In February, Southwest Airlines is planning to make a significant move by partnering with Icelandair, marking its first partnership with another airline. Starting next month, passengers will have the opportunity to book journeys that include both airlines, with Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) acting as the initial hub for these connections.
Looking forward, travelers will also be able to book flights with stopovers at Denver International Airport (DEN) or Nashville International Airport (BNA) as part of their Southwest-Icelandair itinerary, though dates for these options are yet to be disclosed.
This exciting collaboration paves the way for Southwest travelers to fly into Iceland’s Keflavík International Airport (KEF). From there, they can reach over 30 additional destinations across Europe, all accessible from the initial three focus cities: Baltimore, Denver, and Nashville. Moreover, travelers will have the advantage of redeeming Southwest Rapid Rewards points for these flights.
It’s an opportune moment for those flying with Southwest, especially considering the airline’s plans to expand its partnerships with more carriers by 2025.
As its first-ever interline partner, Icelandair will join forces with Southwest in a way that simplifies the travel experience. This means passengers can check their baggage at their departure airport and collect it at their final destination, even if their journey involves flights from multiple airlines. This streamlined process particularly benefits travelers transitioning from a Southwest to an Icelandair flight, eliminating the need to retrieve and recheck their luggage during their transfer. However, initially, this combined itinerary must be booked through Icelandair.
Starting February 2025, travelers will be able to arrange their trips through Icelandair’s website, utilizing gateways designated for these routes. Unfortunately, direct booking through Southwest remains off the table for now. It’s still uncertain what added perks, like priority boarding or seat upgrades, will be offered, especially since Southwest recently moved away from its policy of open seating.
At present, the new Southwest-Icelandair flights to Europe aren’t available to book yet. However, looking at preliminary prices for February 2025, Icelandair offers round-trip fares from U.S. cities to Reykjavík that are attractively priced. For instance, you can find round-trip tickets from Baltimore to Reykjavík starting at $378, and from New York City at $348. Meanwhile, Play Airlines, known for its budget offerings, lists its fares from Washington, D.C., at a competitive $254. In comparison, major airlines like American and Delta have starting prices around $600.
While specifics about earning Southwest Rapid Rewards points on Icelandair flights haven’t been released, generally, airline partnerships do allow for points accrual — similar to Icelandair’s arrangements with Alaska Airlines and JetBlue. Being able to book award flights with Icelandair using Southwest points is quite promising. Southwest points are among the most valuable with U.S. carriers, but until now, the loyalty program’s international options were limited mainly to spots in Mexico and the Caribbean.
So, is this partnership really worth it? Budget-conscious travelers are likely to feel the benefits most effectively. Southwest’s aim to broaden its network means more routes to popular destinations, which traditionally helps drive down costs for travelers. However, it’s essential to consider that these new international routes might come with multiple layovers due to integration through each airline’s hub cities. For trips starting in the U.S., there could be a stop at BNA, BWI, or DEN before continuing to KEF and then on to the final destination. Nevertheless, airlines usually collaborate to align flight schedules, minimizing long layovers. Your final decision may come down to price and timing, particularly if alternative routes with fewer connections are available from your local airport.
It’s also important to note that while Icelandair serves various European cities such as Amsterdam, Barcelona, Copenhagen, London, and Paris, not all destinations are covered by their network. For those eager to explore Iceland itself, these new flight options from Southwest are definitely a welcome addition to their travel itinerary.
