Don't Call It A Codeshare, Though

Two low-cost carriers serving different sides of the US announced Tuesday they will join forces to market each other's flights -- nearly doubling the destinations each can offer.

USA Today reports the marketing alliance between Frontier Airlines and AirTran Airways will also allow customers to swap out their frequent flier miles on each carrier.

The Frontier-AirTran partnership is the first commercial link-up of its kind between next-generation, low-cost carriers -- territory that until now has been the realm of larger legacy carriers.

Based in Orlando, AirTran focuses primarily on markets east of the Mississippi River; Frontier, based in Denver, flies to western markets.

While members of each airline's frequent flier programs will be able to earn points or miles on either carrier, one important distinction the alliance does not offer is a so-called "code-sharing" arrangement, where one airline can sell seats on the other's flights.

Instead, call centers and websites for each carrier will refer customers to the other airline, for flights outside their own operating area.

"I think both sides will get the same (revenue) benefit without doing a full-blown code share" said Frontier CEO Jeff Potter.

FMI: www.frontierairlines.com, www.airtran.com