American Airlines hooks up with Alaska Airlines, Malaysia Airlines

BY D.R. STEWART World Staff Writer
Tuesday, February 05, 2013
2/05/13 at 6:49 AM

As American Airlines parent AMR Corp. moves into the 15th month of its bankruptcy reorganization, the carrier continues to broaden its route network on the West Coast and in Asia with two new codeshare agreements, company executives said.

American's new codeshare agreements are with Alaska Airlines and Kuala Lumpur-based Malaysia Airlines.

American and Alaska Airlines said Monday they are strengthening their business relationship by adding new codeshare routes in which the airlines share the same flight. Under a codeshare agreement, a seat can be purchased on one airline and operated by the other airline under a different flight number or code.

Under the American/Alaska Airlines codeshare expansion, American will place its code on 22 new Alaska Airlines routes that provide San Francisco Bay-area travelers with access to Hawaii. Additionally, the deal will increase the options for transcontinental flights for travelers in the Pacific Northwest and San Diego to Boston, Washington, D.C., and Orlando, Fla.

The codeshare agreement also will permit Alaska Airlines to place its code on 19 American Airlines routes, company officials said. That, in turn, will mean better access for Alaska Airlines customers on flights between Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., Orlando and Houston. Alaska customers also will gain better access between the Pacific Northwest and 11 new cities in Texas via American's Dallas/Fort Worth hub.

"The relationship American has with Alaska is strategically important to us as it expands our reach along the West Coast, providing our customers with access to destinations beyond our network," said Kurt Stache, American's vice president of strategic alliances. "The expanded codeshare relationship not only further improves access for our customers as they travel throughout the U.S. but also provides our customers with a seamless travel experience when flying on Alaska."

Andrew Harrison, Alaska's vice president of planning and revenue management, said the new codeshare agreements build on a decade-long relationship with American.

"This codeshare expansion will offer our customers even greater access to American's extensive network," Harrison said. "Alaska's elite-level frequent fliers will continue to enjoy a seamless customer experience when they travel on American, including free checked bags, priority boarding and priority seating - the same benefits they receive when flying on Alaska Airlines."

American and Alaska Airlines have had an established frequent flier program that allows members to earn and redeem miles on each other's flights. The miles Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan members earn on American Airlines flights count toward elite status qualification, officials said. Elite status members can receive their elite status bonus miles on American Airlines flights.

The miles American Airlines AAdvantage members earn on Alaska Airlines flights count toward elite status qualification, company executives said. Elite status members can receive their elite status bonus miles on Alaska Airlines flights, they said.

Elite members also are eligible for priority check-in and boarding as well as waived baggage charges for two checked bags when traveling on each other's flights, executives said.

Fort Worth-based American also has expanded its Oneworld global alliance with the addition of Malaysia Airlines, which strengthens the alliance's connectivity between key business cities in Asia and other areas of the world.

Serving more than 60 destinations in 30 countries, Malaysia Airlines will expand the alliance's network in Southeast Asia, officials said.

American and Malaysia Airlines have signed an agreement to codeshare on each other's flights and, if given government approvals, will permit the two airlines to work together to improve flight schedules and connection times.

The new deal permits American's customers to earn and redeem American Airlines AAdvantage miles when traveling on Malaysia Airlines, American's Stache said.

"Our extensive codeshare relationship with Malaysia Airlines will provide our customers with easy, premium access when traveling to and from Southeast Asia and beyond," Stache said.

The agreement with Malaysia Airlines will include placing American's code on nonstop flights between Malaysia's hub in Kuala Lumpur and its Southeast Asia destinations, as well as flights to the carrier's European gateways such as Paris and London.

Passengers can begin booking travel on codeshare flights as early as Feb. 24 for travel beginning March 1, officials said.

American Airlines’ expanding partnerships

Codeshare expansion with Alaska Airlines

American will place its code on 22 Alaska routes providing San Francisco Bay-area travelers with access to Hawaii as well as increased options for transcontinental flights for travelers in the Pacific Northwest and San Diego to Boston, Washington, D.C., and Orlando, Fla.

Alaska will place its code on 19 American routes, allowing better access for Alaska Airlines customers on flights between Los Angeles and various cities such as Washington, D.C., Orlando, Fla., and Houston. The deal also will improve Alaska passengers’ access between the Pacific Northwest and 11 new cities in Texas.

Codeshare agreement and Oneworld global membership with Malaysia Airlines

American will place its code on Malaysia’s nonstop flights between its Kuala Lumpur hub and its Southeast Asia destinations, as well as flights to the carrier’s European gateways such as Paris and London.

Sources: American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Malaysia Airlines

Original Print Headline: New deals boost American's reach

D.R. Stewart 918-581-8451
don.stewart@tulsaworld.com

Associated Images:

Malaysia Airlines jets sit at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang, Malaysia. Serving more than 60 destinations in 30 countries, Malaysia Airlines will expand the Oneworld alliance's network in Southeast Asia. Bloomberg file