Announced Changes to Affect Partnership Between American Airlines and Alaska Airlines in 2020

When Alaska Airlines announced on Sunday, July 9, 2017 changes which affected its partnership with American Airlines, the airline was quick to first assure its customers and members of its Mileage Plan frequent flier loyalty program of what was not changing effective as of Monday, January 1, 2018, as they would still…

• Earn Mileage Plan miles on domestic flights operated by American Airlines flights which has an Alaska Airlines flight number — as well as on all international flights operated by American Airlines
• Be able to redeem Mileage Plan miles on flights operated by American Airlines globally
• Access Admirals Club lounges when traveling on Alaska Airlines or American Airlines if they are members of the Alaska Lounge

Announced Changes to Affect Partnership Between American Airlines and Alaska Airlines in 2020

…but much of what was not affected back then will be adversely affected or eliminated by the latest changes which were announced earlier today pertaining to the partnership between American Airlines and Alaska Airlines.

Effective as of Sunday, March 1, 2020, you will no longer be able to:

• Earn Mileage Plan miles on international flights which are operated by American Airlines.
• Redeem Mileage Plan miles for award travel on domestic flights or international flights which are operated by American Airlines.

What is not changing is that:

• You will continue to earn a Mileage Plan mile for every mile flown on eligible domestic flights which are operated by American Airlines with an Alaska Airlines flight number to select key destinations in the midwestern and eastern United States and Canada.
• Members of Alaska Lounge can still access greater than 50 Admirals Club lounges worldwide when flying as a passenger on an airplane operated by Alaska Airlines or American Airlines.

Earning on American Airlines For domestic flights

To earn Mileage Plan miles on flights within the United States and Canada, American-operated flights must be marketed by Alaska Airlines. This includes American Airlines operated flights purchased as Alaska Airlines flights (AS) 4000-4799 and 6000-6999.

Base miles and class of service bonuses earned are based on the Alaska Airlines earning chart. Base miles earned and class of service bonuses on eligible American-operated flights count toward Alaska Airlines elite status.

View the Alaska Airlines earning chart.

For international flights marketed and operated by American Airlines

For trips booked on or after October 2, 2019, travel must be completed by February 29, 2020 in order to earn miles. Trips booked before October 2, 2019 for travel after February 29, 2020 are still eligible to earn Alaska miles by submitting a mileage credit request after your flight is completed.

Qualify for mileage accrual on international flights

Flight must either depart from, and/or arrive in a country other than the United States or a territory of the United States; and be both marketed and operated by American Airlines.

To ensure flight credit for international travel on American Airlines, the two-letter airline code must precede the flight number — for example, AA XXXX — on your ticket receipt or boarding pass, and the flight must be operated by American Airlines.

Mileage earned is based on a percentage of actual flight miles flown and earn 500 minimum miles on flights shorter than 500 miles. No miles will be earned for classes of service not listed above.

Summary

One might say that the latest round of changes effectively guts most of whatever is left of the partnership between Alaska Airlines and American Airlines — and the partnership between Alaska Airlines and Delta Air Lines ended effective as of Monday, May 1, 2017.

I do not see Alaska Airlines partnering with United Airlines; but a partnership with another domestic airline which serves destinations not currently served by Alaska Airlines be a possibility?

Photograph ©2013 by Brian Cohen.