Jul 6, 2017, 8:16 am
Last edit by: rustykettel
Link to Official AS Blog Post
Major points from this thread and from missydarlin:
Link to share your feedback with Alaska Airlines:
https://www.alaskaair.com/feedback
Discussion in the American Airlines forum:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...an-2018-a.html
Major points from this thread and from missydarlin:
- Effective Jan 1, 2018, domestic AA-marketed flights will not earn any Mileage Plan miles. AS-marketed, AA-operated codeshares will continue to earn AS miles at the AS earning rate (ie a minimum of one mile earned per mile flown). Domestic flights marketed by other partners (eg BA) and operated by AA will no longer earn AS miles. Post-Jan 1 flights booked prior to Jul 6, 2017 may be submitted for mileage credit.
- International AA flights (including US-Canada and US-Mexico) will continue to earn AS miles. Domestic AA flights which connect to international flights will not earn miles. It will remain impossible to book international AA-operated flights through Alaska to get an AS codeshare or an AS-operated domestic feeder flight.
- Reciprocal elite status benefits (waived checked bag fees, preferred/MCE seat assignments, priority boarding) between AA and AS go away Jan 1, 2018. Seat assignments made prior to Jan 1 for post-Jan 1 flights will remain.
- The reciprocal lounge access arrangment between AA and AS will not change.
- AA will remain a mileage redemption partner of AS with only relatively minor tweaks to the award chart (some increases, some decreases).
Link to share your feedback with Alaska Airlines:
https://www.alaskaair.com/feedback
Discussion in the American Airlines forum:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...an-2018-a.html
AS and AA Partnership Changes (Effective 1 January 2018)
Jul 6, 2017, 11:59 pm
#166
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Pacific Wonderland
Programs: ʙᴏɴᴠo̱ʏ Au, IHG Au, HH Dia, Nexus, Pilot FlyingJ Preferred
Posts: 5,336
Two possible ways come to mind- refusing to provide automated passenger flight data or validate mileage submissions and refusing to pay miles to AS for those flights. AS would have to pay the miles out of their own pocket and rely on manually submitted boarding passes for credit.
Jul 7, 2017, 12:01 am
#167
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: Alaska 75K
Posts: 91
Is AA lounge access going bye bye too?
Jul 7, 2017, 12:03 am
#168
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Pacific Wonderland
Programs: ʙᴏɴᴠo̱ʏ Au, IHG Au, HH Dia, Nexus, Pilot FlyingJ Preferred
Posts: 5,336
Jul 7, 2017, 12:31 am
#169
Moderator: Alaska Mileage Plan
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 12,316
Two possible ways come to mind- refusing to provide automated passenger flight data or validate mileage submissions and refusing to pay miles to AS for those flights. AS would have to pay the miles out of their own pocket and rely on manually submitted boarding passes for credit.
Jul 7, 2017, 2:26 am
#170
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS MVPG, Alaska Lounge, HHonors Silver, Bonvoy Gold, National Executive
Posts: 455
I finally just read the AS blog and they state the following statement:
"The good news is that Alaska and Virgin America serve 80 percent of the top routes that Mileage Plan members have historically flown and earned miles on with American."
I think they are underestimating the impact the 20% will have on the 80% then in reading their "plan B" suggestions based on regions they are downplaying the ramifications of the changes this has on the customers making suggestions that in their eyes will make it all right with the world such as VX has got you covered in California, those in PNW can still book AA flights on AS.com ignoring the fact they do not do a good job of offering competitive pricing or options on multi-carrier itineraries let alone do not support mixed carrier international sales, etc.
Then going back up to the first paragraph where they state:
"Alaska Airlines is growing. Over the past five years alone, Alaska has added over 110 new markets, and with the acquisition of Virgin America late last year, now has more than 1,200 daily flights to 118 destinations across the United States, Mexico, Canada, Costa Rica and Cuba, plus an extensive portfolio of global partners.
As a result of this growth, Alaska and American Airlines have agreed to make some changes to their partnership beginning Jan. 1, 2018."
This comes across to me as arrogant implying we are as good as AA/DL/UA and can carry our own weight while completely ignoring the fact that having an extensive portfolio of global partners means diddly squat when we are unable to book a simple AS+AA/QF SEA-SYD revenue ticket on AS.com.
Interesting times ahead, but AS management is not doing themselves any favor with decisions and justifications like these IMHO.
"The good news is that Alaska and Virgin America serve 80 percent of the top routes that Mileage Plan members have historically flown and earned miles on with American."
I think they are underestimating the impact the 20% will have on the 80% then in reading their "plan B" suggestions based on regions they are downplaying the ramifications of the changes this has on the customers making suggestions that in their eyes will make it all right with the world such as VX has got you covered in California, those in PNW can still book AA flights on AS.com ignoring the fact they do not do a good job of offering competitive pricing or options on multi-carrier itineraries let alone do not support mixed carrier international sales, etc.
Then going back up to the first paragraph where they state:
"Alaska Airlines is growing. Over the past five years alone, Alaska has added over 110 new markets, and with the acquisition of Virgin America late last year, now has more than 1,200 daily flights to 118 destinations across the United States, Mexico, Canada, Costa Rica and Cuba, plus an extensive portfolio of global partners.
As a result of this growth, Alaska and American Airlines have agreed to make some changes to their partnership beginning Jan. 1, 2018."
This comes across to me as arrogant implying we are as good as AA/DL/UA and can carry our own weight while completely ignoring the fact that having an extensive portfolio of global partners means diddly squat when we are unable to book a simple AS+AA/QF SEA-SYD revenue ticket on AS.com.
Interesting times ahead, but AS management is not doing themselves any favor with decisions and justifications like these IMHO.
Nothing in the press release/blog is really a net positive for AS, so I can't imagine why they would have come up with this on their own. I also believe that if DL would let them, they still would have been partners. Reducing partnerships before AS/VX is integrated and built out makes no sense.
Jul 7, 2017, 2:37 am
#171
Join Date: May 2006
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: Delta Diamond, Marriott/SPG Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 81
My experience with email to Alaska Airlines is I get the automated acknowledgement back and then never hear another word. From my perspective they just go directly into the trash unread. 
Jul 7, 2017, 6:28 am
#172
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Houston
Programs: AA EXP; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, UA 1.56MM (fmr UA1K)
Posts: 5,770
Maybe I'm not following this stuff as closely as I should but this came out of left field for me. I always assumed that AA was more important after the DL relationship unraveled.
It seems like this is AA driven. I've had pretty much nothing but miserable experiences with AA vis-a-vis delays, cancellations etc. but have put up with it as there wasn't much choice these days. I know that after these changes I'll only fly AA if they're dirt cheap... kind of like my criteria for Spirit or Frontier.
It seems to me that AS is just playing up VX as the alternative to AA because they don't have much choice. AA codeshares bought from AS just aren't competitively priced in my experience and it's laughable that they even offer that up as a viable alternative. VX has even bigger holes in its network than does AS. Don't try to fly between two cities east of the Rockies with these changes.
I had a chance to fly a half a dozen or so VX flights in May. They were fine but I don't get what people find so alluring. I liked the safety video--the rest of the experience was meh. Maybe if you're in F it's greats but of course as an AS elite I was scrambling for whatever seat I could get in the back of the airbus as the number of Y seats with a surcharge was large, as we all know.
No elite benefits on AA stinks. Extra legroom seats are the only thing that made AA international flights a viable option. Now they're on the 'do not fly list' with their 10 across 777.
Was just about to pull the trigger on a couple of AS Hawaii tickets for Christmas... that's all on hold now that it's pretty much 'game over' for me. Just too few options.
It seems like this is AA driven. I've had pretty much nothing but miserable experiences with AA vis-a-vis delays, cancellations etc. but have put up with it as there wasn't much choice these days. I know that after these changes I'll only fly AA if they're dirt cheap... kind of like my criteria for Spirit or Frontier.
It seems to me that AS is just playing up VX as the alternative to AA because they don't have much choice. AA codeshares bought from AS just aren't competitively priced in my experience and it's laughable that they even offer that up as a viable alternative. VX has even bigger holes in its network than does AS. Don't try to fly between two cities east of the Rockies with these changes.
I had a chance to fly a half a dozen or so VX flights in May. They were fine but I don't get what people find so alluring. I liked the safety video--the rest of the experience was meh. Maybe if you're in F it's greats but of course as an AS elite I was scrambling for whatever seat I could get in the back of the airbus as the number of Y seats with a surcharge was large, as we all know.
No elite benefits on AA stinks. Extra legroom seats are the only thing that made AA international flights a viable option. Now they're on the 'do not fly list' with their 10 across 777.
Was just about to pull the trigger on a couple of AS Hawaii tickets for Christmas... that's all on hold now that it's pretty much 'game over' for me. Just too few options.
Jul 7, 2017, 7:50 am
#173
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,124
I don't buy into your conspiracy. This wasn't a knee-jerk reaction.
What are two most negative changes? No more EQM on AA flights and no AS miles on AA-coded domestic flights. How does AA have any say on how AS values AA flights in in Mileage Plan? Those are AS marketing decisions.
These changes were made as both airlines rejiggered their marketing programs to respond to major changes in the marketplace. AS wants more control of the traffic on its growing route map and AA is taking a step back from a now-more direct competitor.
What are two most negative changes? No more EQM on AA flights and no AS miles on AA-coded domestic flights. How does AA have any say on how AS values AA flights in in Mileage Plan? Those are AS marketing decisions.
These changes were made as both airlines rejiggered their marketing programs to respond to major changes in the marketplace. AS wants more control of the traffic on its growing route map and AA is taking a step back from a now-more direct competitor.
Jul 7, 2017, 8:13 am
#174
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,638
need to get my companion fare spent this week so i can cancel my CC well in advance of my September renewal date...
Jul 7, 2017, 8:14 am
#175
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Queens!
Programs: Alaska Mileage Plan, Marriott Bonvoy, NEXUS
Posts: 334
Jul 7, 2017, 8:18 am
#176
Ambassador: Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: BWI
Posts: 7,390
IIRC when booking a companion ticket you have to use the card, so if you cancel then you will not be able to use the card and thereby rendering the companion discount useless even though the discount is still valid.
Jul 7, 2017, 8:23 am
#177
Ambassador: Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: BWI
Posts: 7,390
I read this all differently. I assume this was DOT/Gov or AA initiated (or both.) Both of these AS statements seem reactionary. "AA cut our access to their flights, so remember we still serve most of the places you fly..." and "AS is growing so AA said we had to distance our relationship."
Nothing in the press release/blog is really a net positive for AS, so I can't imagine why they would have come up with this on their own. I also believe that if DL would let them, they still would have been partners. Reducing partnerships before AS/VX is integrated and built out makes no sense.
Nothing in the press release/blog is really a net positive for AS, so I can't imagine why they would have come up with this on their own. I also believe that if DL would let them, they still would have been partners. Reducing partnerships before AS/VX is integrated and built out makes no sense.
I agree nothing in here is good for AS.
Jul 7, 2017, 8:51 am
#178
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYF/YLW
Programs: AA, DL, AS, VA, WS Silver
Posts: 5,951
- The primary cardholder is one of the two travelers.
- The credit card used to pay for the flight has the same last name as the primary cardholder (but need not be that Alaska Visa, any other Alaska Visa, or have the same first name as the cardholder: I have successfully booked a companion ticket using John Smith's companion code using an unrelated credit card under the name of Jane Smith, with Jessica Doe and Justin Doe traveling. The purchase was rejected when I tried to use Justin Doe's credit card to pay for the ticket -- Justin Doe's card was an authorized card on the same account as the Jane Smith card that was successful).
Jul 7, 2017, 8:52 am
#179
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
The prices you're seeing are set by Alaska for those flights. Maybe they don't get competitive costs from AA for those segments. Maybe AS prices them higher to drive incremental volume to its own flights.
Jul 7, 2017, 8:53 am
#180
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,638