USA: Alaska Airlines and Hainan Airlines move one step closer

Alaska Airlines (Seattle/Tacoma) has announced a new mileage-sharing agreement with fast-growing Hainan Airlines (Haikou and Beijing). This will give Alaska and Hainan more opportunities to connect passengers and also to move one step closer especially at the SeaTac hub in a growing competition with Delta Air Lines (Atlanta). Alaska issued this statement:

Alaska Airlines (Seattle/Tacoma)is enhancing its unique partner portfolio in Mileage PlanTM by adding China-based carrier Hainan Airlines. Hainan operates a modern fleet to over 90 destinations throughout the world. From Seattle/Tacoma, Hainan flies nonstop to Beijing and Shanghai, and offers an extensive network throughout China, including several top destinations for Pacific Northwest business travelers. Hainan also flies from San Jose, California to Beijing.

Members of Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan can begin earning miles on Hainan starting July 23, and through Oct. 31, 2015 the airline is offering double miles.* Hainan Airlines Fortune Wings Club members also will be able to earn double miles on Alaska flights, starting July 23, through Oct. 31, 2015.

“Alaska is expanding its international partner portfolio with the addition of Hainan, giving our Mileage Plan members more ways to earn miles for their travel from the West Coast to Shanghai and Beijing and on connecting flights within China,” said Andrew Harrison, Alaska Airlines executive vice president and chief revenue officer. “Hainan offers business and main cabin service with distinctly Chinese touches such as traditional tea service, which will appeal to our culture-savvy Northwest customers. And with double miles, our customers can reach their next adventures faster.”

Hainan offers business class passengers 180-degree flat seats with turndown service, gourmet cuisine created with unique Chinese culinary skills and award-winning wines on trans-Pacific flights. Business class passengers also receive complimentary private limo service both at U.S. and China gateway cities.

Harrison added that Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan members will be able to redeem miles on Hainan later in 2015, and that Alaska and Hainan will continue to enhance their partnership by recognizing and extending elite reciprocal benefits to members of Mileage Plan and Fortune Wings Club by fall. Earned flight miles on Hainan currently qualify toward elite status in Mileage Plan.

“Seattle/Tacoma was Hainan’s first North American gateway, opened in 2008, and since then we have carried hundreds of thousands of people between the U.S. and China,” said Hou Wei, Hainan Airlines vice president. “We have long connected passengers to and from Alaska Airlines and are excited to be able to offer members of Alaska’s Mileage Plan the ability to earn miles on Hainan. Hainan’s Fortune Wings Club members will also be able to earn miles on Alaska Airlines flights.”