SEATTLE, Sept. 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Alaska
Airlines and Icelandair have entered into a codeshare agreement and
frequent flier partnership, which will give customers easier
connections and more ways to earn benefits when flying between the
U.S. and Europe.
With the new codeshare agreement, to take effect Nov. 1 pending government approval, customers
flying on Alaska Airlines and Icelandair will enjoy seamless
reservations and ticketing, one-stop check-in, baggage checked to
its final destination, coordinated flight schedules, the ability to
earn miles and/or points on the reciprocal airline and consistent
passenger service standards.
Elite-level members of each airline's frequent flier program
also will receive reciprocal club lounge benefits.
"This new partnership with Icelandair is another example of how
Alaska is raising the bar to allow
its Mileage Plan members to travel and earn miles to all corners of
the globe through a diverse network of international carriers,"
said Andrew Harrison, Alaska
Airlines' executive vice president and chief commercial officer.
"Icelandair offers our frequent fliers a unique option for flying
and earning miles to Europe from
our Seattle, Portland and Anchorage gateways."
Icelandair operates flights from 16 cities in North America to Iceland with connections to more than 20
destinations in Europe, including
Amsterdam, Brussels, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, London and Paris. Travelers can also enjoy an Icelandair
stop-over to visit the city of Reykjavik and tour surrounding areas for up to
seven nights at no additional airfare charge.
"With today's announcement of our Alaska Airlines partnership,
Icelandair continues to expand its network, including more flights,
more gateways and more destinations," said Helgi Mar Bjorgvinsson, Icelandair's senior vice
president of sales and marketing. "Our codeshare flights and
mileage partnership will make travel seamless from the West Coast,
reward frequent travelers on both Icelandair and Alaska Airlines,
and offer our passengers even more options when traveling to
Iceland and beyond."
As an added benefit, starting Oct.
1 Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan MVP Gold and Gold 75K members
will receive complimentary access to Icelandair's Saga Lounge at
Keflavik International Airport in Reykjavik and Icelandair Saga Gold and Silver
members will enjoy complimentary access to Alaska Board Room lounges in Seattle, Portland, Anchorage and Los Angeles.
Members of Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan can begin earning miles
on Icelandair starting Oct. 1, and
through Dec. 15, 2015 the airline is
offering double miles.* Miles flown will count toward elite status
in Alaska's Mileage Plan. Members
of Icelandair's Saga Club can begin earning Saga Points for flights on Alaska starting Oct.
1. Redemption for award travel will start later this
year.
Icelandair has a long history of providing flights from
the United States to Europe. The airline offers onboard Wi-Fi
access, personal inflight entertainment, three cabins of service
and two free checked bags for customers. Icelandair Saga Club,
Icelandair's frequent flier program, offers members multiple
options to redeem their Saga Points,
whether it is a flight with Icelandair, onboard refreshments and
duty free items, hotel accommodations around the world or gift
certificates at various retailers in U.S. and Canada. The most frequent fliers with
Saga Gold and Silver status enjoy
excellent benefits, such as upgrades, lounge access and extra
baggage allowance.
Over the last few years Alaska
has grown its codeshare and frequent flier partnerships with the
world's best airlines to provide customers with convenient service
to most every point on the globe. In July, Alaska added China-based carrier Hainan Airlines as a
Mileage Plan partner. Mileage Plan was ranked "Highest in
Customer Satisfaction with Airline Loyalty Rewards Programs, Two
Years in a Row" in the J.D. Power Airline Loyalty/Rewards Program
Satisfaction Report.
Alaska Airlines, a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group (NYSE:
ALK), together with its partner regional airlines, serves more than
100 cities through an expansive network in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Alaska Airlines ranked "Highest in
Customer Satisfaction Among Traditional Carriers in North America" in the J.D. Power North
American Airline Satisfaction Study for eight consecutive years
from 2008 to 2015. For reservations, visit www.alaskaair.com. For
more news and information, visit Alaska Airlines' newsroom at
www.alaskaair.com/newsroom.
Icelandair, Iceland's
leading airline since 1937, offers non-stop flights to Iceland from 16 North American gateways
including Seattle, Portland and Anchorage. Icelandair provides
one of the fastest travel times across the Atlantic with
connections to more than 20 destinations in Europe through Iceland's award-winning Keflavik International
Airport. Only Icelandair allows passengers to take an Icelandair
Stopover for up to seven nights at no additional airfare. For more
information, visit www.icelandair.com.
*Double miles promotion. Registration is required by
Dec. 15. Double miles offer is valid
on all routes from Oct. 1, 2015
through Dec. 15, 2015. All travel
must be completed by Dec. 15, 2015.
Flights must be marketed and operated by Icelandair. Double miles
for Saga, Comfort and Economy Classes of service C, D, J, Y, E, A,
M, B, K, Q, T, V, H, L, S, O, N, U, and P. Flight miles must be
credited to your Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan account in order to
earn double miles. Not valid on free or award travel. Double miles
do not count towards Mileage Plan elite status. Please allow four
to six weeks for miles to be credited to your Mileage Plan account.
All terms and conditions of the Mileage Plan program apply. Offer
subject to change without notice.
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SOURCE Alaska Airlines