FinAAly... AA & BA linked up, effective today

[eolesen]

After 13 years, AAdvantage members can finally earn miles on BA flights to/from the US.

American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia are now making the oneworld® Alliance even better by bringing you more flights, more convenience, and more opportunities to earn and redeem frequent flyer miles for your transatlantic travel. There has never been a better time to be an AAdvantage® member. Beginning October 1, 2010, you will be able to enjoy more rewards and privileges across all three airlines.

More Ways to Earn Miles

AAdvantage members can now earn AAdvantage miles on all American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia flights.* And the miles earned for flights on all three airlines count toward elite status qualification.

In addition, when you fly discount economy fares on any British Airways flight or any Iberia transatlantic flight, you will now earn 100% of the base miles flown — just like when you fly on American.

Plus, AAdvantage Executive Platinum® and AAdvantage Platinum® members will now earn their elite status bonus miles for all of their travel on British Airways. View the details on more ways to earn miles.

More Flights For Award Travel

Your miles can be redeemed for all flights on American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia.* The three carriers' combined route network serves over 400 destinations in more than 100 countries, to give you more convenient schedule options when you are ready to claim a well-deserved award.

More Premium Privileges

The new, expanded relationship will also bring you more opportunities to use miles to upgrade, and continue the reciprocal lounge access for transatlantic customers flying in First Class or Business Class, as well as oneworld Emerald® and oneworld Sapphire® status members. For complete details about upgrades and lounge privileges go to www.aa.com/upgrade and www.aa.com/loungeaccess.
As an AAdvantage member, over time you will see more benefits as we continue to work with oneworld airlines to collectively enhance our product offerings and network.

 

[paul1]

why did it take so long

look how easy it was for cal/uaua to merge and nw and dal to get together

don't understand it

 

[PHL]

why did it take so long

look how easy it was for cal/uaua to merge and nw and dal to get together

don't understand it

To be fair, DL+NW and UA+CO are domestic airlines merging with each other. AA+BA+IB is an alliance, and an international one at that which controls a huge chunk of the US-Europe air traffic, particularly US-UK routes. This was more of a political delay than anything to do with the management structure of any of those 3 airlines.

 

[TIME FOR CHANGE]

All they need to do is get the carriers in the same terminal behind the same security line. That would make it complete. Get off the BA flight in MIA and walk over three gates to get on the AA flight to MCO seemless air travel what a concept.

 

[eolesen]

Right in concept, except for the fact you have to clear customs. When I was still at HDQ, we did a lot of evaluation on co-location at various airports. That work has been updated I'm sure, but you'll still have some problems at JFK and LAX to contend with.

As T8 isn't finished out, it will have to be a split terminal operation. Maybe all of London moves over to the BA terminal?...

MIA, probably an easy move with new gate space and a new FIS opening up as the terminal construction ends.

At ORD and DFW, it should also be pretty simple. There's no option to arrive in T3, but I'd expect BA to move departures over to T3 at some point. Right now, the terminal change adds about 45 minutes to the minimum connect time, and that's uncompetitive. At DFW, everything international is already in Terminal D.

One of the old plans was to have AA do the ramp handling in smaller airports like MCO, DEN, and SFO. Not sure how much of that will happen or not.

 

[Barfbag]

As T8 isn't finished out, it will have to be a split terminal operation. Maybe all of London moves over to the BA terminal?...

I don't see that, I can however see Iberia coming back to T8 now.

Later after the completion of T8, some BA flights using T8 as warranted.

Still the TWU must hold their ground at T8. TheTWU must be assured all ground positions at T8 no OAL or JB ground employees.

( The Alamo )

 

[eolesen]

It's not in the scope clause today, so good luck getting the monopoly on ground handling. There's also a chance that might run afoul of the lease with the Port Authority.