China Airlines has become Southwest Airlines’ first partner in Asia, linking Taiwan to over 30 US cities via four West Coast gateways. While it’s not a full loyalty tie-up yet, this interline agreement opens new routes and booking conveniences for award travelers. Here’s what you need to know.

China Airlines and Southwest Form New Partnership For Trans-Pacific Connection

China Airlines x Southwest: What It Means For Award Travelers

  • Interline only! NO loyalty earn or redemption: At launch, there’s no points-and-miles reciprocity between China Airlines and Southwest. You can buy a single ticket connecting both carriers, but you’ll credit flights to each airline’s own program separately.
  • Four West Coast gateways: Connections at Los Angeles (LAX), Ontario (ONT), San Francisco (SFO) and Seattle (SEA) link long-haul flights from Taipei to Southwest’s vast domestic network.
  • Single itinerary benefits: Book through China Airlines or major travel agents to get one ticket, one check-in process, and baggage checked through to your final US destination.
  • 30+ new US destinations: Beyond the West Coast, you can connect to leisure hubs (Las Vegas, Orlando, Miami) and business centers (Dallas, Houston, Chicago, Atlanta, Denver).
China Airlines and Southwest Form New Partnership For Trans-Pacific Connection.

How the Interline Network Works

China Airlines operates daily non-stops from Taipei (TPE) to the four West Coast airports. From there, Southwest offers frequent flights to destinations across the continental US.

West Coast Gateway Sample Southwest Destinations
Los Angeles (LAX) LAS, PHX, DFW, HOU, DEN, ATL, ORD, MIA, FLL
San Francisco (SFO) LAS, PHX, DFW, HOU, DEN, ATL, ORD, MIA, FLL
Ontario (ONT) LAS, PHX, DFW, DEN, ORD, ATL
Seattle (SEA) LAS, PHX, DFW, HOU, DEN, ATL, ORD

Note: Schedules and frequencies vary by season. Check both airlines’ schedules when planning award or revenue itineraries.

Booking and Baggage Details

  • Where to book: China Airlines’ website and approved travel agents will sell combined itineraries. Southwest passengers cannot yet book the trans-Pacific segment through Southwest’s website.
  • Check-in: One stop at the first airport (TPE or US gateway) handles boarding passes for both airlines.
  • Baggage: Your checked luggage is tagged to the final US city on the same ticket—even though two carriers operate the flights.
  • Award ticket implications: You cannot mix China Airlines’ award space with Southwest awards. If you want to use miles, you must book each segment separately in the respective loyalty programs.

Beyond the Basics: What’s Next?

Southwest has hinted at adding more Asian partners in the coming years. As this interline model proves itself, we could see:

  • Full frequent flyer integration (earn and burn across carriers)
  • Code-share enhancements for easier booking across both websites
  • Additional gateways or seasonal routes from Taipei

For frequent flyers and travel hackers, this is a first step toward more seamless global award itineraries, even before a formal loyalty partnership materializes.

Plan Your Trans-Pacific Connections with AwardFares

Ready to explore interline award space between China Airlines and Southwest? Let AwardFares power your search:

  • ✈️ Scan availability for both carriers in one go
  • 📆 Compare award calendars in the Timeline View
  • 📍 Preview real-time seat maps for each segment
  • 🔔 Set custom alerts for new trans-Pacific award openings

Explore more on Asia–US award connections and routes: