Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has enhanced its codeshare agreement with American Airlines (AA).
Previously, MAS passengers bound for the US had to transfer through Tokyo-Narita for codeshare flights operated by AA to Los Angeles and New York, but they now have the alternative option to connect to AA’s newly launched daily service between Hong Kong and Dallas (see here).
Flight MH448 departs Kuala Lumpur at 0800 before landing in Hong Kong at 1145. After a layover period of one hour and 45 minutes, passengers can then connect to flight MH9434 – the AA-operated service to Dallas that departs Hong Kong at 1540 and touches down in the Texan city at 1540 the same day. Total travelling time is 18 hours and 55minutes.
Meanwhile, the return service sees flight MH9422 depart Dallas at 1245 and arrive in Hong Kong at 1805 the following day. Following a layover period of two hours and 15 minutes, flight MH9181, which is a codeshare service with Cathay Pacific, will take off from Hong Kong at 2020 and arrive back in Kuala Lumpur at 0005 the next day. The travel time for the entire journey is 20 hours and 5 minutes.
In addition, a new codeshare service to Dallas through Seoul-Incheon will also follow on July 24, although exact flight times have not been announced. A look at the booking websites of both airlines, however, reveals that MAS currently only serves Seoul once a day, with flight MH66 that departing Kuala Lumpur at 2330 and reaching Incheon at 0710 the following day. From Seoul, AA operates a daily service to Dallas that departs at 1650 for a 1605 arrival on the same day. Assuming that flight times stay the same, this means that the total travelling time (including transit) will be a more grueling 22 hours 55 minutes.
The AA-operated return flight will depart from Dallas at 1055 and arrive in Seoul at 1450 the following day. Customers will then connect to flight MH5621 (codeshare with Korean Air), which takes off at 1635 before landing in Kuala Lumpur at 2155. The total travel time is 20 hours and 15 minutes.
Domestic connectivity has also been improved for passengers flying into the US through Tokyo-Narita. Starting August 2, the Malaysian flag carrier will begin adding its flight code onto AA-operated flights from LAX to Austin, Chicago O’Hare, Miami, Orlando, St Louis and Washington Reagan.
Likewise, MAS will also be expanding its codeshare services with AA for US flights from New York JFK, with onwards destinations including Austin, Chicago, Dallas/Forth Worth, Miami and Washington Reagan.
For more information, visit malaysiaairlines.com and aa.com
Clement Huang
