WestJet Rewards - WestJet teams up with British Airways

http://www.canada.com/WestJet+teams+with+British+Airways/3946684/story.html

WestJet Airlines Ltd. has struck a new strategic partnership with British Airways PLC that will be implemented in early 2011.

The Calgary-based carrier has had a preliminary deal in place with BA since last year, but has since quietly agreed to the terms of a new inbound interline agreement that will be implemented in the early part of next year, Robert Palmer, WestJet spokesman confirmed Wednesday.

Tickets will not go on sale until early next year, he added.

Finally!!! Now they only need to partner with QF to be linked to all the OW founding fathers.

Finally!!! Now they only need to partner with QF to be linked to all the OW founding fathers.

Shouldn't that be "remaining" OW founders? They would have to partner with AC since they acquired founding OW member CP. :D

http://www.vancouversun.com/business/represents+coup+WestJet/3950086/story.html


WestJet, Canada's No. 2 carrier after Air Canada, has a similar arrangement in place with Air France/KLM, American Airlines and China Airlines.

But while WestJet has said that it didn't think the near-term revenue generated from its partnership with BA would be "material," Chris Murray, PI Financial Corp. analyst, called BA "the most significant possible partner for WestJet" given the size and importance of the U.K. market in Canada.

But while WestJet has said that it didn't think the near-term revenue generated from its partnership with BA would be "material," Chris Murray, PI Financial Corp. analyst, called BA "the most significant possible partner for WestJet" given the size and importance of the U.K. market in Canada.

I don't see this being huge for WS. I feel that it is unlikely that BA will terminate their interline agreement with AC.

I don't see this being huge for WS.

No, I wouldn't describe it as huge either. However, it is a first step. Similiar to AA and B6, interline agreements often come first. Then the two airlines can begin further integration later.


I feel that it is unlikely that BA will terminate their interline agreement with AC.

Interline agreements don't imply any type of exclusivity or deep partnership between carriers. Its just a way for airlines to sell segments on other carriers. This agreement will force AC to compete for BA-UK traffic on routes where both canadian carriers fly.

WS could have gained the upper hand if they went for a codeshare agreement instead.

Shouldn't that be "remaining" OW founders? They would have to partner with AC since they acquired founding OW member CP. :D

Yes, I should have clarified. :D

Is there any talk of being able to use BA miles on WS (like the deal with Alaska)?

Is there any talk of being able to use BA miles on WS (like the deal with Alaska)?

that's going to be a long ways away, if it happens at all. (they don't even have codeshares confirmed yet, just an interline agreement that starts next year)

I don't see this being huge for WS. I feel that it is unlikely that BA will terminate their interline agreement with AC.

After teaming-up with WestJet, Cathay Pacific dropped all their interline agreements with AC, even for business class customers.

After teaming-up with WestJet, Cathay Pacific dropped all their interline agreements with AC, even for business class customers.

in what world did that occur? you can book today fllights on cathay pacific website interline with AC or code-share with WS.

in fact, a dummy booking for April HKG-YYC has the AC options $1100HKD cheaper return than the code-share WS options.

in what world did that occur? you can book today fllights on cathay pacific website interline with AC or code-share with WS.

in fact, a dummy booking for April HKG-YYC has the AC options $1100HKD cheaper return than the code-share WS options.

Using the Taiwan (where I am) Cathay Pacific website, only WS options appear.

Using the Taiwan (where I am) Cathay Pacific website, only WS options appear.

And somehow from this you drew the conclusion that CX cancelled it's interline agreement with AC? :confused: Teaming up with one of AC's competitors is one thing, but I highly doubt that the interline agreements would go away. AAFAIK almost all of the airlines in all of the all alliances have interline agreements with the airlines in other alliances. IIRC even AC and EK (who are public enemies right now) have an interline agreement.

Taking the growing number of interline agreements a bit further, I really wish AC and WS would have an interline agreement (the way that all the major US airlines do even though they are competitors). IMHO this could help lower air fares for some consumers in Canada (by combining the possibly cheaper individual sectors on certain tickets). This could also help all customers if one airline could protect it customers on the other airline in the event of IROPS (the way many US airlines do). Now that WS is on sabre, I don't see a technical reason this wouldn't be possible.