Editor’s observe: This can be a recurring submit, commonly up to date with new info.
Airline elite standing advantages could make your journey expertise extra seamless and pleasant. However when you’re new to the factors and miles interest, it’s possible you’ll surprise simply how worthwhile these perks might be. Is it price devoting your self to incomes standing with a particular airline?
I’ll proceed to reply this query by quantifying the worth you will get from the most important U.S. airways’ elite standing applications. This specific evaluation will undergo the Southwest Fast Rewards program in depth to attempt to reply a easy query: Is it price pursuing Southwest elite standing in 2023?
Associated: Battle of the airways: Why I believe Southwest Airways is the perfect
Make sure to try different airways for a full breakdown of their elite advantages:
Methodology
Earlier than diving into the Fast Rewards program, I wish to remind you that my valuations under characterize a singular option to establish what elite standing is price to a possible traveler. It’s best to regulate any assumptions I make to suit your journey scenario. For instance, when you not often fly with a companion, you’ll worth the Southwest Companion Go lower than a household or group traveler.
It’s additionally essential to notice that my evaluation is predicated on incomes standing and touring a comparable quantity in 2023. So, regulate our valuations accordingly to suit your personal journey wants and the way typically you count on to make use of every of those advantages.
This brings me to the third a part of this evaluation: the underlying assumptions I’m making. To actually hit a price for advantages, I’ve to imagine a specific amount of flying and a corresponding quantity of spending. Southwest awards elite standing a bit otherwise than most different airways — as an alternative of incomes standing by miles flown, you’ll earn Tier Qualifying Factors (TQPs). Right here’s how:
- Wanna Get Away fares: 6 TQPs per greenback spent on base fares (excluding taxes and charges).
- Wanna Get Away Plus: 8 TQPs per greenback spent.
- Anytime fares: 10 TQPs per greenback spent.
- Enterprise Choose fares: 12 TQPs per greenback spent.
Associated: What to find out about Southwest’s ‘Wanna Get Away Plus’
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This evaluation assumes that you just earn 20% extra TQPs than the minimal required for the given stage. I’ll then assume that you just spend a median of seven cents per TQP, which is what you’d common throughout the 12 months if 10% of your purchases are Enterprise Choose tickets, 10% are Anytime fares and the remaining 80% are Wanna Get Away.
It’s best to at all times modify these particulars primarily based on how a lot you intend to journey in 2023 and the forms of Southwest tickets you most regularly buy.
Three closing items of data: First, because you’ll earn bonus factors as an elite member with Southwest, I’m utilizing TPG’s most up-to-date valuations to calculate their worth (1.5 cents apiece). Second, I’m rounding all numbers to the closest $5 to make the calculations simpler.
Lastly, it is price noting that Southwest sometimes runs promotions to assist qualify for elite standing — just like the present supply by Could 31 for double TQPs on paid tickets, TQPs on award tickets and bonus TQPs primarily based on bank card spending. Nonetheless, this evaluation is predicated on the usual qualification standards.
Associated: Every part it’s worthwhile to find out about the perfect seats on Southwest Airways
Southwest elite standing tiers
Southwest Airways has one of many easiest standing charts, providing solely two elite tiers and the Companion Go. Right here’s a fast overview:
| A-Record | A-Record Most well-liked | Companion Go* | |
|---|---|---|---|
| {Qualifications} | 35,000 TQPs or 25 flights. | 70,000 TQPs or 50 flights. | 125,000 CPQPs or 100 flights. |
| Elite mileage bonus | 25%. | 100%. | N/A. |
| Precedence check-in, safety and boarding | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free checked luggage | 2 luggage. | 2 luggage. | 2 luggage. |
| Complimentary same-day flight modifications (confirmed and standby) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| A-Record boarding move on the time of reserving | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Identical-day standby | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Devoted telephone line | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free inflight Wi-Fi | ✓ | ✓ |
*NOTE: The perks detailed below the Companion Go (and highlighted under) solely apply when you earn the move by additionally reaching A-Record Most well-liked standing.
Associated: Why I’m scrambling to make Southwest A-Record standing for 2022
A-Record: $710
The bottom tier in Southwest’s program is A-Record, which requires 25 qualifying one-way flights or 35,000 TQPs in a calendar 12 months. For this evaluation, I’ll base my numbers on incomes 42,000 TQPs at 7 cents per TQP (complete spending of $2,940).
| Profit particulars | Worth | |
|---|---|---|
| 25% mileage bonus | 42,000 base factors equal an additional 10,500 factors over a 12 months. | $160. |
| Precedence Boarding | Mechanically have a boarding place reserved 36 hours earlier than a flight, supplying you with a greater shot at your most popular seat. | $250. |
| Precedence check-in and safety |
Separate precedence check-in and Fly-By Precedence safety lanes (the place accessible). | $150. |
| Free same-day standby | Standby on an earlier flight at no cost on flights between the identical cities earlier than your initially scheduled departure time and on the identical date of journey. | $50. |
| Free same-day confirmed modifications. | Verify a change freed from cost if a seat is obtainable on one other flight on the identical day. | $75. |
| Devoted telephone line | A precedence telephone line for elite members is a pleasant perk when main climate or cancellation/delay occasions hit.
|
$25. |
| Complete: | $710. |
A-Record Most well-liked: $2,860
The second tier in Southwest’s program is A-Record Most well-liked, which requires 50 qualifying one-way flights or 70,000 TQPs in a calendar 12 months. For this evaluation, I’ll base my numbers on incomes 84,000 TQPs for 7 cents per TQP (a complete spend of $5,880).
| Profit particulars | Worth | |
|---|---|---|
| 100% mileage bonus | 84,000 base factors equal an additional 84,000 factors over a 12 months. | $1,260. |
| Precedence Boarding | Mechanically assigned a boarding place 36 hours earlier than departure; prioritized over A-Record members. | $600. |
| Precedence check-in and safety |
Identical profit as A-Record, extra frequent utilization. | $300. |
| Free same-day standby | Identical profit as A-Record, extra frequent utilization. | $100. |
| Free same-day confirmed modifications | Identical profit as A-Record, extra frequent utilization. | $150. |
| Free inflight Wi-Fi | It prices $8 a day for passengers. | $400. |
| Devoted telephone line | Identical profit as A-Record, extra frequent utilization.
|
$50. |
| Complete: | $2,860. |
Associated: The best way to get the perfect seats on Southwest Airways
Companion Go with flying and accomplice exercise: $4,135
The following tier within the Southwest program isn’t an elite standing tier however continues to be price valuing: the Companion Go, one of the vital profitable and rewarding advantages within the journey trade.
It provides you a purchase one, get one free on all Southwest flights, together with paid and award tickets. You’ll earn it by taking 100 qualifying one-way flights or incomes 135,000 Companion Go-qualifying factors in a calendar 12 months, although Southwest cobranded bank card members get a ten,000-point enhance towards a Companion Go yearly, giving them a headstart on qualification.
These differ barely from the Tier Qualifying Factors recognized above, usually earned solely by flying. Nonetheless, you’ll be able to earn factors towards the Companion Go in quite a lot of further methods:
- Flying on Southwest.
- Doing enterprise with journey companions like accommodations and automobile rental companies.
- Eating by the Fast Rewards Eating program.
- Opening and/or utilizing a Southwest bank card (just like the Southwest Fast Rewards Premier Credit score Card), together with sign-up bonuses.
I’ll assume you maintain a Southwest cobranded bank card and earn 125,000 further factors for this evaluation. Nonetheless, for this primary half, I’ll assume that your factors originate from flying and spending equally with companions. This earns 62,500 factors and 62,500 TQPs from flying (a complete spend of $4,375), together with 62,500 factors from accomplice exercise. This offers you A-Record standing (and the advantages it confers) plus the Companion Go perk.
| Profit particulars | Worth | |
|---|---|---|
| Companion Go | Relies upon fully on how regularly you’ll be able to convey your designated companion on a flight. This valuation is predicated on bringing a companion alongside on 12 round-trip flights at a price of $250 apiece, though it’s best to regulate it when you plan to put it to use extra (or much less) regularly. | $3,000. |
| 25% mileage bonus | Earn 62,500 factors on flights yearly and take dwelling 15,625 bonus factors as an A-Record member. | $235. |
| Precedence Boarding | Your A-Record standing provides you precedence boarding (outlined above), though, with 62,500 base factors, you’ll have the ability to put it to use roughly 50% extra regularly. | $375. |
| Precedence check-in and safety |
Identical profit, extra frequent utilization. | $225. |
| Free same-day standby | Identical profit, extra frequent utilization. | $100. |
| Free same-day confirmed modifications | Identical profit, extra frequent utilization. | $150. |
| Devoted telephone line | Identical profit, extra frequent utilization.
|
$50. |
| Complete: | $4,135. |
Associated: The most effective Southwest Airways bank cards in 2022
Companion Go by flying alone: $8,250
For this closing a part of the evaluation, I’ll assume that you just earn the Companion Go solely by flying and hit the qualification threshold precisely, spending the identical 7 cents per level. In different phrases, you’d earn 135,000 base factors (together with 135,000 TQPs) by spending $9,450 on Southwest flights. This unlocks each the Companion Go and A-Record Most well-liked standing — with roughly 60% extra journey than a “common” A-Record Most well-liked member.
| Profit particulars | Worth | |
|---|---|---|
| Companion Go | Underneath this state of affairs, you’re touring twice as a lot within the instance above, however it’s possible you’ll not have a companion for all of them. This valuation is predicated on taking 16 round-trip flights, however your utilization might differ. | $4,000. |
| 100% mileage bonus | Take dwelling 135,000 bonus factors primarily based on the assumed flying above. | $2,025. |
| Precedence Boarding | Identical profit, extra frequent utilization. | $900. |
| Precedence check-in and safety |
Identical profit, extra frequent utilization. | $450. |
| Free same-day standby | Identical profit, extra frequent utilization. | $200. |
| Free inflight Wi-Fi | Identical profit, extra frequent utilization. | $600. |
| Devoted telephone line | Identical profit, extra frequent utilization.
|
$75. |
| Complete: | $8,250. |
As you’ll be able to see, the mixture of the Companion Go with A-Record Most well-liked standing is a potent one, delivering over $8,00 in worth.
Associated: Information to airline companion tickets
What if I’m ranging from scratch?
As I discussed initially, these numbers are primarily based on the advantages you’d take pleasure in by spending a full 12 months with the given standing. Nonetheless, when you’re ranging from scratch, the calculations turn into a bit extra sophisticated, because you received’t begin to take pleasure in any advantages till you hit the 35,000-point mark and earn A-Record standing.
To assist modify the evaluation for these people, I’ve taken the above valuations and transformed them to a price per Tier Qualifying Level, excluding the mixture Companion Go class:
- A-Record: $710/42,000 TQPs = 1.69 cents per TQP.
- A-Record Most well-liked: $2,860/84,000 TQPs = 3.4 cents per TQP.
- Companion Go (solely journey): $8,250/135,000 TQPs = 6.11 cents per TQP.
For instance, say you intend to earn 80,000 TQPs this 12 months and begin from scratch. At this charge, you’d get no advantages from the primary 35,000 factors, then take pleasure in A-Record advantages for the subsequent 35,000 factors (at a charge of 1.69 cents per TQP) after which take pleasure in A-Record Most well-liked advantages for the ultimate 10,000 factors (at a charge of three.4 cents per TQP).
In case you begin from scratch and estimate that you just’ll earn 80,000 TQPs in 2023, you’ll get $931.50 price of perks from the Fast Rewards program.
Is it price pursuing Southwest elite standing?
Given these values, is it price pursuing elite standing (or the subsequent tier of elite standing) with Southwest? Like several evaluation we undertake right here at TPG, there isn’t a simple reply to this, because it relies upon fully in your scenario. Nonetheless, listed here are just a few over-arching questions that may allow you to arrive at a choice:
How a lot will you journey sooner or later?
In case you earned Southwest elite standing in 2022, it’s legitimate by Dec. 31, 2023. Nonetheless, it’s important to consider how a lot you’ll be touring past that date. In case you push exhausting to earn A-Record Most well-liked this 12 months, the dear perks outlined above solely apply while you journey after you qualify and into 2024.
What’s the incremental worth of 1 tier over one other?
Lots of it’s possible you’ll wind up inside hanging distance of the subsequent tier, so think about whether or not the advantages are price pushing for it. There’s no sense in going out of your approach for perks that don’t matter to you.
How nicely does Southwest’s route map match your typical journey patterns?
There’s no level in pursuing elite standing with an airline when you can’t feasibly fly it commonly. Think about Southwest’s service from your own home airport(s) and the way straightforward it’s to get to your required vacation spot(s).
How delicate are you to cost and comfort?
This interest has many tradeoffs, and one of the vital widespread is deciding whether or not to make use of your most popular airline or lodge chain when it’s not probably the most handy or most cost-effective. Would you ebook a one-stop Southwest flight if Delta had a less expensive nonstop choice? If the reply is not any, it might not be price going out of your option to earn standing with Southwest (or elite standing with any airline, for that matter).
These questions are additionally tough to reply, as many elements come into play. However, it’s a worthwhile train to guage your scenario as you establish if Southwest elite standing is for you.
Associated: 13 classes from having a Southwest Companion Go for 13 years
Backside line
Southwest is an attention-grabbing case research in loyalty, as some vacationers received’t even think about flying on one other airline, whereas others would somewhat take Greyhound than set foot on a Southwest aircraft (that’s solely a light exaggeration). Although the Fast Rewards program is revenue-based, the general worth proposition of flying Southwest, particularly its “enjoyable” environment, is interesting to many.
While you add worthwhile perks just like the Companion Go and the service’s no-fee change coverage, it’s straightforward to see why Southwest has such loyal followers. In case you’re contemplating pursuing elite standing with Southwest this 12 months, I hope this evaluation has helped you decide.
Extra reporting by Benét J. Wilson.