American Airlines and US Airways Begin to Share Lounges and Miles

American Airlines and US Airways took some of their first merger-integration steps, offering several reciprocal benefits, including miles earning and redemption and airport lounge access.

Under the realignment of benefits AAdvantage and Dividend Miles members can now earn and redeem miles across the others' route networks.

If passengers belong to their respective airport lounge programs, American Admirals Club or US Airways Club, they can now gain access to the others' airport lounge facilities.

And, certain Elite benefits, including First and Business Class Check-in, priority security and boarding, Preferred Seats access for free, priority baggage delivery and free checked bags, will now also be shared.

These are the first baby steps in the integration process, and eventually AAdvantage is expected to be the merged airlines' loyalty program.

In the near future, American Airlines says it will implement a codeshare agreement between the two airlines, US Airways will enter American's oneworld alliance, and the two carriers will co-locate additional gates and ticket counters.

In other news, American today was slated to begin flying its new Airbus A321 between JFK and LAX. American's A321 is the only U.S. carrier to offer First, Business and coach classes between New York and Los Angeles.