American Airlines, JetBlue Announce Next Steps to End Northeast Alliance

American Airlines and JetBlue Airways announced the next steps the carrier would take as part of a court-ordered effort to wind down the Northeast Alliance with American Airlines.

Starting on July 21, JetBlue and American passengers will no longer be able to book new codeshare flights on the other airline. Travelers with tickets already booked, TrueBlue or AAdvantage numbers must be added to the booking before July 21 to earn points, tiles and reciprocal perks.

“We are disappointed to be ending popular benefits like codesharing and reciprocal loyalty benefits,” JetBlue’s Northeast Alliance vice president Dave Fintzen said. “We know customers will miss these features and believe the U.S. Department of Justice’s position opposing them misses the mark.”

Customers can still accrue TrueBlue points for all tickets purchased before July 21, if their TrueBlue number is added to the booking before that date. American revealed its AAdvantage members can use their miles to book and ticket an award itinerary on JetBlue through July 20.

Officials from JetBlue and American said the companies would continue to minimize disruption to customers who have booked travel and will reach out to individual customers that require re-accommodation or refund.

“With the court’s recent ruling and the termination of the NEA, we have to sunset them in short order,” Fintzen continued. “Even as these benefits end, we are still committed to minimizing disruption to existing travel plans and continuing to deliver great value and our award-winning product and service to our customers.”

Earlier this month, JetBlue decided not to appeal a June court decree that the Northeast Alliance conflicts with antitrust law. The carrier issued a statement announcing its decision a month after CEO Robin Hayes told Bloomberg the airline hoped to find a way of continuing the NEA flights coordinated by the two airlines.