Now that we`ve talked at length about what codeshare and interline flights are and how to tell if you`re on a codeshare flight or not, let`s get back to the central question: why is it important? In Europe, codeshare agreements became popular in 1993 after deregulation by the EU. In 2007, the European Commission published a final report on the impact of codeshare agreements with airlines on competition. This article showed that 100 of the 100 airlines surveyed had already signed a codeshare with one or more airlines around the world. A codeshare agreement therefore refers to a situation where one airline shares its code with another. In simpler terms, this means that when United Airlines shares its UA code with Emirates, such an agreement is called codeshare. The flight is actually operated by Emirates. For marketing and sales purposes, however, the flight is addressed with the prefix UA. You have purchased a ticket for a flight. You will arrive at the airport and find your flight number on the departure board. So far, everything is normal.
But when you get to the door, the airline you thought you were flying is nowhere visible and it`s the logo of another airline on the side of the plane. You just experienced code sharing. Codeshare is a partnership between two airlines that allows an airline to place its two-letter identification code in another airline`s flight schedule. This means that flights can be marketed by one airline and operated by another. For example, Delta Air Lines may enter into an agreement with United Airlines to operate United Airlines flights on a particular route. This flight would be registered with the United Identification Code (UA) but would actually be operated by Delta Air Lines. Codeshare is a marketing agreement whereby an airline places its code on a flight operated by another airline and sells tickets for that flight. Airlines around the world continue to enter into codeshare agreements to strengthen or expand their market presence and competitiveness. U.S. and foreign carriers wishing to operate codeshare services must first obtain approval from the Department in the form of a letter of approval pursuant to Part 212 of the Department`s Economic Regulations, 14 CFR Part 212.
The Department approves the application if it determines that it is in the public interest. Customers can buy a ticket from 1 airline, but travel with a number of other airlines as long as the airlines have a business relationship called a codeshare agreement. As a result, customers have a greater degree of autonomy in choosing their flight schedule, depending on what suits them best. Have you ever purchased a ticket from a particular airline and when you arrive at the airport, you are directed to the check-in counter of another airline? If so, you may be traveling with the airline`s codeshare partner rather than the airline you booked with. Code sharing is a way for airlines to join forces to improve the customer experience, among other things. Read on to find out what code sharing is and how it works. When it comes to the elite benefits of codeshares, you mention that you can enjoy the benefits if you have status on the marketing carrier. What about the opposite? For example: I fly on an IB/BA lhR-GRU flight that I bought with the most shared laare airline. I have Silver status with BA, will I be able to have a salon, etc.
in LHR? However, you`ll likely find that you`ve used codeshare and line spacing to your advantage in the past, whether with an airline due to bad weather or when delivering your luggage to your final destination on your plane ticket. Code sharing works as follows, using United and Delta as examples: KLM and Delta are a good example of a successful codeshare agreement. Both operate hubs at Amsterdam Airport (AMS), with Delta operating flights from there to the US, with KLM operating (some) flights to the US, but more to other destinations that Delta doesn`t offer. For example, if you wanted to fly from, say, Bristol (BRS) to Seattle (SEA), there are no direct flights. You may know that KLM flies from Bristol, while Delta flies from Seattle. But neither carrier flies to both. But codeshares allow you to book a single connecting ticket from Bristol to Seattle with both airlines. Codeshares typically focus on planning and sharing aircraft on routes.
Interlines usually focus on logistics such as rebooking, baggage services, and other ground services. Codeshare flights are very confusing at first. If you are on a codeshare flight, you will see a different aircraft parked at your boarding gate than the one shown on your flight number. This could cause you to scratch your head and even ask for clarity. In the above example of a codeshare agreement between British Airways and American Airlines from London Heathrow to Johannesburg, British Airways is the operating airline. It is the airline that flies the planes, delivers the flight attendants and brings passengers to South Africa. American Airlines is the marketing airline that sells tickets to American Airlines customers to travel to South Africa. Code-sharing and line-spacing agreements were invented to provide convenience and cost benefits to customers. Since the invention of the Internet, e-ticketing and online travel agencies, literacy has declined in these 2 areas. For international markets, codeshares are intended for specific markets. Here are three scenarios for the same city pair, New York/Tokyo: Conclusion: Flying on codeshare flights can allow travelers with the elite status of the marketing airline to enjoy benefits on the flight of the operating airline. These include fantastic benefits such as priority baggage handling, priority boarding, lounge access, extra baggage allowance and even expedited security.
After all, how do you know if you`re on a codeshare flight? When booking, you need to be informed – for flights to and from the U.S., this is a regulation from the U.S. Department of Transportation that airlines must notify their passengers when they participate in a codeshare service. Most airlines sell the ticket as flight XX123 operated by XYZ, codeshare flights on the same ticket protect consumers in terms of baggage management, ground services and more. From a convenience perspective, interline and codeshare agreements are big benefits for travelers. While it may seem counterintuitive, code sharing can be beneficial for airlines and passengers. In 2011, the DOT required airlines to clearly disclose when a flight was operated on a codeshare basis. In this case, the words “operated by” and the name of the other airline will appear on all ticket information. If you book through these methods, you can earn Japan Airlines miles. Keep in mind that many codeshare flights are much more expensive than a scheduled flight. In the example above, booking as EK 319 can be several hundred dollars cheaper than booking as JL 5095.
You need to keep this in mind when looking for codeshare flights. Simply put, that`s why, for example, you can see the Ethiopian code ET on a GOL Linhas Aereas ticket. Let`s say you`re traveling from Addis Ababa to Sao Paulo with Ethiopian. But that`s not your ultimate goal. Instead, plan to go to Brasilia, so take a flight with GOL Linhas Aereas to Guarulhos International Airport. When you planned the trip, you only bought one ticket that serves all stages of the trip. Bottom Line: The main difference between interline flights and codeshare flights is that interline flights are more like passenger service agreements for flights between 2 different airlines, while codeshare flights are a commercial agreement between 2 airlines to offer larger flight networks worldwide. In most cases, you can`t upgrade codeshare flights with miles with the marketing airline. For example, if you booked a China Eastern ticket marketed by Japan Airlines, you will not be able to redeem Japan Airlines miles for an upgrade to China Eastern.
If you want to have a chance to upgrade, you need to use the mileage of the running carrier. Most airlines, including all contract airlines in the city pair program, participate in some sort of codeshare commercial agreement. These agreements allow carriers to expand their service offerings without additional resources, equipment and costs. Because of these commercial agreements, many airlines cannot legally commit to meeting their codeshare partners` inventory levels for YCA contract fares. .
