TAM and United Airlines Codeshare Flights and Frequent Flyer Partnership

TAM Linhas Aereas and United Airlines sitting in a tree… Kidding. But TAM and United Airlines have signed a “memorandum of understanding” to begin the process of enabling the airlines to offer codeshare flights with each other and expand the international destinations served and frequent flyer opportunities available for customers of both carriers.

The agreement includes the implementation of codeshare on TAM and United flights, giving customers of United’s Mileage Plus and TAM’s Fidelidade programs the opportunity to earn and redeem miles to more destinations and facilitates travel between Brazil and United’s network. TAM is the largest airline in Brazil, serving 49 cities in the country. Internationally, the carrier serves several countries in Europe and North and South America. United Airlines serves more than 200 destinations worldwide from its hubs in Los
Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Chicago and Washington, D.C.

This agreement will provide new connection opportunities from Brazil in Washington and Chicago, which are, according to the press release, important destinations for Brazilian business travelers. Implementation of the memorandum will require execution of formal agreements and is dependent on a formal approval from the Brazilian and U.S. governments and other integrations that are expected to be in place in late 2007.