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)
Feb 13, 2020, 11:20 am
#121
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,022
QF codeshare with AF/KLM on some routes, CX codeshare with NZ on one route,
OW airlines can/do compete head to head on some routes. Its not about being "friendly" or not competing
Edit:
OW news release---> https://www.oneworld.com/news/2020-0...n-the-alliance
Last edited by Mwenenzi; Feb 13, 2020 at 11:51 am
Feb 13, 2020, 11:21 am
#122
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Federal Way, WA
Programs: Mileage Plus 2P, Marriott Silver, many others
Posts: 1,305
Not really affected by this for multiple reasons, but still sad to see. AA is the worst of the big 3 in the US, and I've always considered OneWorld the least of the three global alliances.
Feb 13, 2020, 11:23 am
#123
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: BART Platinum, AA Plat Pro
Posts: 1,158
That is unambiguously true.
Feb 13, 2020, 11:24 am
#124
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
My point here is not that I want to fly basic economy to Vegas, but that while dynamic pricing is generally bad, it does create some good deals, and you can't value a program only by it's worst redemption. Rather, you have to value a program by it's best deals that you will actually use. For someone who has no desire to fly internationally and is fine with basic economy, this is a fantastic deal.
Feb 13, 2020, 11:30 am
#125
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: SFO/SEA
Programs: Gold 75K
Posts: 218
I just sent a message to Alaska on Twitter and was told that SFO is still not eligible. I replied back that the announcement email which says that effective immediately lounge members have access to all 50 Admiral's club is incorrect and disappointing.
Feb 13, 2020, 11:32 am
#127
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: SoCal,
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro
Posts: 771
That's a good point. Mileage Plan's value is its ability to achieve status on miles, and if it stays intact then is extremely valuable to me going forward. I continue to reach EP each year, but I'm a low spend EP. My upgrade rate is in the low 20% range. The true value to me in AAdvantage is free YC premium seats, free J seats on BA and the OW lounges. If I can achieve Emerald in the AS program on miles alone? I'll switch in a second. On a side note, I believe that OW is the most valuable alliance to FF'ers and for all the MP members out there, who haven't been able to enjoy any OW benefits, I think you'll love the OW lounge access. Cheers!
Feb 13, 2020, 11:38 am
#128
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
If SFO is is not eligible then how is this "effective immediately"? Isn't it "effective several years ago"? Is there a change that I'm missing?
Feb 13, 2020, 11:39 am
#129
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: BART Platinum, AA Plat Pro
Posts: 1,158
That's a good point. Mileage Plan's value is its ability to achieve status on miles, and if it stays intact then is extremely valuable to me going forward. I continue to reach EP each year, but I'm a low spend EP...If I can achieve Emerald in the AS program on miles alone? I'll switch in a second.
If you're a low-spend EP, how are you going to achieve MVPG 75K on AS? Unless you plan to shift all of your flying to AS metal as well?
Feb 13, 2020, 11:39 am
#130
Join Date: Mar 2018
Programs: AS MVP Gold 75k, Hyatt Globalist, National Executive Elite
Posts: 272
Last edited by eddiehuang97; Feb 13, 2020 at 11:50 am
Feb 13, 2020, 11:43 am
#132
Join Date: Mar 2018
Programs: AS MVP Gold 75k, Hyatt Globalist, National Executive Elite
Posts: 272
AA doesn't give OWE comp upgrade so I would doubt AS will do so. The situation with Premium Seats would just go back to pre-2018.
Feb 13, 2020, 11:49 am
#133
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: BART Platinum, AA Plat Pro
Posts: 1,158
I think the bigger "issue" is that AS upgrade lists are currently short ex-SFO/LAX because their network is totally uncompetitive for most frequent flyers. That may no longer be true.
Feb 13, 2020, 11:49 am
#134
Join Date: Aug 2018
Programs: AA Exec Plat, Bonvoy Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 621
Feb 13, 2020, 11:49 am
#135
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: SEA
Posts: 18
It’s striking to me how similar (based on reporting; I have no inside knowledge) this arrangement is to the one that Alaska reputedly turned down with Delta several years back. Seems like Alaska management didn’t want to repeat the outcome of that decision.