American Airlines, GOL Airlines sign frequent-flier deal, codeshare pact soon

American Airlines, based in Fort Worth, Texas, the United States, and GOL Airlines, based in Sao Paulo, Brazil, have signed a frequent flier pact that will give customers more choice and flexibility while booking a journey to Brazil. Both airlines also said that they expect to sign a codeshare agreement soon, which would let customers flying to locations in Brazil that are not at present served by American Airlines to book the entire trip on one ticket.

In a joint press release, American Airlines and GOL Airlines said that the new frequent-flier deal would make it easier for passengers to earn and redeem miles.

Starting from August 1, 2009, members of American Airlines’ AAdvantage and GOL Airlines’ Smiles can earn miles on all eligible flights of American Airlines and of GOL Airlines.

Members of AAdvantage will be eligible to earn double miles while flying on eligible flights of GOL Airlines between August 1, 2009, and October 31, 2009.

From the autumn of 2009, members of both AAdvantage and Smiles can redeem their miles for travel on flights of American Airlines and GOL Airlines worldwide.

In a separate statement, Constantino de Oliveira Junior, CEO of GOL Airlines said that GOL Airlines would now offer customers of American Airlines access to more destinations within Brazil, the largest country in South America.

The proposed codeshare agreement will allow a customer to check bags through to his end-destination when he travels on American Airlines and GOL Airlines.

The codeshare agreement, according to American Airlines, will be “multifaceted,” but it is identical to other codeshare agreements that already let American Airlines form partnerships with other airlines. This way, American Airlines can offer passengers connecting flights to destinations to which it does not fly.

American Airlines, a subsidiary of AMR Corporation, now flies daily from Dallas, Miami and New York in the United States to 5 cities in Brazil – Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte (Confins), Salvador, Recife, and Sao Paulo.

GOL Airlines, the biggest low-cost carrier in Latin America, serves 49 destinations within Brazil. It is claimed to be the fastest growing airline in the continent of South America.

Combined, American Airlines and GOL Airlines offer 4,200 flights daily to over 300 destinations around the world.