United Airlines will secure an additional $5 billion in funding by taking a loan against the MileagePlus loyalty program. The company announced the plans Monday morning as part of an update to its liquidity position. With the loan, and other CARES Act funds, the company anticipates approximately $17 billion in liquidity by September 2020.
Loyalty
LATAM seeks US bankruptcy protection, plans to continue operations
South America’s LATAM Airlines Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization in the US courts on Tuesday morning, seeking to restructure debt while continuing regular operations. Or, at least, operations as close to regular as possible given the current global aviation environment.
JetBlue offers free TrueBlue Mosaic status, plus a year extension
JetBlue waited longer than most to announce plans for its TrueBlue loyalty program in the wake of the coronavirus groundings. But it appears the carrier used that time wisely. With its announcement today JetBlue draws on similar actions from many other carriers but pulls them together in a package that might deliver outsized value to its members.
Avianca declares bankruptcy, seeks protection in restructuring
Colombia’s Avianca became the latest and largest carrier to seek financial protections as the coronavirus pandemic stretches on, grounding airlines and flummoxing their balance sheets
American Airlines extends status, eases qualification
American Airlines AAdvantage members with elite status will hold on to those benefits for an additional year. The carrier announced that change today, along with easing the qualification standards for 2020 and a few other customer-friendly moves.
Air Canada, Alaska Airlines extend elite status
Two more airlines announced elite status extensions this week, waiving the qualification requirements for the 2020 calendar year. Air Canada’s Altitude and Alaska Airlines’ MileagePlan members have another year at their existing tier without any additional flying required. There are a couple unique quirks from each program in how it will work.
Delta, United extend elite status by a year, adjust other benefits
Frequent flyers at two of the world’s largest airlines received a reprieve over the weekend. Delta Air Lines and United Airlines announced major changes to their loyalty program, extended previously earned elite status and other benefits. The moves are dramatic, affecting millions of program members. [A]s coronavirus continues to dramatically impact travel across the globe, […]
SkyMiles earn rates for LATAM flights now available
Looking to earn Delta SkyMiles on a LATAM-operated flight? The two carriers announced at the end of February that earning reciprocity would launch on 1 April 2020 but offered no other details. Now the earning chart is finally available.
Alaska Airlines offers elite bonus earning in face of COVID-19 booking weakness
Still traveling in the face of the global Coronavirus/COVID-19 outbreak? If you’re flying on Alaska Airlines those trips will now get you even closer to elite status in the carrier’s Mileage Plan frequent flyer program.
American Airlines, Alaska Airlines team up for West Coast international alliance
American Airlines and Alaska Airlines are longtime partners. That relationship is set to get a lot deeper as the two establish a “west coast international alliance” with more long-haul lift coming.