American, Alibaba Join Forces Targeting Asian Flyers

After other carriers found success on Alibaba’s online travel platform Fliggy, American Airlines announced they will join the market in hopes of attracting more outbound Asian flyers. The two-step plan will offer in-flight elite benefits for Fliggy’s most loyal customers, followed by establishing a storefront inside the platform.

American Airlines wants to improve their presence in China and across Asia with the help of the continent’s leader in ecommerce and their travel shopping site. airlines-partnership-to-woo-chinese-travelers/” target=”_blank”>Alibaba Group announced they will partner with American on flight shopping platform Fliggy, with the carrier opening a storefront inside the platform and extending elite benefits to loyal customers.

Fliggy – a contraction of “flying piggy” – is one of the leading travel platforms in China’s growing market, boasting 500 million monthly mobile active users. The goal for American is to capture more of the growing Chinese travel market, specifically among Millennials traveling between Asia and the United States.

The two-fold activation will begin in February 2018, with American extending benefits to certain Fliggy elite members. Those in the F1 membership tier will get preferred boarding with American, while those in levels F2 and F3 will get benefits similar to those of American AAdvantage Silver and Gold.

In the second phase, American will open a storefront inside Fliggy, joining fellow oneworld partner Cathay Pacific. This will allow Fliggy members to purchase American flights from inside the app and website.

“This partnership changes the way loyalty programs in China interact with one another,” Alison Taylor, senior vice president of Global Sales and Distribution at American, said in the press release. “And provides more flight options for Fliggy users between these two critical business and leisure destinations.”

According to Fliggy, over 70 airlines have a presence inside their platform, with the number expected to grow. American is not the only airline hoping to capture more of the Asian marketplace: Delta Air Lines previously envisioned Seattle as their Asian gateway, while United Airlines launched their international Polaris experience on westbound flights between San Francisco and Hong Kong.

[Photo: Shutterstock]