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Continental, Alaska Air ally
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February 25, 1999: 7:28 p.m. ET
Airlines to sell seats on each other's routes, connect frequent flier programs
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NEW YORK (CNNfn) - The nation's fifth and 10th largest airlines will soon be sharing passengers and frequent flier programs.
Continental Airlines (CAI.B) and Alaska Airlines (ALK) announced late Thursday they had entered into a broad strategic marketing alliance that also includes Alaska's sister airline, Horizon Air.
As a result, the airlines intend to "code-share," meaning that they may sell seats on each other's routes.
During the first phase of the alliance, Continental will code-share on Alaska and Horizon flights that connect to Continental in Seattle and Portland, which gives the airline's passengers access to the Alaska and Pacific Northwest markets, including Anchorage and Eugene, Ore.
Alaska Air will code-share on Continental's flights between both Seattle and Portland, and Continental's hubs in New York/Newark, Houston and Cleveland.
In addition, the airlines will offer each other's passengers reciprocal frequent flyer redemption privileges and pursue other forms of marketing cooperation.
Code-sharing will begin as soon as the companies receive government approval and the reciprocal frequent flier mileage program will kick in soon after.
"We are excited to partner with Alaska and Horizon to offer our customers significantly expanded travel opportunities in the western United States," said Gordon Bethune, Continental's chairman and chief executive. "With only one overlapping route but a common approach to delivering the best service to our customers, an alliance between Continental and Alaska/Horizon is a perfect fit."
The chief of Alaska Air Group, John F. Kelly, added, "Our loyal frequent flyers will have truly seamless connections around the world, along with more opportunities to earn and use Alaska and Horizon Mileage Plan miles."
This is not the first such partnership for Continental. Last year, it joined forces with Northwest in a code-sharing and frequent flyer alliance.
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Continental
Alaska Air
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