What Southwest Membership Actually Covers

Southwest offers two main membership tiers: A-List and A-List Preferred. Both are annual memberships tied to your account, not to a specific card, though many people hold a Southwest credit card alongside their membership. The membership itself gives you priority boarding, free checked bags, and points toward future flights — separate from any card rewards you earn.

A-List requires you to fly 25 may have access to one-way flights or spend $1,500 in base fares (not taxes or fees) in a calendar year. A-List Preferred requires 50 may have access to flights or $7,500 in base fares. Once you reach either tier, your membership runs through the end of the following year. If you do not reach the threshold again, your membership ends and you return to regular Southwest customer status.

The membership itself is free — you do not pay an annual fee to join. You earn it by flying or spending money on tickets. Some people reach it through credit card spending alone; others combine flights and card purchases.

Key Takeaways

  • A-List membership is earned, not purchased, by flying 25 may have access to one-way flights or spending $1,500 in base fares per calendar year.
  • A-List Preferred requires 50 flights or $7,500 in base fares and includes additional perks like priority check-in and boarding position upgrades.
  • Membership runs through the end of the following calendar year once you reach the threshold, then ends unless you reach it again.
  • A Southwest credit card can count toward your spending threshold and earns you points on all purchases, but the card itself has an annual fee separate from membership costs.
  • Companion Pass, a separate benefit, allows one person to fly free with you for a year when you reach specific spending or flight thresholds.

How A-List Membership Changes Your Boarding and Bag Policy

Regular Southwest customers board in groups of up to 60 people, assigned at check-in. A-List members board in an earlier group, usually groups A or B instead of C. This means you pick your seat before most passengers, which matters on Southwest because all seats are first-come, first-served — there are no assigned seats.

Both A-List and A-List Preferred members get two free checked bags on every flight. Regular Southwest customers also get two free checked bags, so this is not a membership benefit unique to members — it is a standard Southwest policy. Where membership helps is that you keep this benefit even if you do not fly often enough to maintain membership status.

A-List Preferred adds priority check-in (you skip the regular line at the airport) and four boarding position upgrades per year. An upgrade moves you up within your boarding group, so you board earlier than other A-List members on that flight. You can use these upgrades strategically on your longest or most crowded flights.

What Counts Toward Your Membership Threshold

One-way flights count as one flight each, regardless of distance. A round-trip counts as two may have access to flights. Flights must be booked directly with Southwest or through their travel partners — flights booked through third-party sites may not count. Standby flights and award flights (paid for with points, not dollars) do not count toward the flight threshold, though they do count toward elite status if you are already a member.

For the spending threshold, only the base fare counts — taxes, fuel surcharges, and facility fees do not. If you buy a $150 ticket with $30 in taxes and fees, only the $150 counts. Southwest credit card purchases count toward spending, including everyday purchases like groceries or gas, not just flight bookings. This is why some people reach their threshold without flying much — they charge everything to their Southwest card.

Points you earn from flights or credit card spending do not count toward the threshold. The threshold is about flights flown and dollars spent on base fares, not points accumulated.

A-List Preferred and What the Extra Perks Are Worth

A-List Preferred costs nothing extra to earn — you straightforward reach the higher threshold of 50 flights or $7,500 in base fares instead of 25 flights or $1,500. The additional benefits are priority check-in and four annual boarding position upgrades.

Priority check-in saves you time at the airport if you are checking bags, but it does not change your boarding position. You still board in your assigned group; you just check in faster. The four annual upgrades are more valuable on long flights or peak travel days when the difference between boarding group A and group B means the difference between a window seat and a middle seat.

Whether Preferred is worth the extra flying depends on your travel frequency. If you fly 30 to 40 times per year anyway, reaching Preferred is natural. If you fly 10 to 15 times per year, the extra 25 flights needed for Preferred may not be realistic.

How a Southwest Credit Card Fits Into Membership

Southwest offers several co-branded credit cards through Chase. Each card has an annual fee (typically $69 to $99, depending on the card) and earns points on all purchases. The card itself is separate from membership — you can have the card without being an A-List member, and you can be an A-List member without the card.

The card helps you reach membership because card spending counts toward the $1,500 or $7,500 base fare threshold. If you spend $2,000 per year on the card, you are halfway to A-List without flying at all. Many people use the card for everyday expenses and reach A-List through card spending alone, then maintain it by flying a few times per year.

The card also earns a sign-up bonus (usually 40,000 to 75,000 points, depending on the current offer) and anniversary bonuses (extra points on your card anniversary each year). These points can be used to book flights, but they do not count toward your membership threshold — only spending on base fares counts.

Companion Pass and How It Relates to Membership

Companion Pass is a separate benefit from A-List membership. It allows one designated person to fly free with you for a year whenever you book a paid flight. You earn Companion Pass by reaching $10,000 in base fare spending or 110 may have access to flights in a calendar year. Once earned, it runs through the end of the following year.

Companion Pass is valuable if you travel with the same person regularly — a spouse, partner, or family member. The companion flies free (they pay taxes and fees only, usually $5 to $15 per flight), but you must book the flights together. You cannot use Companion Pass on award flights or standby flights.

You can earn Companion Pass through credit card spending, flights, or a combination of both. Many people who spend heavily on a Southwest card reach Companion Pass without flying much. Once you have it, you keep the benefit through the end of the following year, even if you do not fly again.

What Happens When Your Membership Ends

If you do not reach your threshold in a calendar year, your membership ends on December 31 of that year. You return to regular Southwest customer status on January 1. You keep your points balance and any unused boarding upgrades, but you lose priority boarding and the other member benefits.

If you have a Southwest credit card, you keep the card and can keep using it to earn points and work toward membership again next year. The card's annual fee still applies whether you are a member or not.

Some people intentionally let their membership lapse if they know they will not fly much in the coming year, then rebuild it when their travel picks up. There is no penalty for losing membership status — it straightforward resets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use credit card spending to reach A-List without flying at all?

Yes. If you spend $1,500 in base fares on your Southwest credit card in a calendar year, you reach A-List membership even if you never board a flight. This includes everyday purchases like groceries, gas, and utilities — anything you charge to the card counts toward the threshold.

Do award flights (booked with points) count toward membership?

No. Award flights do not count toward your membership threshold. Only paid flights and credit card spending on base fares count. However, if you are already a member, award flights do count toward elite status renewal.

What is the difference between A-List and A-List Preferred?

A-List Preferred requires double the flights (50 vs. 25) or spending ($7,500 vs. $1,500) and adds priority check-in and four annual boarding position upgrades. Both tiers get the same priority boarding group and free checked bags. Preferred is worth pursuing only if you fly frequently enough to reach the threshold naturally.

If I reach A-List in November, when does my membership end?

Your membership runs through December 31 of the following year. If you reach A-List in November 2024, you stay a member through December 31, 2025. After that, you must reach the threshold again in 2025 to remain a member in 2026.

Can I have both a Southwest credit card and A-List membership at the same time?

Yes. The credit card and membership are separate. You can hold the card without being a member, be a member without the card, or have both. The card's annual fee applies regardless of membership status.