Bangkok Airways and Japan Airlines Start Codeshare and Mileage Tie-up
Japan Airlines (JAL) and Bangkok Airways (PG) today announced the commencement of their codeshare agreement on select flights between three airports in Japan and Bangkok operated by JAL, as well as between Bangkok and four points within the region on PG, effective from November 15, 2012.The new partnership will enable customers of both Japan Airlines and Bangkok Airways travelling from Tokyo’s Haneda and Narita airports, and Osaka (Kansai), a smoother transit through Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport and onward to Mumbai, Koh Samui, Phuket and Chiang Mai, and vice versa.
JAL and PG have also agreed on a reciprocal mileage tie-up that will enable members of their respective mileage programs to redeem*1 award tickets on either airline for departures on or after November 15, 2012. This development expands the number of JAL Mileage Bank (JMB) partner airlines to 15*2 as JAL seeks to make the program more beneficial and attractive for customers.
Reservations, sales and redemption for the codeshare flights and award tickets start from November 8, 2012.
“Creating a more comprehensive network and providing a wider range of mileage-redemption options for the convenience of our customers are important aspects of service,” said Tsutomu Ando, Executive Officer for International Relations and Alliances of Japan Airlines. “Through partnerships with quality airlines that have an extensive reach in their region such as Bangkok Airways, we hope to improve our ability to facilitate travel for businesses and leisure to and from Japan.”
Mr. Peter Wiesner, Bangkok Airway’s Senior Vice President – Network management commented “This new partnership will offer better flight connectivity for passengers travelling from long-haul routes with Japan Airlines to Bangkok for their onward journey to Mumbai. Moreover, Thailand’s key destinations namely Koh Samui, Phuket and Chiang Mai always have great potentials which attract a large number of tourists, especially Japanese. Therefore, we believe this partnership will offer a unique service for Japan Airlines passengers and will strengthen Bangkok Airways’ extensive network as well as boosting tourism in Asia.”
*1The current partnership excludes accrual of mileage when frequent flyer members of both airlines travel on flights operated by the other.
*2JMB partner airlines: Air Berlin, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Dragonair, Finnair, Iberia, LAN Airlines, Qantas, Royal Jordanian, S7, Air France, Emirates, China Eastern, Hokkaido Air Commuter, Bangkok Airways.
Source and Photo: Japan Airlines
