It’s not quite codesharing, but American Airlines and JetBlue have formed a partnership of sorts, focusing on routes in and out of Boston and JFK.
As the press release put it, this will “extend and complement each others’ networks. For example, it would provide seamless service for customers who wish to fly nonstop from Nantucket to JFK on JetBlue and from there to London on American. Likewise, customers can board American from Paris to JFK and connect to a nonstop flight on JetBlue to Burlington, Vt. JetBlue customers will be able to effortlessly connect on flights to 12 of American’s international destinations from JFK and Boston including Barcelona, Spain; Sao Paulo, Brazil; and Tokyo, Japan.”
This leaves us with some question, as Upgrade: Travel Better’s Mark Ashley notes: “Will JetBlue flights count toward AAdvantage? Vice versa? If so, it will be an interesting question how the programs, which function very differently, reconcile.” Indeed.
UPDATE: JAL has spoken – it has spurned Delta in favor of continuing its relationship with American.
EARLIER: You have to admit, this whole thing with JAL (Japan Airlines) sounds kind of like a primetime soap opera.
The Asian carrier which declared bankruptcy last month is the “bachelor” (sort of) in a triangle that pits American and Delta fighting to win JAL’s love – or rather, a partnership with the airline.
Actually American Airlines and its Oneworld alliance of global partners has the longstanding alliance with JAL, but in wake of the bankruptcy, the carrier has signaled it may switch – and Delta and SkyTeam entered the fray, trying to “woo” JAL to their team. At stake is the lucrative Asian-Pacific market, seen as the world’s fastest growing aviation market.
And according to news reports (and USA Today has the roundup), JAL can’t seem to make up its mind – though the Wall St. Journal suggests the carrier is now leaning back toward American.
No final decision has been made yet though. Maybe we’ll hear more by Valentine’s Day.
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Richard Branson sure thinks so.
He’s calling the 11-airline “oneworld” alliance that includes BA, American Airlines, Iberia and others – “disastrous” – and claims it will allow the “two largest dominant carriers to increase their stranglehold by setting price together and agreeing schedules.”
The flamboyant head of the Virgin empire added, “it will be the end of red-hot competition.”
A spokesman for American Airlines responded that Sir Richard’s comments were “rife with overgeneralizations, hyperbole and just plain old inaccuracies.” But Branson is pressing his case with the U.S. Dept. of Transportation, asking them to block the deal that would grant the alliance anti-trust immunity.
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Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is lending his support to several airlines (British Airways, American Airlines, Iberia, Finnair and Royal Jordanian) which are seeking antitrust immunity status in the U.S.
This would allow the airlines to forge closer alliances and, as noted by the Wall St. Journal, to bypass monopoly laws in this country allowing them to “work together on scheduling and pricing in a deal that would also involve revenue sharing.”
Schwarzenegger noted that Star and SkyTeam alliances already have this broad antitrust immunity.
This BA alliance is known as “oneworld” – is it just me, or does that sound like one of those global domination entities some of the governor’s movie characters used to do battle with?
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The “lower cost” carrier AirTran has “had code-share conversations” – but nobody will say with who or what airline.
But it makes sense – in this economy of ours.
An AirTran exec quoted in the Orlando Sentinel indicated they wouldn’t say no to an arrangement with Southwest Airlines (who would?) – but Southwest said they do not comment on such matters.
The news story suggested Frontier might be a good code-share partner – I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
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As has been widely reported today, American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia (along with Finnair and Royal Jordanian) have all signed a joint agreement, which they say will be great for passengers: more destinations, and, according to American’s press release, the alliance will “enable the airlines to reduce costs and attract new customers, helping to mitigate pressure on airfares from record fuel costs.”
Kind of sounds like cheaper airfare, right? But…but…
But let’s ask Richard Branson of Virgin fame. He says the new partnership will create “a monster monopoly”. And monopolies are never good for airline ticket pirces. Of course, Branson’s got Virgin Atlantic to worry about — and he and BA have been at odds from the start. But the man does know the airline business — and the man is not alone.
Keep reading — to learn about this same attempt to partner 10 years ago and why that attempt went down in flames…
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Another Look: Is the American / British Airways Deal REALLY Good for Fliers?
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Wetold you this was coming.
Today, American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia have signed a “Joint Business Agreement” that will make things a little easier for its passengers.
American’s press release gives this example: “customers and communities will gain improved access to 207 new international destinations just by our ability to link our networks.”
Translation: more convenient schedules and access to more competitive fares.
Frequent fliers, take note: you will have “greater opportunities to earn and redeem your AAdvantage miles on each airline’s transatlantic flights.”
Another note: This new alliance still requires U.S. government approval; if granted (as expected), American acknowledges that it will still take “some time” before implementation.
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