Jan 14, 2021, 11:41 am
Last edit by: rrgg
American Airlines announced a new “strategic partnership” including codesharing on some routes in July 2020. In January 2021, several other enhancements to this partnership were announced, including:
”Important components of the alliance will be introduced starting in the first quarter of 2021 and phased in over the course of the year:
Link to January 12, 2021, AA news release
As of Jan 31st, 2022 - Benefits typically do not show up when managing the booking and will show up when checking in online.
To receive elite benefits add your AAdvantage number at time of purchase, or contact JetBlue customer service to add it after purchase.
JetBlue Basic: AA elites still get free seat selection and a free bag on Blue Basic fares. All passengers are allowed to bring on board a personal item that fits under the seat. However you do not get to bring a free full size carry-on with Blue Basic except when you select an Even More Space seat.
AA Loyalty Points can take a week to post.
AA Link to Benefits page
”Important components of the alliance will be introduced starting in the first quarter of 2021 and phased in over the course of the year:
- Seamless customer experience
With each element of the alliance, customers flying in and out of New York and Boston will enjoy a more seamless experience across both airlines, including the ability to book a single itinerary on either website, access to the alliance’s significant global network, convenient connections, access to loyalty benefits and an improved on-the-ground experience — resulting in a compelling proposition for both leisure and corporate customers. - Network alignment in the Northeast
The alliance will offer customers the largest network in New York City and Boston, and it will enable new strategic growth opportunities for both airlines, accelerate the replacement of small regional jets with larger aircraft, while greatly expanding the connectivity between each carrier’s network in the Northeast. American will upgauge aircraft and by the end of 2021 will operate all service out of New York with first class. Starting in the first half of 2021, JetBlue and American schedules in New York and Boston will begin to be aligned to give customers new flight options, with improved schedules, better connections, competitive fares and access to more domestic and international destinations. - Expanded service in the Northeast
As part of the alliance, JetBlue plans to significantly expand its service at New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA), as well as further expand in other NYC airports and in Boston. The alliance will also allow JetBlue to reactivate aircraft that would otherwise sit idle. An expanded operation at LaGuardia further advances JetBlue’s position as New York’s Hometown Airline® and accelerates the airline’s ability to recover.
As previously announced, American is introducing brand new service on from New York (JFK) to Tel Aviv (TLV) and Athens (ATH). American’s loyal customers in New York will be introduced to their first long-haul international service in more than four years, with even more new routes on the way. - Codeshare agreement
Starting later this quarter, JetBlue will place its B6 code on a variety of American flights in New York and Boston. Likewise, American will place its AA code on select JetBlue flights also in at New York’s John F. Kennedy International, LaGuardia (LGA) and Newark Liberty International (EWR) airports, as well as Boston Logan International Airport (BOS). Flights touching New York or Boston from either JetBlue, American or connecting combinations of both will be bookable on jetblue.com and aa.com in the coming weeks. The codeshare will introduce JetBlue customers to more than 60 new routes operated by American and will introduce American’s customers to more than 130 new routes operated by JetBlue. - Reciprocal loyalty benefits
Later this year, customers of both JetBlue’s TrueBlue and American’s AAdvantage® programs will be able to enjoy reciprocal benefits, including the ability to earn and/or redeem points or miles on either carrier making both loyalty program even more valuable. The airlines are also exploring opportunities to recognize JetBlue Mosaic customers and American’s AAdvantage elite members across both airlines. More details will be announced to loyalty program members later this year.“
Link to January 12, 2021, AA news release
As of Jan 31st, 2022 - Benefits typically do not show up when managing the booking and will show up when checking in online.
To receive elite benefits add your AAdvantage number at time of purchase, or contact JetBlue customer service to add it after purchase.
JetBlue Basic: AA elites still get free seat selection and a free bag on Blue Basic fares. All passengers are allowed to bring on board a personal item that fits under the seat. However you do not get to bring a free full size carry-on with Blue Basic except when you select an Even More Space seat.
AA Loyalty Points can take a week to post.
AA Link to Benefits page
AA & B6 (JetBlue) enhance Partnership: codesharing, coordination, status & earning
Jan 14, 2021, 12:14 pm
#91
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: NYC/PHX
Programs: IATA, Sabre, AvgeekAgent
Posts: 1,958
I sense a potential watering down of coordination with respect to premium routes and elite recognition in the press release vs prior announcements. I believe upgrades were previously mentioned, but now they are "exploring opportunities" to recognize respective elites. No reference to transcon at all in the PR either--perhaps B6's transcon growth ambitions are threatening that area of cooperation.
Perhaps I am stating the obvious, but I think it makes sense that AA will try to retain as much premium/elite market share as it can on its own metal on its most profitable routes, while promoting the B6 flying to its broader FF base and international interline customers and as an add-hoc offering to non-core business/leisure destinations as determined by AA. Letting their best cusomers get too used to flying Mint doesn't make any sense.
Perhaps I am stating the obvious, but I think it makes sense that AA will try to retain as much premium/elite market share as it can on its own metal on its most profitable routes, while promoting the B6 flying to its broader FF base and international interline customers and as an add-hoc offering to non-core business/leisure destinations as determined by AA. Letting their best cusomers get too used to flying Mint doesn't make any sense.
Jan 14, 2021, 1:32 pm
#92
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: BOS
Programs: AA PP, DL PM
Posts: 2,086
I sense a potential watering down of coordination with respect to premium routes and elite recognition in the press release vs prior announcements. I believe upgrades were previously mentioned, but now they are "exploring opportunities" to recognize respective elites. No reference to transcon at all in the PR either--perhaps B6's transcon growth ambitions are threatening that area of cooperation.
Perhaps I am stating the obvious, but I think it makes sense that AA will try to retain as much premium/elite market share as it can on its own metal on its most profitable routes, while promoting the B6 flying to its broader FF base and international interline customers and as an add-hoc offering to non-core business/leisure destinations as determined by AA. Letting their best cusomers get too used to flying Mint doesn't make any sense.
Perhaps I am stating the obvious, but I think it makes sense that AA will try to retain as much premium/elite market share as it can on its own metal on its most profitable routes, while promoting the B6 flying to its broader FF base and international interline customers and as an add-hoc offering to non-core business/leisure destinations as determined by AA. Letting their best cusomers get too used to flying Mint doesn't make any sense.
Jan 14, 2021, 1:43 pm
#93
Join Date: Apr 2011
Programs: Marriott Ambassador, AA ExecPlat, Amtrak Select Exec, former WN apologist
Posts: 1,425
American will upgauge aircraft and by the end of 2021 will operate all service out of New York with first class.
Jan 14, 2021, 1:57 pm
#94
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: NYC/PHX
Programs: IATA, Sabre, AvgeekAgent
Posts: 1,958
It is a great read, and the actual agreement linked therein, while dense is worthwile as well. As my prior post lays out, I disagree with Cranky that boosting the experience for elites is the key. If the partnership provides a broad portfolio of destinations for non-elites, AA credit card holders and even retired AA loyalists to earn/burn miles, as well as better combined schedules out of LGA/BOS on "secondary" routes (by AA standards) for AA corporate accounts (who will have to fly AA code to get their corporate pricing), it may be sufficiently successful for AA.
The idea that there will be anything close to metal neutrality from a customer perspective seems more remote than before. In fact there is a temporary/experimental tone to the whole endeavor, which to be fair may have more to do with being in uncharted territory than an expectation it will all come to an end when AA wants to re-assert itself in NYC.
The idea that there will be anything close to metal neutrality from a customer perspective seems more remote than before. In fact there is a temporary/experimental tone to the whole endeavor, which to be fair may have more to do with being in uncharted territory than an expectation it will all come to an end when AA wants to re-assert itself in NYC.
Jan 14, 2021, 8:17 pm
#95
Join Date: Dec 2018
Programs: UA 1K, DL PM, AA Nobody, Marriott Ambassador Elite
Posts: 563
The idea that there will be anything close to metal neutrality from a customer perspective seems more remote than before. In fact there is a temporary/experimental tone to the whole endeavor, which to be fair may have more to do with being in uncharted territory than an expectation it will all come to an end when AA wants to re-assert itself in NYC.
Another random thought is after it's all said and done, some airlines might merge, due to the massive Covid losses.
Jan 14, 2021, 8:48 pm
#96
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP 1MM, DL PM, Bonvoy Titanium (Plat Life), HH G, Amtrak, B6, MR
Posts: 1,546
The thing I'm wondering about is just how "seamless" this experience can possibly be either at BOS or JFK since AA and B6 operate out of different terminals there with no air-side connection. It'll be interesting to see what happens here.
Jan 14, 2021, 9:07 pm
#97
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: BOS
Programs: AA PP, DL PM
Posts: 2,086
I'll be happy if B6 is added to the list of airlines that you can use the Admirals Club while flying.
Jan 15, 2021, 9:18 am
#98
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,313
Pretty confident the government doesn't get a say in which airline joins which alliance, whether Jetblue wants to joing OneWorld, Star, or SkyTeam. That's up to the airline.
Jan 15, 2021, 9:23 am
#99
Join Date: Dec 2018
Programs: UA 1K, DL PM, AA Nobody, Marriott Ambassador Elite
Posts: 563
Jan 15, 2021, 9:32 am
#100
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYF/YLW
Programs: AA, DL, AS, VA, WS Silver
Posts: 5,950
And I think it makes sense to take a hands-off approach in NYC, where AA and B6 are individually 3rd and 4th (I'm not sure in which order; probably B6 domestically and obviously AA long haul), so letting them join forces to provide a robust 3rd competitor to DL and UA, while it certainly makes sense to prevent them from cooperating (not that I think they asked to anyway) in South Florida, where they're #1 and #2 (I think; not sure where WN fits in, but they're definitely not 3rd and 4th fiddle down there).
Jan 15, 2021, 9:35 am
#101
Join Date: Dec 2018
Programs: UA 1K, DL PM, AA Nobody, Marriott Ambassador Elite
Posts: 563
The FAA micromanaged this one? They allowed schedule coordination, something that is very unusual for domestic airlines. See the article by CrankyFlier which @JDiver referred to. That's an awfully hands-off approach; schedule coordination significantly exceeds what non-immunized alliance partners (like AS and AA, as of March 31) are allowed to do.
And I think it makes sense to take a hands-off approach in NYC, where AA and B6 are individually 3rd and 4th (I'm not sure in which order; probably B6 domestically and obviously AA long haul), so letting them join forces to provide a robust 3rd competitor to DL and UA, while it certainly makes sense to prevent them from cooperating (not that I think they asked to anyway) in South Florida, where they're #1 and #2 (I think; not sure where WN fits in, but they're definitely not 3rd and 4th fiddle down there).
And I think it makes sense to take a hands-off approach in NYC, where AA and B6 are individually 3rd and 4th (I'm not sure in which order; probably B6 domestically and obviously AA long haul), so letting them join forces to provide a robust 3rd competitor to DL and UA, while it certainly makes sense to prevent them from cooperating (not that I think they asked to anyway) in South Florida, where they're #1 and #2 (I think; not sure where WN fits in, but they're definitely not 3rd and 4th fiddle down there).
Jan 15, 2021, 10:04 am
#102
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYF/YLW
Programs: AA, DL, AS, VA, WS Silver
Posts: 5,950
I'm just curious in what ways the FAA micromanaged this in comparison to similar cooperation agreements. (I have read Cranky's post but have not read the DOT docket.)
Jan 15, 2021, 2:18 pm
#103
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Boston
Posts: 89
While codeshare routes are mentioned, I haven't seen anything about timetable or specific routes. I assume that's something that will either be announced or become apparent in the next few weeks (agreement goes live at the end of Q1)?
Jan 15, 2021, 3:05 pm
#104
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Travel Safety/Security & Texas, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: AUS / GRK
Programs: AA, HHonors, Hertz
Posts: 13,484
Similar will happen if/when AA actually starts AUS-BOS (I think there was only 1 nonstop per day, 6x weekly scheduled on AA). I think B6 had 3-4 AUS-BOS/day.
Who knew that among AA, and now partners AS and B6, I'd have quite a few nonstop options from AUS
