United and ANA launch transpacific joint venture

CHICAGO and LOS ANGELES – United Continental Holdings, Inc.

CHICAGO and LOS ANGELES – United Continental Holdings, Inc. and ANA today announced the launch of their trans-Pacific joint venture, through which United Airlines and Continental Airlines may coordinate sales and marketing with ANA and improve benefits offered to each airline’s frequent flyers.

Through the joint venture, enabled by the U.S.-Japan Open Skies agreement and antitrust immunity granted by U.S. and Japanese regulators, the airlines can align schedules, fares, and terms and conditions for itineraries beginning April 1.

“We are pleased to launch our joint venture with ANA, as it will offer travelers greater choices, convenience and flexibility for their trans-Pacific travels,” said Jeff Smisek, president and chief executive officer of United Continental Holdings.

“By forging this closer cooperation with our partner airlines in the Star Alliance, we will significantly enhance our ability to serve trans-Pacific customers and offer new choice and convenience for passengers,” said Shinichiro Ito, president and CEO of ANA.

Combining United Continental and ANA Flights for Trans-Pacific Travel

The additional fare and schedule options will offer customers more choices and seamless booking on itineraries that combine U.S. flight segments on United or Continental; trans-Pacific segments on ANA, United or Continental flights; and flights within Japan on ANA.

The trans-Pacific joint venture connects 295 U.S. cities, 43 Japanese cities, and 11 routes between the two countries with nearly 120 flights per week. The carriers also are coordinating fares and schedules for travel to and from certain other points in Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.

Applicable Trans-Pacific Routes

Route
Carrier

Route
Carrier

1
Los Angeles-Tokyo Narita
ANA/UA
6
Houston-Narita
CO

2
Los Angeles-Tokyo Haneda
ANA
7
Chicago-Narita
ANA/UA

3
San Francisco-Narita
ANA/UA
8
New York-Narita
ANA/CO

4
San Francisco- Osaka Kansai
UA
9
Washington, D.C.-Narita
ANA/UA

5
Seattle-Narita
UA
10
Honolulu-Narita
ANA/UA

11
Honolulu-Haneda
ANA

Improved Frequent-Flyer Program Benefits

United Mileage Plus and Continental OnePass frequent-flyer members will now receive the same mileage accrual benefits on ANA that they receive on United and Continental flights. Similarly, ANA Mileage Club members now receive the same mileage accrual benefits on United and Continental as they receive on ANA. Additionally, elite-level members of the United, Continental and ANA frequent-flyer programs can accumulate bonus miles on any United, Continental or ANA flight.

Premium/elite member bonus miles*

ANA

Mileage Club

United

Mileage Plus

Continental

OnePass

Diamond Service
125%

Platinum Service
100%
1K
100%
Platinum Elite
100%

Bronze Service
50%
Premier Executive
100%
Gold Elite
100%

Super Flyer’s Card
50%
Premier
25%
Silver Elite
25%

* The bonus miles indicated above will be added to the actual flight mileage.

* For Japan domestic flights, only the segments which are included in international tickets will be applicable to the harmonized mileage accrual rates.

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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