Two more air liness say adios to each other as Alaska Airlines’ partnership with Aeroméxico ends Dec. 31.
As of Jan. 1, Mexico’s flag carrier will no longer be a Mileage Plan partner. Any tickets booked with Aeroméxico before Sept. 6 for travel on any date or booked after Sept. 6 for travel through Dec. 31 will earn redeemable Alaska miles as per usual accrual chart. Tickets on Aeroméxico-operated flights that are booked after Sept. 6 for travel beginning Jan. 1 will earn zero Mileage Plan miles.
Breaking up a partnership is never easy, but the development is hardly surprising. After purchasing Virgin America, Alaska dropped its previous partnership with Delta Air Lines like a dead cat, and now that Delta and Aeroméxico have launched a joint cooperation agreement, the partnership between Alaska and Aeroméxico had no chance of surviving.
For months now, it was close to impossible to find any award seats on Aeroméxico’s planes with Mileage Plan miles, and now we know why. The seats will no longer be available, but mileage accrual will last for a few more months.
For those of you wondering how to visit our neighbors in the south by using Mileage Plan miles, do not fret.
“You can rest assured that Alaska still has your travel needs to Mexico covered,” Alaska’s announcement on its website states. “With new service to Mexico City this fall, Alaska and Virgin America have the most nonstop flights from the West Coast to Mexico of any U.S. air lines.”
Just this year, Alaska partnered up with several other airline, including Condor Flugdienst, Finnair, Japan Airlines and Singapore Airlines. Even though it’s sad to lose a partner, it’s a win some, lose some situation. Who knows, losing Aeroméxico could open up some other doors for Alaska.