Alaska Airlines is adding a mileage/codeshare partner; American and British Airways offer bonus points/miles; and Air Canada wants you to stop over in Toronto on them.
- Starting November 1 (subject to government approval), Alaska and Icelandair will kick off a new wide-ranging partnership . The benefits to passengers: “seamless reservations and ticketing, one-stop check-in, baggage checked to its final destination, coordinated flight schedules, the ability to earn miles and/or points on the reciprocal airline and consistent passenger service standards,” Alaska said. Elite members in each carrier’s loyalty program will also get reciprocal airport lounge benefits. Alaska Mileage Plan members can earn elite-qualifying miles on Icelandair flights starting October 1 — and they’ll get double miles through December 15. Icelandair flies from 16 cities in North America (including Alaska’s Seattle hub) to 20 destinations in Europe via connections at its Reykjavik hub. Have you flown Icelandair? How was it?
- To mark its fifth anniversary, the transatlantic joint venture partnership of American Airlines and British Airways/Iberia/Finnair is offering customers big mileage bonuses from now through January 31. Persons who register for the offer with promotion code NAF15 can earn 25,000 bonus miles per transatlantic roundtrip when they buy first or business class tickets (up to a maximum of 125,000 bonus miles); 7,000 bonus miles for roundtrips in premium economy or some full economy fares (up to a maximum of 35,000); or 2,000 bonus miles for travel on other economy fares (maximum: 10,000 bonus miles). Here’s where you’ll find all the details and a link to online registration.

Spectacular view from the lovely Colette Restaurant at the Thompson Toronto hotel (Chris McGinnis)
- To induce Americans to try out its international service, Air Canada is waiving the stopover fee for those who fly from the U.S. to Europe or Asia all on Air Canada via a connection at its Toronto Pearson hub. Customers can take advantage of the free Toronto stopover on their outbound or return trips, and can stay in the city for up to one week, paying nothing more than the usual roundtrip fare. It’s valid for flights on Air Canada, Air Canada Express or Air Canada Rouge. For details, go to www.aircanada.com/travelsmarter.
Related: Trip Report- Air Canada 767 Business class SFO-Toronto
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100,000
BEST for Big Sign-up Bonus. British Airways Visa Signature® Card 0ffers a nice 50,000 Avios sign up bonus after you spend $2,000 in the first three months. But get this: You’ll earn an additional 25,000 bonus Avios when you spend $10,000 on purchases for a total of 75,000 bonus Avios. Even better: You earn another 25,000 bonus Avios when you spend a total of $20,000 on purchases within your first year for a total of 100,000 bonus Avios. In addition to the sign up bonus, you earn three Avios for every dollar spent on BA, and a free companion ticket (any class) when you spend at least $30,000 in a year. Plus there are no foreign transaction fees, and the card has a chip making it easier to use in Europe and beyond. Annual fee is $95. More.
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