Southwest Airlines is strengthening its international presence through a new agreement with Turkish Airlines, effective next month. This collaboration will allow passengers to book connecting flights between the two carriers, with seamless baggage transfer, marking a significant step in Southwest’s growing network of global partnerships.
Expanding Connectivity for Travelers
The partnership means travelers can now combine Southwest flights to major U.S. hubs served by Turkish Airlines with long-haul connections on Turkish’s wide-body aircraft, most notably to Istanbul. This opens up convenient travel options for passengers flying between North America and destinations across Turkish Airlines’ vast network.
This move is particularly notable because Southwest only recently began establishing airline partnerships in 2025. The airline is still refining the technology required to fully integrate bookings, rewards earning, and redemptions across partner carriers. Initially, bookings will be available through Turkish Airlines’ website, select third-party sites like Expedia, with Southwest aiming to integrate partner bookings into its own platforms in the future.
Strategic Growth for Southwest Rapid Rewards
A key driver behind these international partnerships is Southwest’s long-term goal of enabling Rapid Rewards members to earn and redeem points on international flights. While full integration is still in development, this partnership with Turkish Airlines brings that vision closer to reality.
Southwest has already established similar ties with six other international carriers:
– Europe & Middle East: Condor Airlines, Icelandair, and Turkish Airlines
– Asia: China Airlines and EVA Air
– South Pacific: Philippine Airlines
Currently, Turkish Airlines serves 14 U.S. cities from its Istanbul hub, with initial connections focusing on ten key U.S. gateways.
Turkish Airlines Strengthens Its Position in the U.S. Market
This alliance further solidifies Turkish Airlines’ presence in the U.S. market, where it already maintains partnerships with United Airlines and Air Canada as a Star Alliance member. Additionally, Turkish Airlines’ Miles&Smiles loyalty program aligns with major transferable points programs like Bilt Rewards, Capital One, and Citi ThankYou Rewards, creating added value for travelers who utilize these reward systems.
The partnership will allow for points transfers from these programs to Turkish Airlines, enabling a broader range of booking options when combined with Southwest flights.
The expansion of Southwest’s partnerships represents a strategic shift toward increased international connectivity, positioning the airline to better compete in the global travel market. This also shows a rising trend among U.S. carriers toward flexible partnerships rather than traditional alliances.
