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As of December 14, 2016, the acquisition of Virgin American by Alaska Airlines has officially closed. Virgin America is now part of the Alaska Air Group. According to Alaska Airline’s news release, the combined airline will now serve “more nonstop destinations… from the West Coast than any [other] airline,” which it manages by combining the strengths of the two airlines: Alaska in the Pacific Northwest and Virgin America in California.
Of course, the merger opens a lot of questions for regular travelers on either airline. Without further ado, let’s get into exploring the most important points of what’s changing and when, as well as what’s staying the same (at least for now).
What’s Happening Next
The two airlines will settle into place together somewhat gradually, though the first round of changes are coming this week. Here’s a timeline of what you can expect:
Effective immediately:
- Gogo Wi-Fi monthly passes can be used on either airline.
As of December 19, 2016:
- Members of each airline’s frequent flyer plan will be able to earn points on the other airline’s flights (for example, an Elevate member will be able to earn points on an Alaska Airlines flight).
- Elite members of each airline’s frequent flyer plan will receive priority check-in and boarding on flights operated by the other airline.
- Virgin America tickets will be available for sale on Alaska Airlines’ website (the option of buying on Virgin America’s site will also remain available for now).
As of December 21, 2016:
- Tickets on new daily routes that will begin in summer 2017 will be available for purchase. These routes are from San Francisco to Orlando (one flight per day), Minneapolis (two flights per day), and Orange County (four flights per day).
As of January 9, 2017:
- Members of Virgin America’s Elevate program will be invited to open Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan accounts.
- Mileage Plan members will be able to use their miles to book Virgin America flights.
Within the next year:
- The two airlines intend to secure approval from the FAA to operate as a single carrier.
- Alaska will make decisions (and possibly changes) regarding the Virgin America brand now that the two companies have merged.
At some point in the future:
- Changes to Virgin America may occur but are not anticipated within the next year.
- There may be changes to the frequent flyer programs for Virgin America and Alaska Airlines as the company evaluates “how to bring these programs together.”
- There may be changes to the associated credit cards for each airline. No specific changes have been announced yet, but the company’s phrasing makes clear that they may occur in the future.
- The Virgin America Loft will become part of Alaska’s lounge program.
What to Expect For Now
In the immediate future, other than the plans outlined above, your travel experience on either airline shouldn’t change much. Here are some things you don’t need to worry about:
- Making any changes to existing reservations.
- Trying to figure out how to book flights (this isn’t changing other than the option of booking Virgin flights on Alaska’s website on December 19th, but you’ll still be able to use Virgin’s site if you prefer).
- Changes to travel policies for either airline.
- Where to check in at the airport (go to the counter for the airline operating your flight).
- Who to contact with questions about your flight (get in touch with the airline operating your flight).
In other words, for immediate travel questions, you can relax and assume it’s business as usual. Unfortunately, this also means some of the positives of each airline haven’t yet transferred; Alaska Airlines’ 20-minute bag guarantee doesn’t currently apply to Virgin America flights, for example. To keep up to date on the changes, Alaska has put together a page to explain everything as the two airlines join.
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Thanks for the summary. Hoping reward redemption continues with the Alaska Airlines partners such as AA & Air France.
Alaska does have good flights to hawaii so might use that more now
Alaska’s existence is really awkward. It has nice FFP and nice fleet. Yet, Its limited international routes really impeded me from taking it. But the partnership with Hainan Airlines might help a little. And Hainan’s international business class fare is fairly nice. Let’s see.
Its their partnerships that open up the international possibilities.
This opens up some pretty great point/mile-transfer opportunities. Definitely some great redemption sweet spots out there with Mileage Plan.
No more partnership with Delta.
We saw that announcement come out — we’ll have a post on it today with some of the other changes in store. While it certainly stinks to lose this partnership I think we’re all surprised it actually last this long.
Never flown either carrier but both have always intrigued me. Virgin’s first class always seemed pretty cool too as does their domestic lounge.
I have some orphan miles in Elevate. Hopefully the FFP merger will happen soon, and the conversion will reset expiry dates on AS miles.
Already love the Alaska Mileage Program. Looking forward to more routes with the new merger.
Sounds interesting. Alaska Airlines is supposed to have an excellent miles program. Wonder how they will merge the two though. Hope it will all just transfer over easily with minor disruptions. Thanks for clarifying what will happen soon and what might be more the future! I wonder how the airplanes will look after the complete merger and how they will move ticket counters and/or lounges
I don’t think this is good for ticket prices in the long term. Constant mergers can lead to less competition and more of an oligopoly, where those few giant airlines can collude on pricing and reward flights. Hopefully, more new airlines will spring up somehow.
I would think it would have to be a better exchange ratio than 1:1
I have VIrgin miles and look forward to the conversion so I can combine miles from the two. Any indication of when that transfer ability might occur? With previous mergers the airlines allowed us to combine our accounts ourself online to expedite the merger of programs. If it occurs soon enough perhaps I will be able to keep active my Virgin miles that expire in the next year.
We unfortunately have no indication as of yet.
I really hope VA miles will become AS miles with a 1:2 ratio (1 VA mile = 2 AS miles).
Well, I guess I’ll keep my Virgin Miles.. I’ll give Alaska Airlines a chance. Are they any good??
They are quite good — IMO, best mileage program in the world.
Looking forward to more routes
I hope there will be new destinations to come from this merger soon. Maybe more South?
I am hoping that this merger will be a chance for AS to keep what is good for the customer and profitable for the airline while doing away with any policies/practices which have not been received well by your average flyer.
Well, let’s see what happen next year.
I hope in a single frequent flyer programme.
I hope the exchage rate is higher then 1:1
any speculation on the vx/as conversion ratio? me thinking 3:1, based on credit card sign up bonus (90k vs 30K).
The artistic route map revives my thoughts of arranging a Hawaii trip!
I guess it’s now time to try out Virgin America since many people say its onboard is great, but I am always more concerned with my miles! 🙂
I’m only hoping Alaska does not devalue post-merger (more miles required and revenue-based miles earning).
In addition to my comment: I live in Hawaii and it really is quite easy to accrue thousands of miles with Alaska specially with their companion pass. Hopefully they’ll continue this very consumer-friendly earning. I do have reservations that it will be the case.
Not a fan of airline mergers. Less competition is never good for consumers. How will this effect Alaska partnership with American?
It looks like the DoJ is requiring some changes in codesharing, but the relationship of earning and redeeming sticks.
This airline merger is especially troublesome for consumers because Alaska is on the record as saying that they merely wanted the merger/purchase of Virgin to protect their market position with the big airlines. I still believe that a Jetlbue/Virgin merger would have been much better giving an east and west coast presence to both airlines. This purchase is just a reactionary move by Alaska and basically only affects the west coast. And because this purchase was just reactionary, unless Alaska really likes Virigin’s additions to their balance sheet long-term, I don’t see Virgin sticking around in its current form for very much longer.
If you have elite status with AA, some of those benefits extend to when you fly with Alaska. I wonder if they will now extend to Virgin as well?
When is the merger of the frequent flyer program expected to close and what is the rate of exchange?
Two things that no one knows right now. When we do know, we’ll share it.
That is the question everyone has.
I guess the Virgin America brand will disappear within the next year or two, which will be a little sad to see.
I’m curious as to what will happen with award charts down the track, as they value their points very differently.
So sad – I sooo liked Virgin Airlines, they are so unique!!!!
that’s great news, @SEA
This is interesting. I have never flown Virgin but I do love Alaska’s service. I’m interested in seeing how Alaska grows into a larger airline.
I hope that Alaska frequent flyer program will still allow reward on Air France, JAL, Americam Airlines and others airlines like now.
Sounds exciting! My biggest hope is that they will announce a fair conversion rate between Elevate and Mileage Plan next month…
1:1 or do expect something more?
I expect at least 1:1.5
I have almost 58k after the Jet Blue match, if its 1:1.5 I will transfer more from SPG to Elevate.
Exact thought process going through my head too 🙂
Looks like its 1:1.3 transfer ratio
“Plus, you’ll receive more detail on how you can convert your Elevate points to Alaska Mileage Plan miles at a rate of 1.3 Mileage Plan miles per Elevate point.”
https://www.virginamerica.com/cms/elevate-frequent-flyer/partners/airline-partners/alaska-airlines
Not bad — especially if you transfer SPG points 🙂
Transferred 60K SPG last night, 75K in my VX balance this morning! 🙂
False alarm scare that the transfer ability option was removed, its now back. But for how much longer?
We can only hope until the programs finally merge.