Philippine Airlines MNL-SEA Flight Starting May 2020
According to RoutesOnline, Philippine Airlines will be starting a direct Seattle to Manila flight on their A350. The service will start in May, 2020 and fly three times per week on the following schedule:
PR128 MNL2245 – 1945SEA 350 137
PR129 SEA2305 – 0335+1MNL 350 137
Their A350 offers a Business/Premium Economy/Economy Class set up. Business Class is configured in a 1-2-1 set up, Premium Economy in a 2-4-2 set up, and Economy Class in a 3-3-3 set up.
What I think is most interesting is that Philippine Airlines is not part of a frequent flyer alliance. Philippine Airlines’ frequent flyer program is Mabuhay Miles. You can only earn and redeem Mabuhay Miles on Philippine Airlines operated flights and codeshares (earning only) and ANA (earning only) as far as I can tell.
Currently their only US based codeshare airline is Hawaiian airlines. With flights already to Alaska Airlines hubs/focus cities of Los Angeles and San Fransisco, their addition of Seattle flights would strengthen the case for a code share agreement with Alaska Airlines.
Furthermore, Alaska has been adding international partners to their Mileage Plan to shore up the value of miles after the loss of partnerships with Delta and American.
Alaska Mileage Plan is already heavy with partners in Asia including Cathay Pacific, Korean, Singapore and JAL. But I could see a strategic argument for the addition of a partnership with Philippine.
Do you think we will see an Alaska & Philippine partnership in the near future?