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While Southwest Airlines offers some international flights to Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America, there’s no market for Southwest Europe flights. That is, until now. Southwest just rolled out a new partnership with Icelandair that allows passengers to book a single ticket combining flights on the two airlines.
As the first part of an effort to build partnerships with international carriers, you can now book connecting flights on Southwest Airlines when you purchase a ticket from Icelandair. Currently, Icelandair offers connections to Southwest flights connecting in Baltimore, with connections in Nashville and Denver being offered starting in the summer of 2025.
How to book Southwest flights to Europe with Icelandair
For the time being, the only way to book Southwest flights to Europe is through Icelandair or an authorized travel agency. When you search for flights from the U.S. to Europe at Icelandair.com, you’ll now receive options that include legs on Southwest, although you might also see flights on Alaska Airlines, which is also a partner of Icelandair.
What European destinations can I reach with the Southwest-Icelandair partnership?
Along with your flight to Icelandair’s hub in Reykjavik, you can also connect to four other airports in Iceland, four in Greenland, and 34 destinations in Europe. Popular destinations include Rome, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Barcelona and Prague. This can work out perfectly for travelers, as Iceland is about halfway between many U.S. and European cities.
Is it possible to use Southwest Rapid Rewards points for Icelandair flights?
Right now, the answer is no. Although an official announcement hasn’t been made yet, that’s expected to change in 2026, when Southwest introduces assigned seating. At that time, you may also be able to use Southwest’s booking channels to purchase itineraries that include Icelandair flights.
What are the benefits of the Southwest-Icelandair partnership for travelers?
Among the benefits offered by Southwest’s Icelandair partnership is the ability to book connecting flights in one place. Not only is this faster and more convenient to purchase, it also offers travelers protections against delays and cancellations that wouldn’t necessarily be provided if you booked two separate tickets. Booking the entire reservation on a single ticket also allows you to have your baggage transferred as well.
Additionally, you can also earn rewards on Southwest Airlines for your Southwest flights that are booked through Icelandair. When you purchase your reservations with Icelandair that include Southwest flights, be sure to enter your Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards (frequent flier) number in your reservation. Doing so will allow you to earn Rapid Rewards points, tier qualifying points, and Companion Pass qualifying points from your flights. If your Southwest Airlines flight is under 1,000 miles, you’ll earn 500 points. Flights between 1,001 and 1,800 miles will earn 1,000 points, and flights of 1,801 miles or more will earn 1,500 points.
Bottom line
Having seemingly reached the limits of its ability to expand in North America, Southwest is now setting its sights overseas by partnering with Icelandair. By booking overseas itineraries through Icelandair, you can take Southwest Airlines to your international gateway, you can continue on to Europe on a single ticket, and earn Rapid Rewards points in the process. All of this bodes well for Southwest passengers as its Icelandair partnership evolves, pioneering the way for ties with other foreign carriers in the years to come
