dave1013

From email received this morning....

Alaska Airlines’ Frequent Fliers Gain Access to Significantly Expanded American Airlines Network; Board Room members welcome at all Admirals Club lounges starting Aug. 15

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 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.

“With American’s expanded network, our loyal customers will enjoy earning and redeeming miles for travel to more than 60 additional American Airlines destinations worldwide,” said Andrew Harrison, executive vice president and chief revenue officer of Alaska Airlines. “Through our unique global partner portfolio, our customers can access an incredible virtual network of destinations and lounge locations across the world.”

Elite members of Alaska’s Mileage Plan receive exclusive benefits on American’s expanded network, including expedited security, priority check-in and boarding, complimentary or discounted access to Main Cabin Extra seats, as well as baggage waivers.

“We are excited to deepen the strong relationship we already have with Alaska Airlines by providing customers more access to more destinations,” said Andrew Nocella, American’s chief marketing officer. “Our relationship with Alaska goes back more than 15 years and we continue to look for ways to work together to enhance the benefits for our customers, whether through access to clubs or new opportunities to earn and redeem miles.”

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.

Alaska Airlines continues to enhance its award-winning loyalty program by offering customers access to unique partnerships with 13 global airlines. Last month, the airline added Hainan Airlines to its airline partner portfolio, giving members the ability to earn miles across the China-based carrier’s 90-city global network. Since 2013, Alaska Airlines has added other benefits to its best-in-class Mileage Plan program, giving members ways to earn miles faster, get elite status sooner and redeem miles for award travel. Learn more at www.alaskaair.com/mileageplan.

apodo77

Over/under date on when Sky Club access ends?

Good news for Boardroom members. Wonder what the guest policy is?

I have been to Admirals Clubs (am Plat on AA and have their Executive CC which comes with Admirals Club access) in ORD, CLT, MIA, and PHL recently. They are so crowded and the offering is just OK. The complimentary liquors and wines are atrocious.
Maybe AA will up their game as Delta recently did in their lounges.

rvolkcpa

We fly frequently from SEA to TPA and are AAdvantage and Admirals Club members. Half of our flights between have been on AA/US connections and half have been on the AS nonstop.

It would be great for Admirals Club (and soon for Boardroom) members if the AS Tampa flight could move from Airside A to Airside F to offer easy access to the Admirals Club in Tampa.

SanDiego1K

Do Admirals Club members have access to AS Boardroom Clubs?

apodo77

Yes. Was announced in November 2014:

Admirals Club


Member Access to Select Alaska Airlines® Board Rooms
Your Admirals Club membership now extends your lounge access benefits beyond the network of 42 Admirals Club locations and 37 Qantas Club locations to include three more cities as part of a new arrangement with Alaska Airlines. You now have access to Alaska Airlines Board Room locations in Seattle, WA; Portland, OR; and Anchorage, AK when presenting a valid Admirals Club membership card along with a same day ticket/boarding pass on a flight operated and marketed by American Airlines. Additionally, two guests or immediate family members traveling with you are welcome at no additional charge.

Airport Location
Anchorage International Airport (ANC) Concourse C, near Gate C1
Portland International Airport (PDX) Concourse C, next to Gate C4
Seattle/Tacoma International Airport (SEA) Just beyond the Central Security Checkpoint
T
hrough our new expanded lounge access program, Admirals Club members now enjoy the ability to visit Alaska Airlines Board Room locations when traveling through these three cities.
Alaska Airlines is a registered trademark of Alaska Air Group, Inc.

Anyway, this has now been changed for the better — Admirals Club members now receive Board Room access regardless of whether they’re flying Alaska, American, or US Airways.

SanDiego1K

Thank you, apodo77. I've recently become an Admirals Club member thru my US Club lifetime card. San Diego is a mini hub for AS now and AS has become a preferred carrier for me. Learning I have lounge access is good news.

Don Draper

Since I have abandoned Delta and now only fly AS & AA, this is outstanding news, especially for all of us laying over in Dallas. I've always found their clubs to be quite nice, never filled to capacity and appreciate that they have reasonably priced meal options.

PDXPremier

Good news for BR members....I get the feeling that a lot of us (myself included) access the BR using Priority Pass so for now, nothing changes as far as lounge access goes.

It would be interesting to see what the future holds as far as elite upgrades go on AA for AS elites....I know AA has the 500 "sticker" system so it's probably not as easy as it was with the DL system.

dayone

The new temp SEA BR in the North Satellite can't open soon enough.

ctporter

Wow, I had a trip last week SEA-CLT and back, and could not access the admirals club there at CLT. This is a nice surprise. Although, I do like the DL Sky Club at MSP near the F gates, was just there last night in fact and will miss having access to that club as it is one I use often.

CDKing

Except isn't AS in a different terminal still? No lounge in that old dumpy terminal.

SanDiego1K

Agreed, but destination airports have lounges. (And I actually like the old terminal. It's a quick walk in and out. Consider me quirky. I do wish that AS would lease the space where the United Club was. That would be ideal.)

beckoa

YES! Haven't been thru SAN in a year, but guessing this space is still dormant. Granted isn't that terminal slated for a demo in a few years? Or is it conditional on funding?

ANC

for my travels it may actually be now beneficial to buy a BR membership....hmmmm

MSPeconomist

This looks like further evidence of DL pushing AS into the arms of AA. I'm not happy about the upcoming divorce.