It was a relationship that wasn’t destined to last, and Frontier Airlines, Denver’s second-largest carrier, announced Monday the end of its frequent- flier partnership with AirTran Airways.
The partnership, which ends July 16, has allowed members of the two airlines’ frequent-flier programs to earn and use miles on both carriers.
AirTran had its own announcement Friday that intensified competition with Frontier: It offered to give one round-trip business-class ticket or two round-trip coach-class tickets to anyone donating 50,000 Midwest Miles by June 14 to charities associated with the Midwest Airlines Miracle Miles program.
Last year, Republic Airways purchased Frontier and Milwaukee-based Midwest Airlines. A month ago, Republic officials said the merged airlines would fly under the Frontier brand.
The end of the frequent-flier partnership doesn’t have anything to do with AirTran’s offer last week, Frontier spokeswoman Lindsey Purves said.
“We are re-evaluating all of our partnerships,” Purves said. The frequent-flier program “had limited value to either party. It was just a marketing relationship and not a full code share.”
Ann Schrader, The Denver Post
