Key Points:
- Southwest Airlines launched its seventh international partnership with All Nippon Airways (ANA), expanding access to Japan through six U.S. gateway cities.
- Travelers can now book single-ticket itineraries connecting Southwest domestic flights with ANA international routes to Tokyo and beyond.
- While points redemption isn't available yet, Southwest Rapid Rewards members should eventually earn and redeem points on these connecting flights.
Southwest Airlines just added another major international partner to its growing network. The Dallas-based carrier announced an interline agreement with All Nippon Airways (ANA), Japan's largest airline, marking Southwest's fourth partnership with an Asia-based carrier in just over a year.
This partnership opens new possibilities for travelers heading to Japan who don't have nonstop service from their home airport. Here's everything you need to know about this new Southwest-ANA connection.
What the Southwest-ANA Partnership Means for Travelers
The partnership between Southwest and ANA is structured as an interline agreement. This means passengers can book connecting itineraries that include flights on both airlines under a single ticket.
What this eliminates:
- Booking separate tickets
- Collecting and rechecking bags during connections
- Going through security again at connection points
- Worrying about missed connections if your first flight is delayed
Gateway cities where you can connect:
- Chicago O'Hare (ORD)
- Honolulu (HNL)
- Los Angeles (LAX)
- San Francisco (SFO)
- Seattle-Tacoma (SEA)
- Washington Dulles (IAD)
For example, you could book a single ticket from Austin to Los Angeles on Southwest, then continue to Tokyo Haneda on ANA. Your bags would be checked through, and you'd have protection if your Southwest flight runs late.
How Southwest's International Strategy Is Evolving
This partnership represents a dramatic shift for Southwest Airlines. For decades, the carrier focused exclusively on point-to-point domestic service with limited international flying to Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.
That changed in 2025 when Southwest launched its first-ever international airline partnership with Icelandair in February. Since then, the airline has been on a partnership spree.
Southwest's current international partners:
- Icelandair (launched February 2025) - Connections to Europe via Baltimore, Denver, Nashville, Orlando, Pittsburgh, and Raleigh-Durham
- China Airlines (launched June 2025) - Taiwan and Asia connections via Los Angeles, San Francisco, Ontario, and Seattle
- EVA Airways (launched August 2025) - Taiwan and Asia via Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, and Chicago
- Philippine Airlines (launched November 2025) - Manila connections
- Condor (launched December 2025) - Europe, Africa, and Asia via Frankfurt
- Turkish Airlines (launched January 2026) - Global connectivity via Istanbul from Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington D.C.
- All Nippon Airways (launched March 2026) - Japan via six gateway cities
This rapid expansion follows significant pressure from activist investor Elliott Investment Management, which assumed control of Southwest's board in late 2024. Elliott has pushed the airline to modernize its operations and compete more directly with legacy carriers.
Why ANA Is a Valuable Partner
All Nippon Airways isn't just any airline. It's Japan's largest carrier and consistently ranks among the world's best airlines. ANA has earned Skytrax's 5-star rating every year since 2013 and won Air Transport World's "Airline of the Year" award four times.
What makes ANA special:
- Member of Star Alliance since 1999, giving you connectivity to airlines like United, Lufthansa, and Singapore Airlines
- Operates over 130 domestic routes within Japan
- Serves 70 international destinations
- Dual hub system at Tokyo's Narita and Haneda airports
- Known for exceptional service quality
- Modern fleet including Boeing 787 Dreamliners
ANA also has joint venture partnerships with United Airlines, Lufthansa, Swiss International Airlines, and Austrian Airlines. This means extensive connectivity beyond Japan to other parts of Asia, Europe, and around the globe.
Current Limitations and What's Coming Next
While the partnership launched in March 2026, there are some important limitations to understand.
What you CAN do now:
- Book connecting itineraries through ANA's website and booking platforms
- Check bags through to your final destination
- Enjoy single-ticket convenience
What you CAN'T do yet:
- Book these itineraries on Southwest.com
- Earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points on ANA flights
- Use Southwest points to book ANA segments
- See these options readily available (booking integration is still rolling out)
According to Southwest's official partnership page, loyalty program integration comes in later phases. Based on the rollout with earlier partners like Icelandair, we can expect Southwest Rapid Rewards members to eventually earn points on qualifying itineraries that include ANA flights.
How to Book Southwest-ANA Connections
Despite announcements that bookings are available, many travelers report difficulty finding these itineraries on airline websites. Here's how to increase your chances of success:
Best booking methods:
- Start on ANA's website (ana.co.jp) rather than Southwest.com
- Search for multi-city itineraries with connections at the six gateway airports
- Contact ANA reservations directly by phone
- Work with a travel agent familiar with interline bookings
- Check third-party booking platforms where ANA sells tickets
The integration is very new, and it may take several weeks or months for these connections to appear seamlessly in booking systems.
Maximizing Value from This Partnership
If you're planning travel to Japan and this partnership could work for your itinerary, here are strategies to maximize value:
Build your Southwest points balance:The Chase Southwest credit cards are your best bet for accumulating Rapid Rewards points that you'll eventually be able to use on these connections. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card offers 3x points per dollar on Southwest purchases and 2x points on select categories, making it ideal for frequent Southwest flyers.
For business owners, consider the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card, which earns 4x points on Southwest purchases and 2x points on social media advertising and internet services.
Consider the Southwest Companion Pass:If you can earn the Companion Pass through credit card spending or flying, your companion could potentially fly free on the Southwest portion of your journey to the gateway city.
Compare total costs:Don't assume the interline connection is automatically cheaper than booking separately or flying a different carrier nonstop. Run the numbers on:
- Total airfare cost
- Connection time required
- Risk of missed connections
- Baggage fees (Southwest includes two free checked bags)
Watch for future developments:As the partnership matures, expect improvements in booking integration, the addition of more gateway cities, and eventual points redemption options.
Southwest's Broader International Ambitions
The ANA partnership is part of a much larger transformation at Southwest Airlines. Beyond interline agreements, the carrier has filed paperwork with the U.S. Department of Transportation seeking permission to fly to any country with an Open Skies agreement.
This potentially opens doors to Southwest operating its own long-haul international flights in the future to destinations in:
- All of the European Union and United Kingdom
- Japan
- South Korea
- Thailand
- Australia
- India
- Dozens of other countries
Whether Southwest will actually launch these flights remains to be seen. The airline would need to acquire wide-body aircraft and significantly change its operational model. But the filing shows the company is seriously considering options that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago.
What This Means for Frequent Flyers
If you're loyal to Southwest Airlines and accumulate Rapid Rewards points, this partnership creates interesting new possibilities.
For domestic-focused travelers:These partnerships probably won't change much about your travel patterns. Southwest remains strongest for domestic point-to-point routes, and the international connections add complexity.
For international travelers:If you're already flying Southwest domestically and want to visit Japan or other international destinations, these partnerships could offer value by allowing you to:
- Use one airline for more of your journey
- Potentially earn Rapid Rewards points on international segments
- Leverage Southwest's free checked bags for the domestic portion
- Build toward Companion Pass with more qualifying travel
The best way to maximize this benefit is through strategic use of Southwest's co-branded credit cards. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card offers a lower annual fee while still providing solid earning rates and anniversary bonuses.
For points collectors:Watch for opportunities to earn bonus points through credit card spending on Southwest cards, then potentially use those points for premium cabin redemptions when partner award bookings become available. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card includes upgraded boarding and anniversary bonus points that make it an excellent choice for frequent flyers.
Comparing Southwest's Partnership Strategy to Competitors
Southwest's interline approach differs significantly from how major carriers typically expand international reach.
Traditional alliance model (United, Delta, American):
- Full membership in global alliances (Star Alliance, SkyTeam, oneworld)
- Reciprocal frequent flyer benefits
- Codeshare flights with alliance members
- Lounge access reciprocity
- Streamlined award bookings across partners
Southwest's interline model:
- Select bilateral partnerships
- Limited initial integration
- Gradual rollout of benefits
- No lounge reciprocity
- Simpler booking process for customers (when it works)
The interline approach allows Southwest to maintain its independent identity while selectively adding international connectivity. It's less comprehensive than traditional alliances but potentially simpler for the average traveler.
Tips for Booking Your First Southwest-ANA Connection
If you want to try out this new partnership, here's how to increase your chances of a smooth booking experience:
Plan ahead:Give yourself extra time at connection points. A 90-minute connection might work for domestic flights, but allow at least 2-3 hours when connecting between Southwest and ANA.
Choose reliable gateway cities:Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle typically handle international connections well. Honolulu can be more complex due to different terminal locations.
Understand baggage allowances:Southwest allows two free checked bags, but ANA's international routes have specific size and weight limits. Make sure your bags comply with both carriers' requirements.
Save your confirmation details:Keep both your Southwest confirmation and ANA confirmation numbers. While it's a single ticket, having both reference numbers can help if you need to make changes or handle irregular operations.
Consider travel insurance:Any connection adds complexity and risk. Travel insurance that covers missed connections and trip delays becomes more valuable when you're connecting to international flights.
The Bottom Line
Southwest's partnership with All Nippon Airways expands options for travelers heading to Japan through six U.S. gateway cities. While the partnership is brand new and booking integration is still rolling out, it represents a significant shift in Southwest's international strategy.
For now, the main benefit is simplified booking and baggage handling on connecting itineraries. As the partnership matures, expect to see Southwest Rapid Rewards integration, more seamless booking processes, and potentially additional gateway cities.
If you're planning travel to Japan and Southwest serves your home airport well, this partnership could offer value once the booking systems are fully integrated. Keep an eye on future developments, especially around points earning and redemption. Consider applying for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card now to start building your points balance for when award redemptions become available.
Southwest has indicated more international partnerships are coming. Combined with its other 2025-2026 changes like assigned seating, premium cabin options, and partnerships with Icelandair, Turkish Airlines, and others, the airline looks very different than it did just two years ago.
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