Etihad Airways plane at Red Sea Airport. Photo: Etihad Airways Etihad Airways and Southwest Airlines are joining forces in a loyalty partnership that will allow members of their respective rewards programs to earn and redeem points across both airlines’ networks from spring 2027.
The agreement connects Etihad Guest, the loyalty program of the UAE’s national airline, with Southwest’s Rapid Rewards program. It will give members of both programs more options to earn rewards and use them to book flights across destinations in North America and beyond.
Under the partnership, Etihad Guest members will be able to earn miles on eligible Southwest flights and redeem them for reward travel across Southwest’s network in the United States, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.
Rapid Rewards members will also be able to earn points on eligible Etihad flights and redeem them for travel across the airline’s international network. Destinations include newer additions such as Krabi in Thailand, Zanzibar in Tanzania and Hanoi in Vietnam.
Krabi. Photo: Chaton Chokpatara / Shutterstock.comMark Potter, managing director of Etihad Guest, said the agreement adds to the airline’s growing portfolio of loyalty partners and strengthens its reach in North America.
He said the partnership would give Etihad Guest members access to more destinations across the United States, Central America and the Caribbean, while allowing Rapid Rewards members to experience Etihad’s international network and onboard service.
Southwest Airlines. Photo: ShutterstockNandika Suri, Southwest Airlines’ vice president of Rapid Rewards, said the agreement would provide members with additional opportunities to earn and redeem points across Etihad’s global network, while bringing Etihad Guest members to destinations served by Southwest.
The two programs have different reward structures. Etihad Guest Miles can be redeemed for flights, cabin upgrades, hotel stays, holidays and products through the Etihad Guest Reward Shop.
Southwest Rapid Rewards allows members to earn points on all fare types and redeem them for available seats on Southwest-operated flights. The program has no blackout dates, and points do not expire.
Etihad currently operates nonstop flights to Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, New York City and Washington in the United States, as well as Toronto in Canada. Direct flights to Calgary are scheduled to begin on October 25, 2026.
Passengers traveling to the United States through Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi can also use the airport’s US Customs and Border Protection preclearance facility. This allows eligible travelers to complete US immigration and customs procedures before departure and arrive in the United States as domestic passengers.
The new loyalty agreement offers another way for the airlines to connect their networks without announcing a joint flight operation or a change to their existing route maps. For travelers, its practical value will depend on the award availability, earning rates and redemption terms introduced when the partnership begins in spring 2027.