Alaska And American Further Strengthen Partnership

Alaska And American Further Strengthen Partnership

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As anyone who has been following drama in the airline industry knows, there has been a big battle going on between Alaska and Delta in Seattle. Delta wanted to expand in Seattle, and used Alaska to help them. However, when they didn’t need them anymore, they kicked them to the curb.

As a result, we’ve seen the relationship between Alaska and Delta slowly be scaled back. Alaska has cut elite benefits for Delta SkyMiles members, and Delta has cut elite benefits for Alaska Mileage Plan members. Alaska is even pursuing new partnerships to spite Delta.

What makes Alaska unique is that they partner with both American and Delta. So while the relationship between Alaska and Delta has been scaled back, the relationship between Alaska and American seems to be strengthening.

Mileage-Plan

For example, last November Alaska and American improved their reciprocal lounge access agreement, for members of their respective programs.

Well, Alaska has put out a press releases release this morning explaining how the relationship between Alaska and American will be strengthening:

Earn Alaska miles on former US Airways flights as of October 17, 2015

This comes as no surprise. While Alaska and American have long partnered, up until now that partnership hasn’t expanded to US Airways, despite the merger.

American and US Airways are integrating their reservations systems as of October 17, 2015, at which point there will be no such thing as a US Airways flight anymore. All flights — even those operated by former US Airways planes — will have American flight numbers.

US-Airways-Plane

Not surprisingly, Alaska has confirmed that these flights will be eligible for Alaska Mileage Plan accrual as of that date:

Members of Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan now have access to book nearly 3,000 more daily flights on partner American Airlines following the most recent phase of the airline’s reservation system migration, which will bring all US Airways flights under the American code this fall. On Oct. 17, Mileage Plan members will enjoy seamless access to the world’s largest airline and have even more options to earn and redeem miles for award travel.

Alaska Airlines existing relationship with American began in 1999 and has included codeshare and frequent flyer reciprocity, which expanded in 2011 to include reciprocal elite benefits on each airline. The two carriers are working to expand their codeshare agreement even further later this year.

It’s already possible to redeem Alaska miles on former US Airways flights for travel as of October 17, 2015.

American-1

Expanded Admirals Club lounge access

In terms of actually new announcements, Alaska also announced that they’re expanding their lounge access reciprocity. As of August 15, 2015, Alaska Board Room members will have access to all Admirals Clubs worldwide:

Alaska Airlines also announced today an expanded lounge agreement with American Airlines, which gives Board Room members access to all 54 Admirals Club locations worldwide beginning Aug. 15.

The new lounge access will follow standard guesting privileges (two guests or immediate family), and will apply regardless of whether you’re flying Alaska, American, or US Airways.

Admirals-Club-LAX-2

That’s a huge step, given that just last November Board Room members received increased access to Admirals Clubs, including those in Austin, Chicago, Denver, and Newark. Now they get access to all clubs globally.

Meanwhile Admirals Club members already receive access to all four Board Rooms (located in Anchorage, Los Angeles, Portland, and Seattle).

Alaska-Board-Room

Bottom line

While not life changing, this is a nice expansion of an already great partnership. More than anything it signals the relationship between Alaska and American strengthening, while the relationship between Alaska and Delta continues to weaken.

Now all that remains to be seen is whether the partnership between Alaska and Delta is eventually discontinued.

(Tip of the hat to Kelly)

Conversations (16)
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  1. mommafrica New Member

    I too received the virus attempts.

  2. Jason Guest

    @ODB,
    You are not alone! I find it practically impossible to read OMAAT nowadays without Adblock... I hope this is something that can be fixed!

  3. Miles Down Under Guest

    'Now all that remains to be seen is whether the partnership between Alaska and Delta is eventually discontinued.'

    Isn't it more a case of WHEN not IF?

  4. DaninMCI Guest

    +1 for Alaska in OW but I'm betting that won't happen any day soon.

    With AA trying to expand it's Asia flights this could make more sense going forward.

  5. Nick L. Member

    One of the amusing things about the Alaska/Delta situation is the cost of using Alaska miles to book an award ticket on Delta:

    One way ticket in Delta international business class = 125,000 Alaska miles

    Yikes.

    First class on Emirates is only 100,000.

  6. Tom Guest

    Perhaps I missed something, but what about Admirals Club members having access to Board Rooms?
    Do they have it?

  7. john cocktosin Guest

    Sitting in the SEA BR as I read this. Great news. The pancake machine now has a clear front so you can watch your pancakes being made!

  8. Mike Guest

    Would live to see Alaska in OW.

  9. Lana Guest

    I'd love for some pancakes right about now.

  10. Brian New Member

    My browser was getting constantly hijacked from this and other Boarding Area sites. I stopped using IE to access entirely and added an Ad Blocker from the Chrome app store for viewing with Chrome. That's done away with about 99% of the incidents. Before that it got to the point where I just wasn't bothering to come to these sites anymore. From previous comments/posts on this issue I don't think that Lucky has control over...

    My browser was getting constantly hijacked from this and other Boarding Area sites. I stopped using IE to access entirely and added an Ad Blocker from the Chrome app store for viewing with Chrome. That's done away with about 99% of the incidents. Before that it got to the point where I just wasn't bothering to come to these sites anymore. From previous comments/posts on this issue I don't think that Lucky has control over the ad servers on this site - it's a Boarding Area issue, albeit one they really need to address.

  11. George Guest

    @ODB It happened to me yesterday on another OMAAT post.

  12. JOhn Guest

    Happened to me at View from the Wing yesterday.

  13. TrvlGuru Guest

    @ODB...it happens with more and more frequency. It really is getting annoying. Lucky can you address this issue?

  14. John Carter Guest

    Great move for AA – I haven’t flown US Airways and haven’t even flown them since the beginning of the merger. Flying Alaska on the other hand in F was a great experience, friendly crew and overall great service. Would like to fly them a little more in the near future but this is a great step for AA.

  15. John Carter Guest

    Great move for AA - I haven't flown US Airways and haven't even flown them since the beginning of the merger. Flying Alaska on the other hand in F was a great experience, friendly crew and overall great service. Would like to fly them a little more in the near future but this is a great step for AA.

  16. ODB New Member

    Why did this post hijack my browser and send it to some bs about a virus the first time I tried to open it?

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mommafrica New Member

I too received the virus attempts.

0
Jason Guest

@ODB, You are not alone! I find it practically impossible to read OMAAT nowadays without Adblock... I hope this is something that can be fixed!

0
Miles Down Under Guest

'Now all that remains to be seen is whether the partnership between Alaska and Delta is eventually discontinued.' Isn't it more a case of WHEN not IF?

0
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