Conventional wisdom among airline critics says code-sharing is bad for the consumer. I disagree, again. In the Nov. 2003 First Class Flyer, I showed you how to profit from code-sharing fare discrepancies. Now I’ll show how to take advantage of codesharing to gain much better service.

One example is Continental and Virgin Atlantic from New York to London. Continental OnePass members can earn elite qualifying miles on codeshare flights operated by Virgin Atlantic, and get the benefit of Virgin’s vastly superior service. The number one benefit: fully reclining seats with a mattress (see First Class Flyer Oct. 2004 for more on Virgin). You can even use OnePass miles to get a free award ticket on Virgin (highly recommended).

So why fly Continental given the option?

Another example is Delta and Air France from JFK to Paris. Fly Delta if you want, but I prefer Air France’s new Business Class seat because it’s up to 2-1/2" wider and reclines farther (180 vs. 160 degrees). The fare is the same. (You can even use Delta miles to upgrade on Air France-operated flights.)

So why fly Delta?

Look at New York-Tokyo: American code-shares with Japan Airlines, United with All Nippon. All four fly non-stop. On this route, however, only All Nippon and Japan Airlines offer sleepers in Business Class. American and United don’t.

So why fly American and United?

Another example: Delta or Air France from Los Angeles to Rome? Whether purchasing a ticket or using miles, Delta travelers would be much better off flying Air France (Los Angeles-Paris-Rome) than Delta (Los Angeles-Atlanta-Rome).

How to work the system...

First — and another reason to find a good travel agent — determine which airlines fly your specific route and, perhaps as importantly, on which you can earn mileage and/or elite credit.

Second, check to see if the airlines offering the best service partner with your preferred carrier — either by code-sharing, or by reciprocal alliance benefits. (With alliance partners, you may not even have to go the code-share route.) Caveat: Not all partner flights earn elite qualifying miles.

Tip: When flying to a foreign country, it’s better to be holding a ticket issued by the country’s local/ home carrier because it yields much more recognition should your plans go awry and you need personal attention (i.e. cancellations, rebooking, access to seat assignments, etc.). The operating carrier usually gives preference to passengers holding tickets marked with its own “code.”

Finer Points

Working around the Fly-a-US-Carrier Rule.

Does your company require you to fly a US airline? Use the code-sharing loophole. Book through the US carrier, but take the code-share partner’s flight.

Amex Members Not Interested in Elite Credit.

Why transfer Membership Rewards points to Continental, only to pay an upgrade surcharge (up to $900!) for an inferior seat? Why not transfer MR points to Virgin, instead? A two-class upgrade will cost 20,000 miles more than Continental, but can save you the $900, plus net a better seat. Keep in mind though: Virgin coded flights will earn miles with Continental, but not elite qualifying miles.