What happened
Etihad Airways and Southwest Airlines will let Etihad Guest and Rapid Rewards members earn their own currency on each other's eligible flights and redeem for award travel on the other airline's network from Spring 2027.
Rapid Rewards members will earn points on eligible Etihad flights and can redeem them on Etihad's long-haul network, including newer destinations such as Krabi. Etihad Guest members will earn miles on Southwest and redeem them on Southwest's U.S. network and its flying to Mexico and the Caribbean. Etihad already flies nonstop to several U.S. cities and Toronto and offers U.S. CBP preclearance at Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport. AAdvantage members can already earn and redeem on Etihad.
Earning and redemption are limited to eligible flights. LoyaltyLobby flags a possible onboard-product mismatch between the two airlines.
No awards can be booked until the partnership launches in Spring 2027, when earning rates and availability will be known.
- Where
- United States, Mexico, Central America, Caribbean, Abu Dhabi, Krabi, Zanzibar, Hanoi
- Who qualifies
- Etihad Guest and Southwest Rapid Rewards members, on eligible partner-airline flights
- Takeaway
- There is nothing to book yet; wait for earning rates and award availability when the partnership goes live in Spring 2027.