Why Alaska’s Breakup With American Airlines Is Not a Terrible Thing
Anya Kartashova October 03, 2019
We knew this was coming, and the decision has been made at last. Alaska Airlines and American Airlines are going separate ways next year.
Effective March 1, members of neither loyalty program will be able to redeem miles for award flights on the other’s carrier. This is in part a direct result of the merger agreement with Virgin America that took place last year.
In recent years, Alaska has been losing partners at a steady pace, including Delta Air Lines, Air France/KLM, and Aeroméxico. All these changes hurt the Mileage Plan program significantly. However, in the grand scheme of things, losing this particular partnership isn’t the end of the world, and here’s why.
Limited Mileage Earning Opportunities
Right now, Alaska Airlines program members don’t earn redeemable Mileage Plan miles on domestic American Airlines-operated flights. As of March 1, international AA flights can’t be credited to Mileage Plan, either.
Already, the partnership has weakened enough to be less beneficial to Mileage Plan members, and the change doesn’t affect much in terms of loyalty. Making zero AA flights earn Alaska miles is like ripping off a Band-Aid that’s been hanging by a thread.
Not to mention, being able to earn credit on some flights and not the others has been confusing as you only get partial credit on multi-segment flights that include both a domestic and an international leg. To earn credit on all legs when flying with American Airlines in the future, choose a different program, be it American Airlines AAdvantage, British Airways Executive Club or Cathay Pacific Asia Miles.
You Get to Keep Airport Lounge Access
Alaska Lounge members can still access Admirals Clubs, and Admirals Club members can enter Alaska Lounges when flying with either airline…for now. The benefit isn’t going away in March. Many travelers rely on lounge access when they fly, and it’s nice to have options at an airport with fewer places to relax. At this point, it’s unclear whether the arrangement would continue for long, but at least it’s not being reduced just yet.
Less Competition for Award Seats
If you’ve ever tried to redeem AAdvantage miles, you know that award seats on American Airlines are notoriously hard to find. Take it with a grain of salt, but in theory, more award space should become available with less competition from Mileage Plan members booking up seats. Some of you might think I’m too naïve to think this way, but it sure does sound great on paper.
Do you see any positives in Alaska’s breakup from American Airlines?
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If it means more award travel seat availability at basic redemption on either airline that's a positive. After 20 years with Alaska's brand cc, I downgraded. Nearly impossible to find seats at a decent redemption rate anymore for where and when I want to travel even five months out. Paying $75 fee a year for Alasaka and then 40,000 to fly PDX to PHX or TUS doesn't make sense. America was a default for me—I much preferred US Airways for my city pairs.
Why doesn't Alaska hurry up and join Oneworld?
However you want to judge a "partnership"... As a former loyal Alaska Air customer, I'm out, have been so for over a year now. Too many trips to mid west and southern US (many to Memphis) that just aren't serviced by Alaska or any partner they have. Unless your traveling only up the West coast or to a few of the major cities East, Alaska mileage plan just doesn't work. Delta platinum medallion now, almost making it to diamond. Used to love Alaska Air... But they just don't have the network available and stopped partnering with airlines that did extend that for them. (but still have 200k miles to use...)
While I haven't made use of the American Airlines partnership with Alaska Airlines in several years, it is sad to see one less partner. Alaska had the best frequent flyer program for a number of years. Partnerships with both American Airlines and Northwest Airlines ( and later, Delta), meant being able to consolidate earned miles in one program, instead of having them spread out among multiple carriers. The good news is we can still redeem British Airways Avios on Alaska. For now.
Losing the nonstop AUS-SJC will be bad. Maybe AA will return to this popular route?