United Airlines has signed a new codeshare agreement with New Delhi-based carrier Vistara.
The codeshare will expand the US carrier’s network to over 20 destinations throughout India.
Passengers travelling with United from its domestic hubs in New York Newark and San Francisco to the Indian cities of Mumbai and New Delhi will be able to further connect to over 20 destinations in India, with United’s UA code added on more than 20 Vistara flights.
Passengers will be able to book air tickets under one carrier’s code and have their checked luggage delivered to their final destination.
In addition to coordinated customer services provided by both airlines, customers will also enjoy reciprocal frequent flyer benefits. United MileagePlus members will be able to earn and redeem frequent flyer miles on all the routes operated by Vistara, while the Indian carrier’s Club Vistara members will be able to earn and redeem their frequent flyer miles on all Vistara and United routes.
United said in a press release that the codeshare will be effective from autumn (fall) 2019. Business Traveller Asia-Pacific has reached out to the airline to ask for a more precise date.
United Airlines has been flying to India since 2005. The airline now offers daily non-stop New York Newark-Mumbai and New York Newark-New Delhi services. From December 5 this year, the carrier will also begin its seasonal services between San Francisco and New Delhi, on which passengers from over 80 US destinations will be able to fly to India with a single stopover in San Francisco.
Vistara is a joint venture of the Indian company Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines. The Indian domestic carrier began operations in January 2015, and now flies to over 20 cities in India, including New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bengaluru (Bangalore). Over the past two years, Vistara has also signed codeshare deals with Japan Airlines, British Airways, as well as Singapore Airlines and Silk Air.
Business Traveller Asia-Pacific recently published an interview with United Airlines’ managing director for Greater China and Korea. You can read it here.
