Members of both the American Airlines AAdvantage and Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan frequent flier loyalty programs will enjoy reciprocal benefits across both airlines — including the ability to earn miles on the full networks of both airlines…
Improved Reciprocal Earning of Miles Now in Effect Between American Airlines and Alaska Airlines
…and the tables for earning frequent flier loyalty program miles have been released by both airlines; and the reciprocal earning of miles between the AAdvantage and Mileage Plan membership programs became effective as of Wednesday, April 1, 2020.
After their partnership gradually eroded to almost nonexistent during the past three years, Alaska Airlines and American Airlines stunned the world of frequent fliers by announcing a suddenly strengthened partnership earlier this year to give travelers along the west coast of the United States more choices when traveling internationally, offer seamless access across a broader network, and provide strategic growth for both airlines.
Earning AAdvantage Miles on Flights Operated by Alaska Airlines
| Cabin | Purchased Fares Booked in | Base Miles | Cabin Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | F | 100 percent | 75 percent |
| First | P, I | 100 percent | 50 percent |
| First | Y, S, B, U^ | 100 percent | Not available |
| Economy | M, H, Q | 75 percent | Not available |
| Economy | L, V, K, G | 50 percent | Not available |
| Economy | T, R, X | 25 percent | Not available |
^ Fare class U is valid for upgrades only. Mileage accrual will be determined using the base miles and class of service bonus miles applicable for travel in the cabin originally booked.
If a purchased fare booking code is not listed in the tables, no award miles are earned.
Earning Mileage Plan Miles on Flights Operated by American Airlines
| Cabin | Purchased Fare Class | Base Miles | Bonus Miles | Total Miles Earned |
Elite Qualifying Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First | F | 100 percent | 100 percent | 200 percent | 200 percent |
| First | A | 100 percent | 50 percent | 150 percent | 150 percent |
| First | X — Upgrade | Earning is based on original booking | |||
| Business | J | 100 percent | 100 percent | 200 percent | 200 percent |
| Business | D, I, R | 100 percent | 50 percent | 150 percent | 150 percent |
| Business | C — Upgrade | Earning is based on original booking | |||
| Premium Economy | W | 100 percent | 10 percent | 110 percent | 110 percent |
| Premium Economy | P | 100 percent | 0 percent | 100 percent | 100 percent |
| Economy — Main Cabin | H, K, L, M, Y | 100 percent | 0 percent | 100 percent | 100 percent |
| Economy — Main Cabin | G, V | 75 percent | 0 percent | 75 percent | 75 percent |
| Economy — Main Cabin | N, S | 50 percent | 0 percent | 50 percent | 50 percent |
| Economy — Main Cabin | O, Q | 25 percent | 0 percent | 25 percent | 25 percent |
Summary
More choices which are flexible are almost always welcome to have for consumers; and the latest iteration of this partnership is proving itself to be just that.
Interestingly, American Airlines does not seem to offer elite qualifying miles or elite qualifying dollars for flights booked through Alaska Airlines at this time; but Alaska Airlines offers to its members elite qualifying miles for tickets booked made through American Airlines.
The Basic Economy fares of American Airlines — which fall into fare code B — do not appear anywhere on the earnings chart of Alaska Airlines and will not accrue miles or credits for elite level status. The least expensive economy elass fares — which fall into fare code X — do appear on the American Airlines chart and will accrue miles at a rate of 25 percent of the distance flown.
All photographs ©2013, ©2018, and ©2019 by Brian Cohen.
