SEATTLE — Alaska and American airlines announced a partnership Thursday that will offer more international connections to West Coast customers.
Alaska said it will join the global airline alliance, oneworld, by summer 2021 that will connect passengers to more than 1,200 destinations worldwide. Alaska currently has 93 destinations.
Alaska Airlines said it will officer 12 international destinations from Seattle, 19 from the Bay area, and 32 from Los Angeles in what it called a West Coast international alliance.
American will launch the first service from Seattle to technology hub Bangalore, India, beginning in October. A new American route from Seattle to London will begin flying in March 2021.
Benefits, such as airline miles and lounge access, will start to work between both airlines.
Once Alaska is approved to join oneworld, Alaska Mileage Plan loyalty members will be able earn and redeem miles through oneworld’s more than 1,200 international destinations. American Airlines is already a oneworld member.
Oneworld member airlines include American, British Airways, Cathy Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan, Latam, Malaysia, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Royal Jordinian, S7 and SriLankan airlines. Royal Air Maroc is listed as a future member, according to oneworld’s website.
“The alliance enables reciprocal benefits on other member airlines, such as priority check-in and boarding, access to preferred seats and free checked bags,” a news release from Alaska said.