Southwest Airways is constant to increase its community of associate airways. Subsequent up: Turkish Airways.
Southwest on Wednesday introduced a brand new settlement with the Star Alliance service that may take impact subsequent month.
As a part of the Southwest-Turkish tie-up, you’ll be capable to guide itineraries that function flights on each Southwest and Turkish, and you may make seamless connections between the 2 airways.
This implies you may guide an itinerary that features a Southwest flight to a serious U.S. hub served by Turkish after which connect with one among Turkish Airways’ wide-body planes for a long-haul journey to Istanbul.
And, as a part of that hyperlink, your checked luggage will switch similar to they might on every other connection.
Finally, this association may open the door to Southwest Fast Rewards redemptions on Turkish Airways flights to its Istanbul Airport (IST) hub and onward to its tons of of locations around the globe.
How Southwest’s new Turkish Airways partnership will work
From the beginning, it’ll be a extra restricted association.
Southwest simply launched airline partnerships in 2025, and it is nonetheless getting up and operating with know-how that may help reserving, incomes and making redemptions on associate carriers.
Just like its different partnerships, you’ll be capable to guide Southwest-Turkish connections by way of Turkish Airways’ web site and reserving channels, in addition to by sure third-party websites like Expedia.
Reward your inbox with the TPG Day by day e-newsletter
Be a part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s consultants
Within the not-so-distant future, Southwest hopes to supply associate bookings by its personal web site and cellular app.
The Dallas-based service has additionally been very clear: An enormous cause behind establishing these partnerships with worldwide airways is to ultimately permit Fast Rewards members to earn and redeem factors on flights to faraway worldwide locations.
Southwest’s rising record of companions
Thus far, Southwest has created partnerships with a half dozen abroad carriers:
- Europe and the Center East: Condor Airways, Icelandair and Turkish Airways
- Asia: China Airways and EVA Air
- South Pacific: Philippine Airways
As of this month, Turkish Airways serves a complete of 14 U.S. cities from its Istanbul residence base: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Newark, New York Metropolis, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, D.C.
Southwest stated that the partnership between the 2 airways will initially give attention to 10 U.S. gateways.
Turkish Airways deepens US ties
As a Star Alliance member, Turkish already companions with each United Airways and Air Canada in North America.
Moreover, its Miles&Smiles loyalty program is a 1:1 switch associate of a number of main transferable factors packages, together with Bilt Rewards, Capital One and Citi ThankYou Rewards.
So, as soon as this tie-up with Southwest will get underway, you must be capable to switch your factors from Bilt, Capital One and Citi to Turkish. After which, you possibly can guide an itinerary that features a Southwest flight.
Associated studying:
