieved by 50 qualifying one-way flights or 70,000 tier qualifying points. This status gives you priority boarding for everyone in your reservation, 100% earning bonus on flights, and free internet.
Companion Pass
The companion pass is a golden goose that many travel hackers chase each year. You can earn a companion pass by flying 100 qualifying one way flights in a year or earning 135,000 qualifying points. This is often achieved by travel hackers through a companion pass run at the end of the year.
Southwest Personal Credit Cards
The Southwest Plus card comes with 2 Early Bird Check-ins per year. The Southwest Premier card comes with 4 upgraded boardings per year (this is counted per leg) and a $75 annual Southwest travel credit.
Southwest Business Credit Cards
The Southwest Premier Business Card comes with 2 Early Bird Check-ins per year. The Southwest Performance Business Card comes with 4 upgraded boardings per year, a $100 precheck or global entry fee reimbursement, and free internet.
Is Southwest Status worth it?
Honestly, with kids under 6, we receive the family boarding benefit, and therefore don’t struggle to get the preferential boarding status, as we get family boarding. The early boarding is the biggest benefit of southwest status and it doesn’t really apply to us. For the few instances that we are flying without the kids and get C boarding, we have utilized the credit card benefits to grab early boarding at the last minute.
For our family, the Performance Business card and a companion pass has provided the status perks we needed without the added stress of flying 15-25 flights to earn that status.
