Emirates and Alaska Airlines Launch Frequent Flier Partnership

SEATTLE, Jan. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Emirates, one of the world's fastest-growing international airlines, and Alaska Airlines announced today the launch of a new frequent flier partnership that will offer travelers the opportunity to accrue Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles when they fly to any of Emirates' 118 destinations worldwide, including points across Africa, India and the Middle East.

Emirates Skywards members can also accrue miles across the Alaska Airlines network in the United States (including Alaska and Hawaii), Canada and Mexico. 

"As part of our commitment to Seattle, we are launching our service by partnering with Seattle's hometown airline to offer customers the convenience of a frequent flier partnership as well as one-stop check-in and through checked baggage," said Nigel Page, Emirates' Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations for the Americas. "Emirates looks forward to welcoming Alaska Airlines customers with our affordably luxurious service both on the ground and in the air."

Emirates, the largest operator of Boeing 777 aircraft in the world, will operate a daily nonstop flight from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to Dubai aboard an ultra-long range B777-300ER from March 1, 2012 . Seattle joins the airline's existing U.S. gateways in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Houston and most recently, Dallas/Fort Worth.

Under the new partnership, travelers connecting between any point on Alaska Airlines and Emirates' networks will be able to check in for their flights at either carrier's counter, receive their boarding passes and check their bags to their final destination.

"Alaska Airlines is delighted to welcome Emirates as our newest Mileage Plan partner," said Caroline Boren, Alaska's managing director, loyalty marketing and customer advocacy. "Our customers will be able to earn and redeem miles on Emirates — a carrier admired for its service and quality and with a route network that gives our members even more access to global destinations."

Miles flown on Emirates will count toward qualification for Alaska's MVP elite level program. To celebrate the new partnership, both airlines are offering double miles on each others' flights starting March 1 through May 31, 2012. To earn Double Miles, members must register their Skywards number at skywards.com or Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan number at alaskaair.com* prior to their first qualifying flight.

About Emirates:
Emirates currently serves 118 cities around the globe with a young and technologically advanced fleet of 168 wide-bodied aircraft that are equipped with industry-leading comforts in the air. Additionally, Emirates has 237 wide-bodied aircraft on order, worth more than US$84 billion, and is the leading customer of the Airbus A380, with 20 in its fleet and 70 on order.

Renowned for its excellence in service and innovation, both on board and on the ground, Emirates holds an impressive array of prestigious awards, most recently including Air Transport World's 2011 "Airline of the Year" award and Frommer's selection of the Emirates Lounge at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport as one of the 2011 "Top Airport Lounges in North America."

Emirates was also awarded the "World's Best Airline In-flight Entertainment" for the seventh year at the 2011 Skytrax World Airline Awards. Additionally, Fast Company magazine ranked Emirates on "The Fast Company 50" list in 2009 as one of the "World's Most Innovative Companies."

Operations on Emirates from New York, Houston, Los Angeles and San Francisco connect America to the world through the airline's route network with extensive connections from Dubai to the Far East, Australia and Africa. Emirates will begin operating out of Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) and Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) Airports on February 2, and March 1, 2012, respectively. For more information, please visit www.emirates.com/us.

About Alaska Airlines:
Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK), together serve 90 cities through an expansive network in Alaska, the Lower 48, Hawai'i, Canada and Mexico. Alaska Airlines ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Traditional Network Carriers" in the J.D. Power and Associates 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 North America Airline Satisfaction StudiesSM. For more information visit www.alaskaair.com

*Registration is required prior to first qualifying flight in order to receive Double Miles. Double Miles valid only on qualifying paid flights marketed and operated by Emirates and Alaska Airlines. Travel is valid from March 1, 2012, through May 31, 2012. Flight miles must be credited to the member's Emirates Skywards or Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan account only in order to earn Double Miles. All travel must be completed by May 31, 2012. Not valid on free or award travel. Please allow four to six weeks for travel and Bonus Miles to be credited. Offer subject to change without notice.

Double Miles do not count toward elite status in Mileage Plan or tier status in Skywards. All terms and conditions of the Emirates Skywards and Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan(tm) program apply.

Media Contact: Liz Opalka
Public Relations Manager - Africa & the Americas
Emirates Corporate Communications
T: +9714 7081709
M: +97150 9509073
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Emirates Airline