The agreement allows increased access and seamless travel to the United States for Avianca customers as well as United passengers to Colombia
Customers will be able to enjoy travel on both airlines through a unified process: one ticket purchase, a single check-in, baggage checked all the way through to the final destination, and reciprocal accrual and redemption on either of their frequent flyer programs
During this first phase of implementation the codeshare cities include Denver, Chicago, New York/Newark, Houston, Boston, Cleveland, New Orleans, Phoenix, Raleigh-Durham, San Antonio, Seattle, and Tampa in the United States for Avianca; as well as Bogota, Barranquilla, Cali, Cartagena, Medellin, and Pereira in Colombia, for United
United Airlines and Avianca signed a codeshare agreement to offer their customers more and improved flight options. The agreement allows both companies to commercialize flights operated by the other under their own code, therefore combining segments of both airlines under a single ticket. The airlines also signed a frequent flyer agreement which enables reciprocal accrual and redemption benefits on the passengers’ loyalty program of choice.
Avianca’s customers will be able to fly seamlessly to more destinations in the United States, while United customers will benefit from greater access to Colombian destinations. The codeshare agreement is effective for ticket purchase starting on May 22, 2012 for travel starting June 21. The frequent flyer agreement will be effective starting June 21. These agreements form part of the integration process that Avianca and TACA Airlines are undergoing to become member of Star Alliance.
“We continue to enhance our world-class network by adding more destinations for our customers,” said Hershel Kamen, United’s Senior Vice President of Alliances, Regulatory and Policy. “United’s partnership with Avianca will expand our own network across Colombia and create more benefits for our customers.”
“We are confident that this agreement opens new travel possibilities that benefit our customers. This codeshare joins together two regions through seamless travel on United Airlines and Avianca, providing more and better connectivity and enabling customers to enjoy an improved flight experience,” said Alex Benitez, Vice-President Alliances, Fleet and Network Planning for AviancaTaca. “We continue to harness new opportunities as markets grow and work towards delivering improved connectivity and new routes for our passengers.”
Markets Served by the Agreement, Phase I
The first phase of implementation enables Avianca’s passengers to travel to Denver, Chicago, New York/Newark and Houston, via Miami; to Houston, via Fort Lauderdale; and to Boston, Cleveland, Denver, New Orleans, Chicago, Phoenix, Raleigh-Durham, San Antonio, Seattle, and Tampa, via Washington D.C./Dulles.
It also offers United customers the opportunity to travel to Barranquilla, Cali, Cartagena, Medellin, and Pereira via Avianca’s hub in Bogota; to Barranquilla, Cartagena, Cali, Medellin, and Bogota, via Miami; and to Bogota via Fort Lauderdale, Washington, D.C./Dulles, New York/JFK, and Orlando.
Passenger Benefits
The codeshare allows customers to enjoy seamless travel to other destinations with a single ticket purchase and check in process, whether they travel on flights operated by United or by Avianca. Travelers will be able to enjoy quick connections to their final destination, even though they are flying segments operated by different airlines.
The reciprocal benefits on both airlines’ frequent flyer programs will allow passengers to accrue and redeem miles on their program of choice. Not only can customers accrue and redeem miles on both carriers, but the miles they accrue on either carrier can be credited towards their frequent flyer program status.