American Airlines AAdvantage loyalty program members can now use their points to book flights on Chilean low-cost carrier JetSmart directly through American's website. Previously, members could only redeem points for JetSmart flights by booking on the budget airline’s own platform.
This update is the latest development in the partnership between American and JetSmart, which began four years ago when American acquired a 35.4% stake in JetSmart and JetSmart adopted AAdvantage as its loyalty program.
American Airlines has held a strong presence in South America since it acquired Eastern Air Lines' regional assets in 1990. The carrier operates more flights to South America than any other U.S. airline, providing it with a significant local footprint. “In most of the countries across South America, American is a native brand,” said Vasu Raja, former chief commercial officer at American Airlines, in 2021.