After a rocky start to 2025, Southwest Airlines is turning heads for a more positive reason: the announcement of a new international partnership with China Airlines, Taiwan’s flagship carrier. Following its first-ever interline agreement with Icelandair earlier this year, Southwest is now doubling down on its global ambitions.
The China Airlines partnership, revealed on June 2, 2025, is expected to take effect in early 2026, with joint itineraries going on sale as early as Q3 2025. So, what does this mean for travelers—and is this a game-changer for international connectivity?
What We Know: Interline Agreement, One Ticket, Seamless Connections
This agreement will allow passengers to book single itineraries across both airlines, meaning checked baggage transfers and fewer booking hassles. The interline setup makes it easier for China Airlines passengers arriving in U.S. gateway cities to connect to Southwest’s extensive domestic network.
Cities likely to serve as key connection points include:
- Los Angeles (LAX)
- San Francisco (SFO)
- Seattle (SEA)
- Ontario, California (ONT)
This move is particularly appealing to international travelers flying into the U.S. who need easy onward connections to cities across the Midwest and East Coast.
What We Don’t Know: Loyalty Program Integration
While the operational agreement is clear, there’s a lot we still don’t know—especially for frequent flyers.
- Will Southwest Rapid Rewards points be redeemable for China Airlines flights?
Southwest hasn’t confirmed this yet. Based on the Icelandair agreement, it’s possible that award redemptionscould become available later via Southwest’s website. But pricing remains a mystery. - Will passengers earn miles across both programs?
This remains unclear. China Airlines is a SkyTeam member, while Southwest is unaffiliated with any airline alliance. It’s possible that point or mile accrual won’t be reciprocal—at least not at launch. - Can Dynasty Flyer members book Southwest flights using miles?
Again, no confirmation. China Airlines’ Dynasty Flyer miles are not tied to major U.S. credit card point transfer programs, so this potential redemption option could offer more value to their loyal flyers—if enabled.
What the Partnership Could Look Like
If this new agreement mirrors Southwest’s Icelandair model, we may eventually see:
- Redeemable Rapid Rewards points for Asia-Pacific travel via China Airlines
- Combined itineraries from the U.S. to Taipei (TPE) and onward to destinations across Asia and Oceania
- More visibility for Southwest on third-party booking platforms like Expedia and Kayak
Currently, a one-way flight from LAX to Taipei with China Airlines averages $450. If redeemable through Southwest and assuming a value of 1.3 cents per Rapid Rewards point, the same route could cost around 35,000 points—but that’s speculative until official details are released.
Final Thoughts: A Step in the Right Direction
While details are still sparse, this interline partnership is a smart move for both airlines. It enhances connectivity, gives Southwest a transpacific reach, and opens the U.S. domestic market more easily to China Airlines passengers.
With interline tickets going live later in 2025, we’ll soon find out whether this partnership lives up to its promise—or whether it’s just a symbolic nod toward global collaboration. Either way, for travelers looking for more flexible options between the U.S. and Asia, it’s a development worth watching.