Southwest Announces New A-List/Preferred Perks

2,428 Views | 15 Replies | Last: 3 mo ago by Fins Up!
Four Seasons Landscaping
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Quote:

  • New AList Preferred Members will be able to select all available seats at the time of booking, including extra legroom, at no additional cost.
  • New AList Members will be able to select all standard legroom seats at the time of booking with the opportunity to choose an extra legroom seat within 48 hours of departure, if available, at no additional cost.
  • All Tier Members will continue to enjoy priority boarding,4 free same-day change,5 and same-day standby.5
  • All Rapid Rewards Credit Cardmembers will receive details in early 2025 on how their card benefits will be enhanced with our new changes. Until then, Cardmembers will continue to take advantage of the benefits they currently have on their card.

Basically, unless you're A-List Preferred, it's time to stop being loyal and hop on price comparison sites to book flights.

They did back out of the idea of charging for bags though.
Bulldog73
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AG
This actually provides a little hope to me. I'll never reach true status with them, but it's one of the first changes that doesn't directly scream money grab. (I do understand that it's still implied in that move, but at least there's some rewarding loyalty).

I'd expect card spend will factor some in for qualification now too.
Marauder Blue 6
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AG
Four Seasons Landscaping said:



They did back out of the idea of charging for bags though.


For now.
Stonegateag85
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Full email

As you know, we recently announced changes that will enhance your flying experience with us and hinted at more to come. Today, we're sharing details about our transformational journey to becoming an Even Better Southwest. As an A-List Preferred Member, I wanted you to be among the first to know about our plans.

While there are a lot of changes ahead, our 53-year-old core values of flexibility, transparency, and Hospitality are stronger than ever. In that spirit, I'm happy to announce what's changing and what's not.

Bags fly free1 is here to stay.
You love Bags fly free,1 and we're keeping our industry-leading policy. Every ticket with us comes with two free checked bags.

NEW: Assigned seats for an elevated cabin experience.
For your comfort, we're introducing seat assignments with different options based on the experience you prefer. Our lowest fare offer will still come with two free checked bags, no change2 or cancel fees,3 travel credits that never expire, and a seat will be assigned to you prior to your day of travel. If you prefer to select your seat when you book your flight, including seats with extra legroom, you will have a few options to purchase these benefits.

Our boarding process will be similar to what it is todaywe will board in order, preserving our fast boarding process to get you on your way as quickly as possible. We will begin selling flights with seat assignments in the second half of 2025 for travel in the first half of 2026.

More, more, more rewards.
Rapid Rewards Members will continue to enjoy our industryleading loyalty program. All Members will earn and redeem points at the same rate they do today, and we will continue to offer no blackout dates, uncapped reward seat availability, and points that don't expire. To see how Tier benefits will evolve with assigned seating, click here.

New AList Preferred Members will be able to select all available seats at the time of booking, including extra legroom, at no additional cost.
New AList Members will be able to select all standard legroom seats at the time of booking with the opportunity to choose an extra legroom seat within 48 hours of departure, if available, at no additional cost.
All Tier Members will continue to enjoy priority boarding,4 free same-day change,5 and same-day standby.5
All Rapid Rewards Credit Cardmembers will receive details in early 2025 on how their card benefits will be enhanced with our new changes. Until then, Cardmembers will continue to take advantage of the benefits they currently have on their card.
NEW: Vacay the Southwest way.
We're introducing Getaways by Southwest in 2025. This is an entirely new vacation package offering that only Southwest can deliverwith the unmatched flexible policies you know and love. So, if plans change and you have to cancel your vacation, it's aokay on this vacay.

NEW: More horizons on the horizon.
We're launching our first international partnership with Icelandair in 2025. Customers will be allowed to book Southwest flights through Icelandair. We expect to add at least one additional partner in the next year, and this is just the beginning!

As you can see, we're focused and excited about the future. We can't wait for you to experience these new enhancements as they roll out. In the meantime, we promise to continue connecting you to the people and places you love the most.

From the bottom of my Heart, thank you for taking this journey with us. And thank you for flying Southwest Airlines.
Stonegateag85
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Finally getting an international partner too
wangus12
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AG
There's going to be another international partner coming soon. My wife has been involved with the international projects.
TXTransplant
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wangus12 said:

There's going to be another international partner coming soon. My wife has been involved with the international projects.


Fingers crossed it's WestJet. They do already code share with Delta, but it's not seamless. Being able to book flights to Canada through SW would be awesome.
Stonegateag85
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That is going to be great, I'm both companion and a list preferred and have tons of points to blow.
BSD
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AG
wangus12 said:

There's going to be another international partner coming soon. My wife has been involved with the international projects.


Iceland Air! It's always been near the top of my list. And with a million-plus miles and a companion pass, I bet I could make that trip work out nicely.

Looking forward to see who the others are.
wangus12
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AG
CDub06
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AG
Icelandair is a nice perk that I didn't expect. I have plans to go and this makes it easier. So that's one thing we've got.
SbisaVictim95
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AG
Four Seasons Landscaping said:

Quote:

  • New AList Preferred Members will be able to select all available seats at the time of booking, including extra legroom, at no additional cost.
  • New AList Members will be able to select all standard legroom seats at the time of booking with the opportunity to choose an extra legroom seat within 48 hours of departure, if available, at no additional cost.
  • All Tier Members will continue to enjoy priority boarding,4 free same-day change,5 and same-day standby.5
  • All Rapid Rewards Credit Cardmembers will receive details in early 2025 on how their card benefits will be enhanced with our new changes. Until then, Cardmembers will continue to take advantage of the benefits they currently have on their card.

Basically, unless you're A-List Preferred, it's time to stop being loyal and hop on price comparison sites to book flights.

They did back out of the idea of charging for bags though.
Not necessarily, I'll wait to see what the credit card perks evolve into. As someone who only flies them a couple of times a year, having the credit card gets me 4 free upgrades per year so I don't have to pay Early Bird and can just upgrade into the top of the A group as I check in and then get reimbursed on the card.

I'm guessing it'll evolve into 4 free upgraded seat selections or something per year. Which will work for me.

With the news yesterday that they're going to cut routes to Atlanta that probably takes them out of the running for my couple of trips per year out to Dulles. I always price them vs direct flights on AA or United and occasionally the price savings makes it worth changing planes in Atlanta ... but now if the only option is to fly direct on a larger carrier or go through Denver and Chicago to get to Dulles, then I won't even price them.
malenurse
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AG
I've always preferred SWA, but I always price shop. Having free bags usually puts SWA as the most affordable option. Even if slightly higher, going to Hobby instead of Bush is worth pay slightly more.
The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But, it's still on the list.
The Milkman
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AG
I frequently do same day flight changes on work trips. It seems like this will kill the value of being A61 in those scenarios if the rest of the plane has their seat assigned at check in.
Stymied
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AG
Quote:

With the news yesterday that they're going to cut routes to Atlanta that probably takes them out of the running for my couple of trips per year out to Dulles. I always price them vs direct flights on AA or United and occasionally the price savings makes it worth changing planes in Atlanta ... but now if the only option is to fly direct on a larger carrier or go through Denver and Chicago to get to Dulles, then I won't even price them.
While it's still left to be seen, it appears like they are going to move Atlanta to more of an origin and destination (O&D) airport while flowing connecting passengers across Nashville. I bet you will have some new connection options there.
Fins Up!
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AG
I don't fly enough to be loyal to SW any more. Their connection schedule is still much more inconvenient than it was pre-Covid, and I don't want their credit card. I'd rather just have status with United than be on their A-List preferred, especially since I'll be making a connection anyway, no matter where I fly.
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