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, 7:32 am
#16
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,416
I also can't help but feel that this is (mostly) bad news for those who value AS primarily for the generous Mileage Plan benefits.
Will be interesting to see if 75K gets OWE status (and if so, whether AS raises the qualification requirements).
Only compared to AS's bargain rates for CX, JL, and KE. Considered relative to other programs, the SQ redemption rates are fine.
Will be interesting to see if 75K gets OWE status (and if so, whether AS raises the qualification requirements).
Only compared to AS's bargain rates for CX, JL, and KE. Considered relative to other programs, the SQ redemption rates are fine.
Feb 13, 2020, 7:34 am
#19
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: SAN, BOS
Programs: AS MVPG100K, BAEC Gold, Hilton Diamond, Bonvoy Plat,
Posts: 2,279
Really curious if MVP75 will give emerald status or if they will offer a higher tier for emerald...I make transfers through hkg often on non-F routes and access to CX F lounges will be a treat
Feb 13, 2020, 7:36 am
#20
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Denver
Programs: AS, AA, UA, Hilton, Marriott, Caesars DE
Posts: 2,070
Agree, will they split up qualification based on AS metal vs. AS/Partner? Would be weird for an alliance member to do such a thing. Not to mention one of the big gripes from AA when they devalued their FFP was AS earned more miles than AA, and EQD was thrown out. So how does this effect the overall AS FFP, if I could get all benefits on AA but fly AS and credit and get better rates/mileage redemptions, something has got to give.
Feb 13, 2020, 7:40 am
#22
Join Date: Jun 2016
Programs: DL DM, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 150
Agree, will they split up qualification based on AS metal vs. AS/Partner? Would be weird for an alliance member to do such a thing. Not to mention one of the big gripes from AA when they devalued their FFP was AS earned more miles than AA, and EQD was thrown out. So how does this effect the overall AS FFP, if I could get all benefits on AA but fly AS and credit and get better rates/mileage redemptions, something has got to give.
Impressed that AS actually made a strategic business move but agree that something has to give as a result.
Feb 13, 2020, 7:44 am
#24
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Somewhere over the rainbow
Programs: Airline Free Agent, Bonvoy Platinum, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 3,809
At those prices, you’re better off redeeming UR/AX/TYP via SQ directly since it’s easier to earn those points than AS miles. Sure, if you fly on a lot of paid J/F fares that earn 200% RDM before factoring in 75K bonuses it’s not horrible.
Feb 13, 2020, 7:44 am
#25
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: B6 Mosaic, Bonvoy LT Titanium (x SPG LT), IHG Spire, UA Silver
Posts: 5,844
Agree--that has to be one of the strangest Alliance announcements ever. Emphasizing that Alaska will be feeding American's nearly non-existent international long haul flights from SEA/LAX. Yesterday they were falling out of love and today they are best friends. We will have code-shares but there are still restrictions put in place with the VX/AS merger so we can't really do that extensively. Maybe sometime in a year or more we will be partners and clearly American would not be happy with AS keeping Mileage Plan as it is. It has been widely reported that American loses money flying and only makes money from AAdvantage. Thus giving up that golden goose to the benefit of Alaska just makes no sense for American. MileagePlan will have to be as bad or worse than AAdvantage to keep the AA flyers with Aadvantage. Seems LATAM and other partners may be getting pulled sooner than expected and both carriers were thrust into it.
Feb 13, 2020, 7:47 am
#26
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Chapel Hill, NC
Programs: UA GS; Former Alaska MVPG75/DL Diamond/NW Platinum/BA Gold
Posts: 942
Feb 13, 2020, 7:50 am
#27
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Diego CA USA
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, & EP 2024-25; Southwest A-List
Posts: 190
EQMs
Forgive me if I missed it (still early here on the west coast), but I haven’t seen any info regarding EQM earning on AA in this interim period before Alaska Air’s OneWorld entry.
i have little interest in flying long-haul AA if I can’t earn EQMs.
i have little interest in flying long-haul AA if I can’t earn EQMs.
Feb 13, 2020, 7:51 am
#28
Join Date: May 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: AS; Hyatt Globalist; Hilton Gold; NEXUS
Posts: 976
Feb 13, 2020, 7:51 am
#29
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,416
It's also way easier to redeem via AS. KF cs is a nightmare. God forbid you have to cancel a ticket . . . you can't get your KF miles back without calling SQ and paying a redeposit fee. In typical Singapore fashion they have all kinds of arcane rules that do nothing but slow the process down and inconvenience the customer.
