Two airlines with Southwest connections—one bearing the name, and the other based in the southwest corner of its home country—are extending their connections to each other’s networks, with more details added last week.
The initial connection, starting next month, will allow passengers to book itineraries that start on Southwest and continue on Icelandair to Iceland and Europe, but only on Icelandair’s website. Later, when Southwest begins assigning seats instead of open seating, it will be possible to book on either site and through third-party booking sites.
Initially, as announced, the link between the two will be at Southwest’s hub at Baltimore’s BWI Airport, but last week’s announcement says the two will be adding connections at Denver and Nashville later on. Further plans for later include being able to earn and burn each airline’s loyalty points on the other.
Southwest says it’s also talking to other airlines, and hopes to add at least one more partner this year; officials say they are talking to both trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific carriers.
