Southwest Sets 2027 Etihad Loyalty Partnership (insideflyer.com)

Southwest plans reciprocal loyalty partnerships with Etihad Airways, Icelandair and China Airlines in spring 2027, potentially letting travelers book Southwest flights with Etihad miles. Etihad's distance-based partner pricing, such as 6,000 miles for flights up to 500 miles, could undercut Southwest's cash-linked award rates on short routes like STL-MDW, DAL-HOU, BUR-LAS and OAK-LAS. Availability and rules remain unknown, and Southwest may restrict Etihad bookings to a separate allotment.