Delta and Alaska Airlines have announced plans to end their partnership in May 2017 following the official close of Alaska Airlines’ acquisition of Virgin America.
Effective May 1, 2017, Delta and Alaska will no longer have a codeshare agreement, and sales of flights under DL- and AS-coded flight numbers flown on Alaska and Delta aircraft respectively will cease. Additionally, customers of each airline will no longer be able to earn and redeem Delta miles or Mileage Plan miles on flights operated by the other carrier. The carriers will retain an interline agreement, allowing them to continue offering customers ticketing and baggage connectivity. Delta and Alaska today codeshare on only a small number of flights as Delta's growth in Seattle has reduced the need for codeshare flying, Delta said.
Delta SkyMiles Members will be able to earn and redeem miles on flights operated by Alaska Airlines through April 30, 2017. SkyMiles Medallion Members will continue to receive their benefits when flying with Alaska Airlines through April 30, 2017.
Beginning May 1, 2017, SkyMiles Members will not be able to earn and redeem miles on flights operated by Alaska Airlines unless a ticket was purchased before Dec. 19, 2016. Medallion Benefits will not be available on flights operated by Alaska Airlines.
In a written release Mike Medeiros, Delta's vice president – Seattle, said that the airline continues to view Seattle and the Pacific Northwest as one of the most important markets in the country, and that the airline has invested heavily in its product there.
Alaska Airlines officially closed its acquisition of Virgin America earlier this month.
The two airlines said they would spend the next year working to secure Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification to allow the two airlines to operate as a single carrier, with regional sister carrier Horizon Air remaining on its own separate operating certificate.
Alaska Air Group has a route network with nearly 1,200 daily flights to 118 destinations across the United States, Mexico, Canada, Costa Rica and Cuba, with new daily flights to Orlando, Florida; Minneapolis; and Orange County, California from its San Francisco hub starting summer 2017 (new service available for sale December 21). Additionally, starting December 19, Virgin America Elevate members and Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan members will be able to earn rewards on each other's flights, and elite members will receive priority check-in and priority boarding on each other's flights.
The combined airline will maintain its corporate headquarters in Seattle, with hubs in Seattle, Portland, Anchorage, San Francisco and Los Angeles — a lineup that the airline said gives it the most West Coast hubs of any airline.
Visit www.delta.com