Delta Air Lines and Alaska Air Group Expand Marketing Alliance

Delta Air Lines and Alaska Air Group have agreed in principle to amend their marketing agreement to make the airlines preferred alliance partners on the West Coast. 

The amended agreement will offer important benefits to customers including supporting the launch of new Delta long-haul trans-Pacific and Latin American routes from the West Coast; expanded connecting opportunities to and from Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air hubs and focus cities; and enhanced worldwide frequent flier and lounge reciprocity agreements between Delta and Alaska.

“Alaska Air Group is a perfect alliance partner for Delta as we pair our expansive international network with Alaska’s leading presence across the West Coast to build a platform for international growth from the West,” said Delta’s CEO Richard Anderson. “Building on our existing agreement, Delta, Alaska and Horizon will now be able to offer customers more departures and capacity along the West Coast than any U.S. airline with the enhanced ability to feed Delta’s growing global route system.”

By the end of 2009, Delta and Alaska/Horizon plan to launch a series of customer benefits resulting from the enhanced agreement, including:

- Access for Delta Crown Room Club and Northwest WorldClub members to Alaska Board Rooms in Anchorage, Seattle, Los Angeles, Portland, San Francisco and Vancouver, and for Alaska Board Room members to Crown Room Clubs and WorldClubs worldwide; and

- Elite reciprocity privileges for Delta SkyMiles members and Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan members including priority boarding, priority check-in and seat assignments, and reciprocal upgrades for customers who have reached Platinum or Gold status in either airline’s frequent flier program. Northwest WorldPerks members and Alaska Mileage Plan members who have reached Platinum or Gold status already enjoy reciprocal upgrades when flying on Alaska and Northwest operated flights.

Delta’s expanded marketing alliance with Alaska builds on the airlines’ existing alliance, launched in 2004, as well as a more than 20-year relationship between Alaska, Horizon and Northwest Airlines. Currently, codesharing by Delta (including Northwest) extends to more than 100 markets served by Alaska (including Horizon) and codesharing by Alaska extends to more than 30 markets served by Delta.

The majority of new customer benefits resulting from the expanded agreement will be implemented in 2009.

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