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New cooperation between Southwest Airlines and LOT Polish Airlines, combined with LOT’s nonstop launch between Warsaw and San Francisco, is reshaping how travelers in Los Angeles, Miami and the Bay Area can reach Poland and the wider European network.
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Southwest and LOT Launch Interline Partnership Across Key U.S. Gateways
Publicly available information from airline and industry sources indicates that Southwest Airlines and LOT Polish Airlines began an interline partnership on September 1, 2026, creating new one-ticket options for itineraries that combine Southwest’s U.S. network with LOT’s long haul services from Warsaw. Reports describe the arrangement as an interline rather than a full codeshare, but it still enables checked-through baggage and coordinated ticketing across the two carriers.
Coverage of the agreement highlights Los Angeles, Miami and San Francisco as the primary shared gateways where customers can connect between Southwest’s domestic flights and LOT’s Boeing 787 services to Poland. LOT already flies nonstop from Warsaw to Los Angeles and Miami, and in May 2026 it added San Francisco to its schedule as a new U.S. destination, making these three airports natural focal points for the partnership.([upgradedpoints.com](https://upgradedpoints.com/news/lot-warsaw-san-francisco-2026/?utm_source=openai))
The interline deal expands Southwest’s ability to feed passengers into transatlantic services without operating its own long haul aircraft, while giving LOT additional access to secondary U.S. cities that are not on its own route map. Travelers in interior markets served by Southwest can now book single-ticket journeys that connect via Los Angeles, Miami or San Francisco onto LOT flights to Warsaw and onward to Europe.
Analysts note that interline partnerships typically fall short of the schedule integration and joint marketing associated with codeshare and alliance cooperation, but they are often a first step in testing customer demand and operational compatibility. For now, the Southwest–LOT link is framed as a pragmatic way for both carriers to widen their reach using existing fleets and airport infrastructure.
LOT’s Warsaw–San Francisco Nonstop Strengthens Transatlantic Network
LOT Polish Airlines inaugurated its first nonstop route between Warsaw Chopin Airport and San Francisco International Airport on May 6, 2026, operating Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. The seasonal service is scheduled for the northern summer period with up to four flights per week and positions San Francisco as LOT’s sixth U.S. destination alongside Chicago, New York JFK, Newark, Miami and Los Angeles.([pressoffice.lot.com](https://pressoffice.lot.com/456943-another-step-across-the-atlantic-lot-polish-airlines-inaugurates-direct-flights-to-san-francisco?utm_source=openai))
The carrier’s published summer 2026 network materials describe San Francisco as a strategic addition that complements its existing presence in California via Los Angeles. The new route is designed to capture both leisure and business traffic in the technology-focused Bay Area, while also offering Polish and Central European travelers an additional gateway to the U.S. West Coast.
Industry route trackers show that LOT has been gradually rebuilding and expanding its long haul program in North America, with Warsaw serving as a hub for connections to cities across Europe, the Balkans and parts of the Middle East and Asia. By linking San Francisco directly to Warsaw, LOT adds another option for travelers looking to reach secondary European destinations via a single connection, bypassing more congested Western European hubs.([aeroroutes.squarespace.com](https://aeroroutes.squarespace.com/eng/251113-lons26sfo?utm_source=openai))
For San Francisco International Airport, the Warsaw nonstop enhances its portfolio of Central and Eastern European links and adds further competition on transatlantic corridors. The route also strengthens SFO’s position as a long haul gateway on the U.S. West Coast, supplementing existing services to major cities in Western Europe.
What the New Links Mean for Los Angeles, Miami and Bay Area Travelers
For customers flying from or via Los Angeles, Miami and San Francisco, the combination of LOT’s route map and its interline cooperation with Southwest translates into new itineraries to Central and Eastern Europe with checked-through baggage under a single booking. LOT’s published destination lists show Warsaw as a hub for flights to numerous European capitals and regional cities, offering alternatives to transfers through Frankfurt, London or Paris.([lot.com](https://www.lot.com/az/en/explore/inspirations/route-map?utm_source=openai))
Travelers originating in Southwest-served cities across the United States can connect into Los Angeles, Miami or San Francisco on Southwest and continue on LOT to Warsaw, where onward connections are available to destinations across Poland and neighboring countries. Travel media commentary notes that this could be particularly attractive to passengers heading to cities in Central and Eastern Europe that are not widely served by nonstop flights from North America.
In practical terms, the interline arrangement allows baggage to be tagged from the initial Southwest departure point through to the final LOT destination, reducing the need to recheck bags at gateway airports. While travelers still need to observe standard international check in and security procedures, the one-ticket structure typically simplifies misconnection handling and rebooking compared with separate itineraries.
For residents of Southern California, South Florida and the Bay Area, the development adds further choice at a time when transatlantic capacity from the United States continues to grow. Passengers who prefer to avoid large European hubs have a new option to route through Warsaw, while those visiting Poland gain more flexibility in choosing departure and arrival airports in the U.S.
Strategic Context: U.S. Domestic Strength Meets European Hub Reach
Southwest Airlines remains focused on domestic and near international markets within the Americas, with an extensive point to point network and focus cities across the United States. Public information about the carrier’s long term plans suggests it is exploring broader international opportunities, but it has not moved into operating its own transatlantic flights. Partnerships with long haul operators provide an avenue to offer global connectivity without a fundamental change to its fleet or onboard product.([swamedia.com](https://www.swamedia.com/news-and-stories/news-release/new-places-new-partner-southwest-sets-sights-on-st-maarten-and-begins-new-relati-MCW5GR4CKH65EETN5RSNXFI2WYJI?utm_source=openai))
LOT Polish Airlines, by contrast, positions itself as a network carrier centered on Warsaw Chopin Airport, using long haul services to North America and Asia to feed a dense web of regional routes in Europe. The airline’s corporate information and independent profiles describe Warsaw as a key transfer point for travelers moving between Central and Eastern Europe and long haul destinations, supported by its fleet of Boeing 787s on transatlantic sectors.([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LOT_Polish_Airlines?utm_source=openai))
The new links through Los Angeles, Miami and San Francisco therefore combine complementary strengths: Southwest’s reach in the U.S. interior and secondary markets, and LOT’s ability to distribute passengers across a broad European network from a single hub. While the current cooperation is limited to interline ticketing, aviation observers note that such arrangements can evolve over time as airlines assess commercial performance and customer response.
For the broader market, the developments underscore the continuing evolution of transatlantic travel options beyond the traditional alliances and joint ventures. As carriers experiment with a mix of partnerships, hub strategies and new routes, travelers in cities like Los Angeles, Miami and San Francisco are likely to see further refinements in how they access Europe and beyond.
LOT Polish Airlines press information on Warsaw–San Francisco launch
LOT summer 2026 network overview including San Francisco