LOT Polish Airlines and United States carrier Southwest Airlines have formally launched a new interline partnership, enabling travelers to purchase seamless connecting itineraries across both airlines on a single ticket. The strategic commercial arrangement effectively connects the transatlantic route network of Poland’s national carrier with the extensive domestic flight operations of Southwest Airlines, creating integrated air travel options for long-haul passengers moving between Europe and North America.
The central feature of this interline agreement is the implementation of single-ticket functionality for joint itineraries. Under the new framework, passengers booking travel that involves both LOT Polish Airlines and Southwest Airlines will no longer need to manage separate reservations, fares, or ticketing requirements. The unified ticket simplifies booking procedures, passenger check-in, and baggage transfers across the combined route networks of both carriers, reducing travel friction at key transfer hubs.
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Initial operations under the new interline structure will be anchored at three strategic aviation gateways in the United States: Los Angeles International Airport, Miami International Airport, and San Francisco International Airport. These major metropolitan transfer points will serve as the exclusive connecting hubs during the initial phase of the partnership, allowing long-haul passengers arriving on LOT Polish Airlines to transfer onto Southwest Airlines flights servicing destinations throughout the American domestic system.
The selection of Los Angeles, Miami, and San Francisco as launch hubs provides LOT Polish Airlines with immediate access to crucial West Coast and Southeastern transit channels. Through Southwest’s established flight frequency at these airports, LOT can route passengers into dozens of secondary U.S. markets that the flag carrier does not directly serve. Simultaneously, Southwest Airlines gains access to European passenger streams entering the U.S. through these major coastal entry points.
The partnership highlights a growing industry focus on bilateral interline agreements that expand carrier reach without requiring complex alliance integration or joint ventures. As joint ticketing goes live across the three specified U.S. transfer hubs, both LOT Polish Airlines and Southwest Airlines are positioned to optimize passenger volume and enhance overall travel convenience for cross-border journeys connecting Central Europe to the United States.
