Southwest Airlines has created a plugin for ChatGPT that enables the artificial intelligence (AI) platform to search the carrier’s flights and fares.
After installing the plugin, travelers can compare flight schedules, availability and prices within ChatGPT. When ready to book, users are redirected to Southwest.com to complete the transaction. Loyalty access, seat selection, ancillaries and payments are handled on Southwest’s website or app.
Southwest said in a press release that the integration is the first step in a “phased AI-powered booking approach” developed with OpenAI and Amazon Web Services.
The move is intended to bring Southwest into the planning process earlier and to create a more direct path from inspiration to booking, the airline said.
“We’re putting the right technology in place to support what our customers need today with flexibility to build what they’ll need tomorrow,” said Lauren Woods, EVP and CIO at Southwest Airlines. “By creating a secure, scalable foundation for AI, we can add new capabilities more quickly and thoughtfully, making it easier to serve customers across their journey.”
Southwest, which said the launch marks the first ChatGPT plugin from a U.S. airline, joins a growing list of travel companies bringing flight search into the AI chatbot. EasyJet this month launched a flight search plugin in ChatGPT, joining others including Virgin Atlantic and Turkish Airlines. Earlier in 2026, Skyscanner, eDreams ODIGEO and Ixigo each launched ChatGPT apps that support flight shopping.