Update: New Alaska Airlines Virgin America Merger Details

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The Alaska Airlines – Virgin America merger is moving forward!

Via One Mile at a Time, the merger deal between the 2 airlines will close today.  But the companies still have a long way to go before they are fully integrated.  Fortunately, Alaska Airlines will begin offering benefits long before it is completed!

I’ll tell you what we know so far!

Enjoy Benefits From Both Airlines

Link:   Alaska Airlines Virgin America Merger Website

Link:   Alaska Airlines Newsroom

According to the Alaska Airlines Newsroom, here’s what we can look forward to in the near future:

• On December 19, 2016, both Virgin America members and Alaska Airlines members will earn miles on each other’s flights.  And folks with elite status will receive priority check-in and priority boarding with both airlines
• On December 19, 2016, you’ll be able to purchase Virgin America flights through the Alaska Airlines website
• On December 22, 2016, we’ll find out the schedules and availability for new flights from Alaska Airlines’ new hub, San Francisco.
• On January 9, 2017, folks with Virgin America Silver and Gold status can match to Alaska Airlines MVP and MVP Gold status.
  And Virgin America Elevate members will be invited to activate new Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan accounts.

We’re still waiting to hear about:

• How or when we can redeem miles for both airlines
• Transferring miles between accounts (and the transfer ratio!)
• Branding for the combined airlines

Remember, because Virgin America is being absorbed, the Virgin America Visa Signature and Virgin America Premium Signature credit cards issued by Comenity Bank will be discontinued!  So if you’ve been thinking about signing-up, now is the time.

Bottom Line

The Alaska Airlines – Virgin America merger is closing today!  You’ll soon be able to earn Alaska Airlines miles on both airlines, and even book Virgin America flights through Alaska Airlines.  And you can match your Virgin America elite status to Alaska Airlines!

We have no updates about how or when we can book award flights with the other airline’s rewards currency.  Still, I like how Alaska Airlines is giving folks mutual benefits soon after the merger closes, instead of waiting until the integration is complete!

If you’re interested in the Virgin America Visa Signature and Virgin America Premium Signature cards, sign-up soon!  They’ll likely be discontinued in the near future!