American, STARLUX launch Taipei codeshare

American Airlines is doubling down on premium long-haul without adding more flights, pushing two big moves this week: a new codeshare with Taiwan’s STARLUX connecting Taipei to the U.S. West Coast, and Alaska Airlines’ bid to join American’s powerful transatlantic and transpacific partnerships. This STARLUX deal gives American instant access to a luxury product—lie-flat suites, five-star service, and more—without the risk of launching its own flights into a crowded market dominated by United and EVA. For travelers, it means earning AAdvantage miles on STARLUX flights and, soon, the chance to redeem them for top-tier seats—if American delivers on promised award space.

But here’s the catch: these asset-light partnerships only pay off if regulators approve Alaska’s deeper tie-ins. If Alaska wins antitrust immunity, it supercharges American’s network on the West Coast and gives corporate travelers seamless access to both Europe and Asia, but DOT scrutiny could delay real benefits for years. Meanwhile, American is racing to upgrade its onboard experience—planning fleetwide rollout of Starlink Wi-Fi and restoring top-shelf catering at Heathrow, crucial for attracting business travelers while rivals like United and Delta invest heavily in their own tech and amenities.

Featuring insights from American’s Anmol Bhargava, Nat Pieper, and CCO Heather Garboden, with reporting from Simple Flying, Travel Radar, and more.

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