Icelandair/WOW
Nov 5, 2018, 6:56 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: San Juan, PR
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Posts: 428
Icelandair/WOW
Any idea if the Icelandair purchase of WOW (just announced) will lead to WOW recognition in the Alaska MP? They're going to retain independent branding and certificates.
Nov 5, 2018, 10:22 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,387
My reaction is kinda “eh”. FI isn’t generous with AS miles on the earn side and redeeming for coach on a WW plane with tight pitch and carrier surcharge doesn’t exactly send tingles down my spine. Assuming they even do that (for an LCC they might well have good reason not to fully merge the carriers: you don’t earn AS miles on LEVEL even though they are owned by the same company that owns BA).
Nov 5, 2018, 10:49 am
#5
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Delta, BC
Posts: 1,646
Until the Icelandair - WOW combination has achieved shareholder and regulatory approval they will continue to operate as completely separate entities, which means any speculation about plans with respect to partner airline arrangements is premature.
Nov 5, 2018, 3:43 pm
#6
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: BART Platinum, AA Plat Pro
Posts: 1,158
My reaction is kinda “eh”. FI isn’t generous with AS miles on the earn side and redeeming for coach on a WW plane with tight pitch and carrier surcharge doesn’t exactly send tingles down my spine. Assuming they even do that (for an LCC they might well have good reason not to fully merge the carriers: you don’t earn AS miles on LEVEL even though they are owned by the same company that owns BA).
Nov 5, 2018, 6:00 pm
#8
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SEA
Programs: Hilton/Marriott Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 2,036
Nov 5, 2018, 6:17 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
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Posts: 20,387
You mean like how WOW Air charges for seats, just like BA? You don't even get carryon luggage on a WOW Basic fare- just a personal item like NK (so I hope you can pack for an overseas trip in a small 16x10x8 bag). Not sure FI wants to be giving that revenue up on WW flights just so people can redeem AS miles to go to TLV. Ancillary revenue on things like bags and seat assignments is hugely profitable for airlines like FR. I can't imagine it's any different for WW.
Nov 5, 2018, 7:13 pm
#10
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: AS 100K, HH Diamond, SPG/Marriott Gold
Posts: 189
Not super concerned about mileage earning - if they offer it at all it'll be at 10% or so on the kind of fares you'd be flying WW on. Perhaps more interesting would be if we could know whether a post-merger WW would give access to the Sage Lounge at KEF...
Nov 5, 2018, 7:51 pm
#11
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Nov 6, 2018, 8:54 am
#13
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I think it is way too early to worry about that. Today they say Iceland Air and WoW will operate separately (as separate brands). That could change down the road when they discover that the cost savings from simplification might be worth dropping one brand. Business plans change.
Nov 6, 2018, 8:59 am
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
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Posts: 20,387
Sure, but who is to say FI won’t be the brand dropped instead of WW?
The highest margin airlines in operation are the FRs and NKs of the world that charge for EVERYTHING. AS and FI broke up once already...
The highest margin airlines in operation are the FRs and NKs of the world that charge for EVERYTHING. AS and FI broke up once already...
Nov 6, 2018, 9:44 am
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS 75k, AA Plat, Bonvoyed Gold, Honors Dia, Hyatt Explorer, IHG Plat, ...
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