American Airways AAdvantage loyalty members have a brand new method to journey inside South America.
Vacationers can now use factors to e-book flights on Chilean discounter JetSmart by way of American’s web site. This closes one of many final remaining gaps within the carriers’ partnership, the place AAdvantage members may e-book JetSmart flights however solely on the funds provider’s web site.
The transfer comes 4 years after American and JetSmart first unveiled their tie-up. Below the deal, American took a 35.4% fairness stake within the South American airline, and JetSmart adopted AAdvantage as its loyalty program.
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Out of U.S. airways, American operates essentially the most flights to South America — a market place it has held since shopping for the previous Japanese Air Strains’ belongings within the area in 1990. That has translated to a major “native” presence for the provider.
“In a lot of the international locations throughout South America, American is a local model,” Vasu Raja, the airline’s former chief business officer, mentioned in 2021.
Nonetheless, American doesn’t supply flights inside the continent for its many loyalty members there.
Enter JetSmart. By agreeing to the undertake AAdvantage as its personal loyalty program, the discounter gave American’s many shoppers within the area a method to redeem their factors on flights inside South America — not only for flights to or from the U.S.
The brand new JetSmart redemptions on American’s web site include some caveats. First, vacationers solely have one fare choice in comparison with the three fare choices they’d get when reserving immediately via JetSmart. All factors bookings via American embrace a free checked bag, seat choice, and flight change and cancellation flexibility.
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Additionally, redemptions are solely out there on JetSmart-only itineraries. Journeys that embrace a connection between an American and JetSmart flight are usually not out there.
A fast search of American’s web site discovered redemptions for JetSmart flights out there in October. On Oct. 24, you may e-book a home flight from Santiago’s Arturo Merino Benitez Worldwide Airport (SCL) to Andres Sabella Galvez Worldwide Airport (ANF) close to Antofagasta in northern Chile for 7,000 factors.
A flight the identical day from SCL to Ezeiza Worldwide Airport (EZE) close to Buenos Aires is 14,000 factors.
AAdvantage members can already earn factors, together with Loyalty Factors towards elite standing, on JetSmart flights.
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