Southwest Airlines Tier Extension, Status Boost & Travel Funds Coronavirus Response

Southwest Airlines today released a comprehensive Covid-19 status extension, status boost, and travel fund extension and conversion policies.

A-List and A-List Preferred members have their status extended through December 31, 2021, Companion Pass is through July 31, 2021, and Travel Funds up to September 7, 2022.

You can access Southwest’s page for coronavirus response here.

Status Extensions

For Companion Pass holders, who earned Companion Pass benefits through December 31, 2020, we are extending your current Companion Pass benefits through June 30, 2021.

For A-List and A-List Preferred Members who earned A-List or A-List Preferred status through December 31, 2020 and not through any type of promotion, we are extending your current earned status through December 31, 2021.

For Members enrolled in a promotion granting promotional A-List status or challenging a Member to extend promotional A-List status such as Status Match, Tier Challenge, Tier Experience, or a Corporate Status Challenge and who met the flight requirements by the promotion end date, we are extending your current promotional status through December 31, 2021. However, for Members enrolled in any of the above promotions and who to date have not met the flight requirements, we are extending the deadline to meet the promotion’s flight requirements to October 30, 2020.

Tier Boost

Travel Funds

Previously, Customers’ travel funds that have expired or would have expired between March 1 – June 30, 2020, or travel funds created because of a cancellation between March 1 – June 30, 2020, had an expiration date of June 30, 2021. Now we are expanding the window of funds eligible for extended expiration dates and extending the expiration date of these funds. Funds that are set to expire or funds that are created between March 1, 2020 and September 7, 2020, will have an expiration date of September 7, 2022

Option to convert select travel funds into Rapid Rewards® points

We have added a new benefit for our valued Rapid Rewards Members. Those Members who have travel funds that are set to expire or funds that are created between March 1, 2020 and September 7, 2020 will have the option to convert those travel funds into Rapid Rewards points at the same rate you would be able to purchase a ticket with points today. We hope this provides our Members ultimate flexibility as Rapid Rewards points never expire, never have cancel or change fees (fare difference may apply), and you can redeem your points for anyone you choose.

Here’s the email that Southwest sent out:

Conclusion

These policies are reasonable and will help Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards members to weather through the coronavirus pandemic.

I would opt for cash refunds whenever possible instead of Travel Funds or conversions of those funds to Rapid Rewards points.

Here are the frequently asked questions by Southwest:

Will you be extending A-List and A-List Preferred tier status?

Yes, current Rapid Rewards tier status Members who earned A-List or A-List Preferred status through December 31, 2020 without any type of promotion will have their status extended through December 31, 2021. For Members enrolled in a promotion granting promotional A-List status or challenging a Member to extend promotional A-List status such as Status Match, Tier Challenge, Tier Experience, or a Corporate Status Challenge and who met the flight requirements by the promotion end date, we are extending your current promotional status through December 31, 2021. However, for Members enrolled in any of the above promotions and who to date have not met the flight requirements, we are extending the deadline to meet the promotion’s flight requirements to October 30, 2020.

Will you be extending Companion Pass benefits?

Yes, current Rapid Rewards Companion Pass holders who earned Companion Pass through December 31, 2020 without any type of promotion will have their benefits extended through June 30, 2021.

Is there any prior registration required before my tier status or Companion Pass is extended?

If you qualify for an extension, your Tier status and/or Companion Pass benefits will be automatically extended in the upcoming weeks so no action is necessary on your part.

I was enrolled for an A-List Status Challenge promotional offer and met the flight requirements by the promotion end date. Will my promotional A-List status be extended?

Yes, if you met the flight requirements stipulated in the promotion by the promotion end date then your promotional A-List benefits will be extended through December 31, 2021.

I was enrolled for a Status Match Challenge, but due to business travel restrictions, I was unable to meet the challenge requirements. Can I re-start my challenge?

There is no need to re-start the challenge. For Members enrolled in a Status Match Challenge and who to date have not met the flight requirements, we are extending the deadline to meet the promotion’s flight requirements to October 30, 2020.

Who will receive the tier, Companion Pass, and flight segment boost?

All Rapid Rewards Members who opened a Rapid Rewards account by April 1, 2020 are eligible and will automatically receive a 15,000 tier qualifying point (TQPs) boost, a 25,000 Companion Pass qualifying point (CPQPs) boost and flight segments into their accounts in the coming weeks.

Do I need to register to receive the 15,000 tier qualifying point (TQPs), 25,000 Companion Pass qualifying points (CPQs), and flight segment boost?

No registration is needed. The TQPs, CPQPs, and flight segments will be reflected in your Rapid Rewards account in the coming weeks.