Aer Lingus and United Airlines partnership takes to the skies

CHICAGO – Aer Lingus and United Airlines have begun a codesharing agreement enabling United customers to book connecting flights on Aer Lingus’ network for travel from Nov. 1, 2008.

CHICAGO – Aer Lingus and United Airlines have begun a codesharing agreement enabling United customers to book connecting flights on Aer Lingus’ network for travel from Nov. 1, 2008. The new partnership provides customers with a seamless booking process, coordinated baggage handling and simplified reservations, ticketing and check-in. From April 2009, Aer Lingus will place its code on United Airlines domestic flights, giving customers access to United’s entire North American network.

The codeshare agreement will cover all six of Aer Lingus’ US gateways, including New York-JFK, Boston, Orlando, Chicago-O’Hare, San Francisco and Washington. Aer Lingus customers will have access to nearly 200 additional destinations in the US through United’s hubs in Chicago, San Francisco and Washington. United customers will also benefit from greater access to destinations in Ireland and to destinations in the UK and Continental Europe through Aer Lingus’ extensive short-haul network.

Dermot Mannion, Aer Lingus CEO said, “The relationship with United Airlines extends our offering to both our Irish and North American customer base, with seamless travel options and access to more than 200 destinations served by United Airlines in the US. We believe that this agreement will strengthen and consolidate our position in the US market as we capitalize on the scale and the strength of the United Airlines network.”

The United Airlines flight code is now available on all Aer Lingus transatlantic flights to and from Ireland and on flights between Ireland and both London Heathrow and London Gatwick.

“We are pleased to partner with Aer Lingus and provide our customers in the United States with the most direct service to Ireland on the country’s national carrier,” says Glenn Tilton, chairman, president and CEO of United. “Our customers will now enjoy more choices and benefits during their travels to Ireland and the rest of Europe.”

On November 1, members of the United Airline’s Mileage Plus® program will be able to earn miles on the codeshare routes and may redeem Mileage Plus miles across the Aer Lingus network. Aer Lingus frequent flyers will be able to earn points on trans-Atlantic flights operated by United and redeem points for travel across the United network. Aer Lingus customers will also be able to earn points on select United domestic flights, beginning in April 2009.

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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