Etihad Airways and Air France-KLM announced plans to expand their partnership.
Both airline groups have rolled out frequent flyer reciprocity.
By giving flyers the opportunity to earn and redeem miles for travel on the other airline group.
New customer initiatives by Etihad Airways and Air France-KLM.
A partnership dating back to 2012 has been between Etihad and Air France-KLM.
This partnership included an interline agreement.
In addition to a limited codeshare arrangement, but that has now been expanded.
The airlines are enhancing collaboration opportunities across passenger operations, loyalty programs, talent development, and maintenance.
This expanded partnership includes the following:
- The codeshare agreement between the airlines has been expanded significantly.
To cover 40 new routes across Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, and Australia - We’ve now seen the introduction of frequent flyer reciprocity for Air France-KLM Flying Blue members and Etihad Guest members.
Allowing members of both programs to earn and redeem miles on Air France, KLM, and Etihad - The airlines are also exploring terminal co-location, reciprocal lounge access and ground handling, and more; we’re told that this development will be coming soon.
Etihad currently flies to both Amsterdam (AMS) and Paris (CDG).
And as of October 2023, Air France started flying to Abu Dhabi (AUH).
With just 7 days to go, our message to the world is clear. #COP28 pic.twitter.com/fU4bgrWE0a
— UAE Voice (@uae_voiceeng) November 24, 2023
Details of Air France-KLM & Etihad frequent flyer reciprocity
The most exciting aspect of this expanded partnership is frequent flyer reciprocity, and we now have the details of what that will look like.
When it comes to earning miles, Etihad Guest members can earn the following number of miles for travel on Air France:
Meanwhile Etihad Guest members can earn the following number of miles on KLM:
When it comes to redeeming Etihad Guest miles, redemptions on Air France-KLM will follow the standard partner award chart:
The real value with this partnership is the ability to redeem Air France-KLM Flying Blue miles for travel on Etihad.
Partnership is entirely good news for frequent flyers.
When we see joint ventures, where airlines coordinate fares and schedules, and it’s the equivalent of a competitor in a market being eliminated.
That’s not the case here. Instead we’re seeing a codeshare agreement and more reciprocity, all of which is good for frequent flyers.
For Etihad, this is positive in terms of more connectivity beyond Amsterdam and Paris.
For Air France-KLM, this is good in terms of being able to get passengers to long haul destinations that the airline doesn’t directly serve.
Passengers could fly Air France to Abu Dhabi, and then connect onto an Etihad flight to Ho Chi Minh City, Sydney, etc.
It’s always fascinating to see how partnership with Gulf carriers evolve over time.
The major US and European global carriers obviously view the Gulf carriers as being major competition, given their extensive networks.
However, at some point you realize that you’re better off working with them rather than against them.
Can’t wait to plan my next flight to visit the UAE via Etihad Airways …
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