Feb 13, 2020, 8:18 pm
Last edit by: eponymous_coward
Alaska joined oneworld on March 31, 2021. https://blog.alaskaair.com/destinati...nce-countdown/
Note: you cannot make award bookings on OW partners that were not already partners before 3/31 (so can't book QR, UL, S7, MH, RJ, IB, AT). ETA is "later in 2021" (as of April 2021).
Speculation thread for possible changes to Mileage Plan: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/alas...l#post32086422
Press Releases related to oneworld announcement:
AS: https://newsroom.alaskaair.com/news-...es?item=123939
OW: https://www.oneworld.com/news/2020-0...n-the-alliance
AA: http://news.aa.com/news/news-details...P/default.aspx
Video: https://player.vimeo.com/video/390731665
Few bullets from releases:
Earning redeemable and elite qualifying miles on all flights marketed and operated by AA was restored on April 1, 2020. Earning chart
Note: you cannot make award bookings on OW partners that were not already partners before 3/31 (so can't book QR, UL, S7, MH, RJ, IB, AT). ETA is "later in 2021" (as of April 2021).
Speculation thread for possible changes to Mileage Plan: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/alas...l#post32086422
Press Releases related to oneworld announcement:
AS: https://newsroom.alaskaair.com/news-...es?item=123939
OW: https://www.oneworld.com/news/2020-0...n-the-alliance
AA: http://news.aa.com/news/news-details...P/default.aspx
Video: https://player.vimeo.com/video/390731665
Few bullets from releases:
- Alaska Airlines intends to join the oneworld® alliance, the world's fastest growing and most highly rated global airline alliance, by summer 2021, which will connect Alaska guests to more than 1,200 destinations worldwide.
- American will launch the first service from Seattle (SEA) to Bangalore, India (BLR) beginning October 2020. A new American route from SEA to the global business hub London Heathrow (LHR) will begin flying in March 2021.
- The airlines will continue their domestic codeshare that offers customers hassle-free booking and travel between the two networks. The codeshare will expand to include international routes from Los Angeles (LAX) and SEA.
- Alaska and American loyalty members will enjoy benefits across both airlines, including the ability to earn and use miles on both airlines’ full networks, elite status reciprocity and lounge access to nearly 50 American Admirals Club lounges worldwide and seven Alaska Lounges in the U.S.
- For MVP Golds and Gold 75Ks, you will be able to access more than 650 international business class lounges within the oneworld member airline network when flying on an international ticket on an itinerary outside of North America. Source
Earning redeemable and elite qualifying miles on all flights marketed and operated by AA was restored on April 1, 2020. Earning chart
Alaska Joined oneworld (3/31/2021)
Jul 26, 2020, 7:00 pm
#781
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS MVP100K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Gold
Posts: 3,215
I did some further digging too. Brad Tilden said they’re fast tracking and will be in OW. With nobody flying they have nothing else to do but integrate into OW as reported so it will be before years end. Otherwise why make the comment.
Jul 26, 2020, 7:11 pm
#782
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: AS, UA, WN, IHG Diamond Elite, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Gold, CET 7*
Posts: 3,293
And you're right, Brad's said it, Nat's said it, Rob's said it, so that means it'll absolutely happen by December. Merry Christmas!
Jul 26, 2020, 7:21 pm
#783
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: SAN, BOS
Programs: AS MVPG100K, BAEC Gold, Hilton Diamond, Bonvoy Plat,
Posts: 2,280
NW, it’s clear it’s in your best interest that AS join OW as soon as possible so you can credit your QR flight to AS. None of us our rooting against you; I’d venture most of us want to see them join as fast possible as much as you.
In our totally unprofessional (some more than others, count me in the more camp), the end of 2020 is rather ambitious.
As to why they’d announce it, there are many reasons why AS in OW would tilt the scales for someone to book on AS metal as opposed to a competitor in early 2021. Personally, I’m flying AA in January to gather tier points for BA, but if AS is in OW of course I’d fly them instead.
In our totally unprofessional (some more than others, count me in the more camp), the end of 2020 is rather ambitious.
As to why they’d announce it, there are many reasons why AS in OW would tilt the scales for someone to book on AS metal as opposed to a competitor in early 2021. Personally, I’m flying AA in January to gather tier points for BA, but if AS is in OW of course I’d fly them instead.
Jul 27, 2020, 1:08 am
#784
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS MVP100K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Gold
Posts: 3,215
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Aug 6, 2020, 3:46 pm
#785
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: SAN
Programs: AS MVPG100K, UA Gold, IHG Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, National Exec
Posts: 320
Looks like the DoT has given AA the green light to start SEA-PVG in March. Will be interesting to see if the route can support all three of AA, DL, and HU.
Aug 6, 2020, 4:05 pm
#786
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: PDX
Programs: AS MVP Gold 100K
Posts: 2,989
Probably HU would be the first to blink. DL will keep that around as long as they have a trans-pac hub at SEA.
Aug 6, 2020, 4:10 pm
#787
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: MFR
Programs: Alaska MVP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 714
You'd think that with three large international US airlines and three large West Coast airports (LAX, SFO, SEA) they could figure this out. Maybe Delta sees AA and UA shrinking at LAX and goes all in there?
Aug 6, 2020, 6:22 pm
#788
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: SAN
Programs: AS MVPG100K, UA Gold, IHG Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, National Exec
Posts: 320
DL already flies LAX-PVG, but aren’t yields trash at LAX because of the Chinese carriers? I feel like DL going all in at LAX would essentially admit defeat in SEA.
Aug 6, 2020, 6:57 pm
#789
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,380
No, because:
Yes, indeed, which is why AA is skedaddling and letting AS's lower costs handle those lower yields. DL going there and abandoning similar routes out of SEA would be a self-own.
The thing is EVERYONE is going to be taking it on the chin for international ex-USA for a while. Tourism or customer visits to the world's richest leper colony don't sell well, oddly enough, and this isn't going to be a V-shaped recovery- so businesses will adjust travel budgets accordingly. I won't be shocked if SEA is down to a small handful of longhaul international hubs for a lot of 2021: something like LHR, AMS, FRA, NRT, ICN, TPE. It'll be a good question how willing AA and DL are willing to set money on fire for PVG...
Yes, indeed, which is why AA is skedaddling and letting AS's lower costs handle those lower yields. DL going there and abandoning similar routes out of SEA would be a self-own.
The thing is EVERYONE is going to be taking it on the chin for international ex-USA for a while. Tourism or customer visits to the world's richest leper colony don't sell well, oddly enough, and this isn't going to be a V-shaped recovery- so businesses will adjust travel budgets accordingly. I won't be shocked if SEA is down to a small handful of longhaul international hubs for a lot of 2021: something like LHR, AMS, FRA, NRT, ICN, TPE. It'll be a good question how willing AA and DL are willing to set money on fire for PVG...
Aug 6, 2020, 9:32 pm
#790
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYF/YLW
Programs: AA, DL, AS, VA, WS Silver
Posts: 5,950
Agree with everything you say except a quibble here: AS isn't backfilling the international long haul out of LAX that AA is abandoning. AA is moving some LAX-Asia routes to SEA, others to DFW, and abandoning others. If AA had a geographically sensible hub with local demand and not overwhelming competition of their own, they'd use it, but they don't; SEA using the AS feed is the next best option. I don't think it's so much about AS's lower costs as the fact that AA can use AS to feed a more geographically sensible Asia hub that wasn't a total bloodbath given supply relative to demand from, say, 2016 to 2019 (ie recently but pre-COVID).
Aug 6, 2020, 10:20 pm
#791
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,380
Agree with everything you say except a quibble here: AS isn't backfilling the international long haul out of LAX that AA is abandoning. AA is moving some LAX-Asia routes to SEA, others to DFW, and abandoning others. If AA had a geographically sensible hub with local demand and not overwhelming competition of their own, they'd use it, but they don't; SEA using the AS feed is the next best option. I don't think it's so much about AS's lower costs as the fact that AA can use AS to feed a more geographically sensible Asia hub that wasn't a total bloodbath given supply relative to demand from, say, 2016 to 2019 (ie recently but pre-COVID).
I’m not convinced AA’s SEA strategy will work (I think DL is capable of outlasting them, has a better operation and product, and this is literally the worst time in history to try this), but if it gets AS into OW, it’ll be “no backsies” unless someone buys them.
Aug 7, 2020, 6:16 am
#792
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Mountain Time Zone
Programs: AS Million Miler/Marriott Lifetime Titanium/ IGH Ambassador
Posts: 5,990
So here is a question for everyone, after cancelling two trips due to the virus I am now looking to book Europe this coming summer with points, looking at the schedules/availability BA is still showing 747 let alone existing old schedules that coupled with the entry into OW coming I am not sure booking is a such good idea until OW happens. Then there are the schedules who knows what the real schedules are going to be. I would say EK might be a safe bet at this point for any point redemption. On EK if you have status with Marriott you get some cross benefits with EK now,.
Aug 7, 2020, 8:04 am
#793
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: AS, UA, WN, IHG Diamond Elite, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Gold, CET 7*
Posts: 3,293
So here is a question for everyone, after cancelling two trips due to the virus I am now looking to book Europe this coming summer with points, looking at the schedules/availability BA is still showing 747 let alone existing old schedules that coupled with the entry into OW coming I am not sure booking is a such good idea until OW happens. Then there are the schedules who knows what the real schedules are going to be. I would say EK might be a safe bet at this point for any point redemption. On EK if you have status with Marriott you get some cross benefits with EK now,.
Of course the 747 is gone, that's a given, but with either of those choices you may as well consider the award booking a placeholder at this point. Any booking is going to have numerous schedule changes between now and then, but there's nothing wrong with booking something as you'll then be rebooked on whatever the new schedule/equipment is at the time.
Aug 7, 2020, 1:49 pm
#794
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Mountain Time Zone
Programs: AS Million Miler/Marriott Lifetime Titanium/ IGH Ambassador
Posts: 5,990
I'm not sure how AS entering OW has any relevance on a BA or EK award booking for next Summer?
Of course the 747 is gone, that's a given, but with either of those choices you may as well consider the award booking a placeholder at this point. Any booking is going to have numerous schedule changes between now and then, but there's nothing wrong with booking something as you'll then be rebooked on whatever the new schedule/equipment is at the time.
Of course the 747 is gone, that's a given, but with either of those choices you may as well consider the award booking a placeholder at this point. Any booking is going to have numerous schedule changes between now and then, but there's nothing wrong with booking something as you'll then be rebooked on whatever the new schedule/equipment is at the time.
Aug 7, 2020, 5:53 pm
#795
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: AS, UA, WN, IHG Diamond Elite, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Gold, CET 7*
Posts: 3,293
There is a difference if AS in fully in OW then if I were to book BA and given my status I would not be subjected to those seat selection fees which can be high unless of course one doesn't care about them. Then too is maybe juts maybe more availability might be there as well with AA et al. As for EK was only a passing comment regarding booking a reward seat knowing that the aircraft type will be constant. In all these years booking then rebooking always has its pitfalls. For me will wait until we are well into the fall end of year. And no one ones what travel will look like next year either.