Alaska Air, Air Italy Announce Interline Agreement
This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page.
Alaska Airlines and Air Italy passengers will soon have access to new destinations through an interline agreement between the two airlines as announced on Friday. The agreement means Air Italy will add 10 new destinations throughout North America for its passengers.
The interline agreement will allow passengers booking with Air Italy to travel to the following destinations:
- Anchorage
- Honolulu
- Las Vegas
- Seattle
- Portland
- Palm Springs
- San Diego
- Newark
- San Jose (CA)
- Guadalajara
Cities of origin served by Air Italy that are included in the interline agreement include:
- Milan
- Rome
- Naples
- Palermo
- Catania
- Lamezia Terme
- Cagliari
- Olbia
When an Air Italy passenger books a trip to one of the new destinations, the passenger’s itinerary will look somewhat like the following:
- Flight #1 — Operated by Air Italy: From a European city to US city served by Air Italy and Alaska Air.
- Flight #2 — Operated by Alaska Air: From US city to the passenger’s final destination, or to a connection city in the US.
- Flight #3 (if needed) — Operated by Alaska Air: From a connecting city to the passenger’s final destination.
Though Air Italy has confirmed the interline agreement and shared details of the partnership, Alaska Airlines has not officially confirmed on its end.
Questions Raised About Partnership
An interline agreement is a very basic partnership between airlines. For example, even American Airlines and Delta — airlines that compete both domestically and internationally — operate interline agreements. However, Alaska Airlines’ and Air Italy’s interline agreement has raised questions about a future partnership between the two airlines.
Alaska Airlines is not a member of a major airline alliance. Instead, Alaska Airlines partners with dozens of airlines globally to offer its passengers and members of Alaska Air’s MileagePlan additional options. These partnerships are what has made Alaska Air’s MileagePlan such a valuable and lucrative frequent flyer program.
Recently, Alaska Airlines added El Al to its list of partners. Alaska Airlines and El Al frequent flyers can earn miles for travel on both airlines with the option to redeem miles for travel on either airline coming soon.
Related: Alaska Air, El Al Announce Partnership
With Alaska Airlines’ track record of partnerships with numerous airlines, the airline’s latest interline agreement with Air Italy has raised questions as to whether or not the two airlines might expand their partnership in the future. An expanded partnership between the two airlines might allow members of the two airlines’ frequent flyer programs to earn and redeem miles for travel on either airline.
For now, however, the interline agreement is the only confirmed partnership between the two airlines. Additionally, while Air Italy’s official press release makes it sound as if the interline agreement has already gone into effect, interline travel is not yet bookable on either airline’s website or through online travel agencies (OTAs).
For the latest travel news, deals, and points and miles tips please subscribe to The Points Guy daily email newsletter.
Featured image on an Air Italy Airbus A330 at New York-JFK by Brendan Dorsey / The Points Guy
Sign-up Successful!
Welcome to The Points Guy!
Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases within the first three months of card membership. Plus, earn a $200 statement credit after your first Delta purchase within the first three months. Offer ends 7/28/21.
With Status Boost™, earn 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, up to two times per year getting you closer to Medallion Status. Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels, 2X Miles at restaurants and at U.S. supermarkets and earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases. Terms Apply.
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles after spending $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months and a $200 statement credit after you make a Delta purchase with your new Card within your first 3 months. Offer expires 7/28/2021.
- Limited Time Offer: Plus, get a 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable 15.74%-24.74%. Offer expires 7/28/2021.
- Accelerate your path to Medallion Status, with Status Boost®. Plus, in 2021 you can earn even more bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) to help you reach Medallion Status.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. *Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $75 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®.
- Enjoy an exclusive rate of $39 per person per visit to enter the Delta Sky Club® for you and up to two guests when traveling on a Delta flight.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.