Benefits that apply during the lifetime of your card being open...
Priority boarding (Group 2): always (even if not paid by card, or ticket purchased in the past)
Free carry-on on domestic BE: always (based on boarding group)
First checked bag free: only if the ticket is paid in part with the card (paying the taxes on an award ticket counts, so does a seat purchase on a previously existing itinerary - anything generating a new EDD on the PNR should work)