AAdvantage redemptions on South America's JetSmart coming 'very soon'
American Airlines and its budget airline partner JetSmart are working out the details to bring AAdvantage miles redemptions to the South American carrier.
The airlines have faced “some challenges” rolling out AAdvantage as JetSmart’s loyalty program, said Victor Mejia, chief commercial officer of JetSmart, at the Routes Americas conference in Nassau, Bahamas, on Tuesday.
American and JetSmart first unveiled plans for the latter to adopt AAdvantage as its own loyalty program in July 2021 as part of an investment by the former. A key facet in that pact was realized in September 2024 when AAdvantage members were able to earn miles and Loyalty Points on JetSmart flights across South America. Miles redemptions were expected by the end of the year but have yet to begin.
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AAdvantage redemptions are coming “very soon” to JetSmart flights, Mejia said when asked about the delay. While he would not specify a date, he did say it would be this year.
“There’s an important customer base in Latin America that, maybe, doesn’t have enough AAdvantage miles for a ticket to the U.S. but have enough for a one-hour flight on us,” he said.
That customer base is important to both American and JetSmart.
American is the largest U.S. airline in Latin America, where it has a sizable number of AAdvantage members, executives have said. The program, according to a 2021 investor presentation, is among the largest airline loyalty programs in the world with more than 115 million members globally.
The U.S. carrier has taken a two-pronged approach to serving those AAdvantage members in Latin America. It has an equity partnership with Gol Airlines in the Brazilian market, with JetSmart covering much of the rest of South America. American adopted the strategy after its longtime partner LATAM shifted its allegiance to Delta Air Lines in 2019.
JetSmart has local operations in Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Peru, and big growth plans for the years ahead. The Chilean carrier aims to more than double its fleet from 44 Airbus A320-family planes today to 100-plus aircraft by the end of the decade.
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Indigo Partners, the private equity firm behind budget carriers Frontier Airlines and Wizz Air, owns the majority of JetSmart and American holds a roughly 35% stake.
“Investment from our side leads into a domestic expansion [at JetSmart], which allows us to expand our long-haul,” said Anmol Bhargava, vice president of global alliances and partnerships at American, in a 2023 interview. “It just becomes a circular wheel for our partners.”
JetSmart has expansive plans for its new aircraft as they arrive, Mejia said. That includes filling out its domestic and intra-South America networks, especially in Argentina and Colombia, and expanding north from Colombia to destinations in the U.S., Caribbean and Mexico.
In the meantime, JetSmart is already benefiting from its adoption of AAdvantage last year. Nearly 10% of travelers include an AAdvantage number on their reservation today, Mejia said. And the percentage is expected to grow once miles redemptions come online.
The airline is also in the process of expanding its codeshare partnership with American to include Colombia, he added. JetSmart anticipates having approvals in hand and the pact implemented by the end of the year.
American and JetSmart currently codeshare in Chile and Peru, and on select flights in Argentina.
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- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.