In 2022, American Airlines invested in JetSMART, which is a South American ultra low cost carrier. There’s now a significant development when it comes to loyalty benefits, as JetSMART is essentially going to use American AAdvantage as its loyalty program.
Continue reading: JetSMART Adopts American AAdvantage As Loyalty Program
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
This isn’t all that different than Kenya Airlines and air Mauritius using Flying blue as their FFP
Last I checked, you did get elite perks on Gol as a AADvantage elite member:
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/partner-airlines/gol-airlines.jsp
You already could. Qantas give status credits on Jetstar flights, if you buy the appropriate bundle.
KQ left Flying Blue (creating Asante) during the pandemic (with a generous status match offer).
MK has had its own program (Kestrelflyer) for many years now.
I miss the days when COPA used MileagePlus/OnePass. Great upgrading on COPA for a gold and you got Million Miler credit too...
Thanks for the heads up. Just submitted a mileage request on AA for a JetSmart flight I took earlier this month.
I for one think this is cool development. AA's loyalty program now will have airlines using their currency on 3 continents (NA, SA, Oceania/Australia). I was thinking when IAG started getting airlines to use AVIOS that AA better do something, and quickly. I hope that Qantas and another "major airline" also joins soon. I could even see GOL joining as there has been talk for years of a co-brand CC deal. Happy to hear good American Airlines news lately!
Have been poking around the JetSmart site - which isn't well updated yet about this development. (It still, in some of the FAQ, says that AA miles can only be earned on codeshares).
What I'd really like to know is how Elite benefits work under the new arrangement, when flying JetSmart (booked directly, not on a codeshare). Would an EXP get free baggage, priority check-in, free seating selection, etc - even partner lounge access in Santiago? I'd think they would - on all counts - since those are elite status benefits of the AAdvantage program, and AAdvantage is now the program of JetSmart; but their website is silent on this.
Do you have any way to find out and update this post?