Southwest Airlines is expanding its travel offerings by partnering with World Travel Holdings to give customers access to all major cruise lines directly through its website. This new feature allows customers to seamlessly book cruises alongside flights, car rentals, hotels, and vacation packages.
“Our new partnership with World Travel Holdings gives customers access to all major cruise lines to complement their travel with Southwest,” a company spokesperson said. “This partnership also gives our loyal Rapid Rewards members new ways to earn points.”
Customers can now earn one Rapid Rewards point for every dollar spent on a cruise, excluding taxes, port charges, and insurance. Additionally, those who book their cruises by October 31 can earn double points, offering more incentive for frequent flyers to take advantage of this new feature.
Southwest’s move to offer cruises comes at a time of transition for the airline. Amid pressure from investors, including one attempting to oust CEO Bob Jordan, the airline has faced criticism from its frequent customers. Recent changes, such as the plan to replace its long-standing open seating policy with pre-assigned seats, have raised concerns. There are also rumors that the airline’s popular two-bags-free policy could be next to change.
Despite these internal shifts, Southwest’s new cruise booking feature aims to attract more customers by broadening its travel options, a strategy that has already proven successful for other airlines like Delta. Through this partnership with World Travel Holdings, Southwest is enhancing its website to become a one-stop shop for travelers.
