You can book one ticket that connects China Airlines flights from Taipei to Southwest flights across the U.S. China Airlines sells these itineraries on its own website for travel on or after January 19, 2026, with Los Angeles, San Francisco, Ontario and Seattle as the shared gateways.
It's Southwest's first trans-Pacific partnership, and it's an interline agreement rather than a codeshare. Here's how it works, what to check before you book, and who it suits.
What the Partnership Is
An interline agreement lets two airlines sell one ticket that covers both carriers' flights. Unlike a codeshare, each airline still sells and operates its own flights under its own flight numbers. If you're flying from Taipei (TPE) to Los Angeles (LAX) on China Airlines and continuing to Las Vegas (LAS) or Denver (DEN) on Southwest, one booking covers the whole trip.
The deal is Southwest's second international tie-up, after its Icelandair partnership. Southwest announced it in June 2025 at the IATA Annual General Meeting in New Delhi.
Where It Connects
China Airlines and Southwest share four gateways:
- Los Angeles (LAX)
- San Francisco (SFO)
- Ontario, California (ONT)
- Seattle (SEA)
From those airports, the ticket continues on Southwest's domestic network. From Taipei, China Airlines flies on to cities across Asia, so a Southwest passenger can reach much of the region with one stop in Taiwan.
How to Book
Search for the full trip on China Airlines' website, choose an itinerary that includes a Southwest flight, and buy it as a single ticket. Southwest's partnerships page tells travelers to book these trips on the China Airlines website, so start there.
Book the whole trip on one ticket. If you buy the Southwest and China Airlines flights separately, your bags won't transfer between airlines and neither carrier protects you if one flight delays the other.
Bags, Check-In and Status
On a single ticket, bags are generally checked through to your final stop, but confirm that and your check-in steps when you book. Southwest charges for checked bags, so which airline's bag policy applies to your itinerary matters. Check Southwest's checked baggage page and China Airlines' allowance for your fare before you pay.
Elite status stays with each airline. Southwest A-List perks apply to Southwest flights, and China Airlines Dynasty Flyer benefits apply to China Airlines flights.
Points and Rapid Rewards
Southwest says Rapid Rewards members will be able to earn and redeem points for travel on China Airlines, with the rollout beginning in spring 2027. Until then, reports at launch described no points reciprocity between the two programs, so confirm how each flight credits before you book.
If you hold Chase Ultimate Rewards points, they transfer to Southwest at 1:1, which helps on the domestic leg. You can also earn Chase points by paying for the China Airlines ticket with a card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred. Our complete guide to Chase Ultimate Rewards covers the options, and our Southwest Rapid Rewards guide explains how the program works. If you're comparing the two Sapphire cards, see our Chase Sapphire showdown.
Who It Fits
This partnership suits you if you:
- Live near a Southwest city and want one ticket to Asia without a legacy-carrier connection
- Want one booking for the domestic leg instead of a separate Southwest ticket
- Care more about price than premium cabins or elite perks
It's less useful if you hold status with another airline group, want a lounge-and-upgrade experience, or prefer a nonstop from your home airport.
Next Steps
Price the trip on China Airlines' website, then compare it with a one-stop itinerary on a legacy carrier. Look at the total, including bags, not just the fare. If the fares are close, an award search on the legacy carrier may beat both; our award search tools guide shows where to look.
Updated October 17, 2026: partnership details.
