United, Brazil’s TAM file for code-sharing approval

United Airlines and Brazil’s TAM have filed applications with the U.S. and Brazilian governments to begin code-sharing on routes between the two countries. If approved, the agreement will enable members of United’s Mileage Plus program to earn and spend miles on all flights operated by TAM and its affiliate TAM Mercosur, with reciprocal rights for members of TAM’s program. Frequent flyer benefits are expected to start later this year, United said. In addition, United would put its code on TAM-operated flights from Miami and New York to Sao Paulo and Manaus, Brazil, with easy connections beyond those points available from TAM. And TAM’s code would go onto United flights between Rio/Sao Paulo and Chicago/Washington Dulles.