Getting from Atlanta or Boston to Asia usually means juggling two tickets, two check-ins, and a prayer that your bags make the connection. The new American Airlines STARLUX codeshare changes that. You can now fly American from more than 10 U.S. cities, connect on the West Coast, and continue to Taipei on one of the best-reviewed boutique airlines in the world, all on a single ticket.
Here’s what the partnership covers, where you can fly from, how the AAdvantage earning works, and the limits you should know before you book.
What Is the American Airlines STARLUX Codeshare?
American Airlines and STARLUX Airlines announced their codeshare on September 24, 2026, with select flights bookable right away for travel starting September 30, 2026. It builds on the interline agreement the two airlines already had, which allowed single-ticket itineraries but didn’t put either airline’s flight numbers on the other’s flights.
A codeshare goes a step further. Each airline can now sell the other’s flights under its own flight number. In practice, that means you can buy an American Airlines ticket that includes a STARLUX-operated flight to Taipei, or a STARLUX ticket that includes an American-operated domestic flight to the West Coast.
For you, the result is simpler: one reservation, one set of fare rules, bags checked through to your final destination, and protection if your first flight runs late and you miss the connection.
If you’re new to how airline partnerships work, our guide on why airline alliances matter for travel hacking explains the difference between interline, codeshare, and full alliance membership.
Which U.S. Cities Connect to Taipei?
The partnership works in two directions. American places its code on STARLUX’s transpacific flights, and STARLUX places its code on American’s domestic flights that feed those gateways.
STARLUX flights to Taipei (TPE) carrying the American code:
- Los Angeles (LAX)
- Ontario, California (ONT)
- San Francisco (SFO)
- Seattle (SEA)
- Phoenix (PHX), pending regulatory approval
American flights carrying the STARLUX code connect cities across the country into Los Angeles and Phoenix. Departure cities include Atlanta (ATL), Orlando (MCO), Las Vegas (LAS), Charlotte (CLT), Denver (DEN), Miami (MIA), Boston (BOS), Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Philadelphia (PHL), and New York (JFK). Schedule filings also show Chicago O’Hare, Austin, Kansas City, St. Louis, San Diego, Washington Reagan, and several Southwest cities feeding Phoenix.
In total, STARLUX’s code appears on 26 American domestic routes: 10 into LAX and 16 into Phoenix. A typical trip looks like this: Miami to Los Angeles on American, then Los Angeles to Taipei on STARLUX, then onward from Taipei to cities like Tokyo, Seoul, Bangkok, Singapore, or Manila on STARLUX’s Asian network.
STARLUX Launch Fare Sale: What You Need to Know
To celebrate the partnership, STARLUX is running special fares from 10 U.S. departure cities. The terms are refreshingly simple:
- No promo code needed. The discounted fares load automatically.
- Book directly on the STARLUX Airlines website or app.
- Offer ends October 23, 2026.
STARLUX hasn’t publicly listed fare levels by city, so you’ll need to run your own searches to see what the sale looks like from your airport. Check a few date ranges, since sale fares often vary sharply by travel month.
Sale terms as announced by STARLUX, current as of October 5, 2026. Terms can change without notice, so confirm the fare and travel dates on the STARLUX site before you buy.
Can You Earn AAdvantage Miles on STARLUX?
Yes, with one important condition. You earn AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points when you book an American-marketed codeshare flight operated by STARLUX. That means the ticket needs an American (AA) flight number on the STARLUX segment.
This matters if you’re chasing elite status. Loyalty Points are the currency American uses to determine AAdvantage status tiers, so a transpacific trip in STARLUX business class booked through American can move you meaningfully toward Gold, Platinum, or beyond. For more ways to build your balance, see our list of 10 ways to earn American Airlines Loyalty Points without flying.
American says you can book STARLUX Business Class, Premium Economy, and Economy on aa.com or the American app. STARLUX’s business class features lie-flat seats with a privacy door, and premium economy includes a leg rest and footrest.
If you book the same flight directly with STARLUX under its own JX flight number, don’t assume it will earn AAdvantage miles. Check the earning rules before you buy.
What the Codeshare Does Not Include (Yet)
This is where you need to manage expectations. A codeshare is about selling seats, not loyalty benefits, and right now the partnership stops short in two areas.
No AAdvantage redemptions on STARLUX. You can’t currently use AAdvantage miles to book STARLUX award flights. American and STARLUX have said they will work together on future opportunities including mileage redemption, and STARLUX has signaled that a frequent flyer partnership with American is in the works. Nothing is live yet.
No reciprocal elite benefits. Your AAdvantage status won’t get you priority boarding, upgrades, or other elite perks on STARLUX flights. STARLUX isn’t a Oneworld member either, so Oneworld status benefits don’t apply. The airline has reportedly expressed interest in joining Oneworld, but there’s no timeline.
If redeeming miles on STARLUX is your goal, Alaska Airlines is the better path today. STARLUX already partners with Alaska, and you can earn and redeem Atmos Rewards points on STARLUX flights. Our guide to Alaska’s Atmos Rewards program covers how it works.
| Booking option | Where to book | What you earn | Redeem miles on STARLUX? | Elite perks on STARLUX? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American codeshare (AA flight number) | aa.com or American app | AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points | No, not yet | No |
| STARLUX direct, including the launch sale | STARLUX website or app | STARLUX’s own program; AAdvantage earning not confirmed | N/A | No AAdvantage benefits |
| Alaska Airlines partnership | Alaska Airlines | Atmos Rewards points | Yes, with Atmos Rewards | Check Alaska’s partner terms |
6 Tips for Booking American and STARLUX to Asia
- Compare both booking channels. Price the same itinerary on aa.com and on the STARLUX site. Booking through American earns AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points, while booking direct may unlock the launch sale. Decide which matters more for this trip.
- Check the flight number before you pay. To earn AAdvantage credit, the STARLUX segment needs an AA flight number. A JX flight number means the ticket was sold by STARLUX.
- Watch your connection time. Most itineraries connect in Los Angeles or Phoenix. Give yourself a comfortable buffer, especially in LAX, where terminal changes can take longer than you’d expect.
- Use Taipei as a hub, not just a destination. STARLUX serves cities across Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Macau. Adding a second Asian city often costs little extra on one ticket.
- Consider premium economy. STARLUX’s premium economy has a leg rest and retractable footrest, and on a transpacific flight it can be a strong middle ground between economy and business class pricing.
- Keep your points options open. If you’d rather pay with miles, look at Alaska Atmos Rewards for STARLUX, or explore other Oneworld options to Asia like the ones in our post on Philippine Airlines joining Oneworld.
Takeaway
The American Airlines STARLUX codeshare makes Asia meaningfully easier to reach from across the U.S. You get one ticket, through-checked bags, and access to an airline that holds Skytrax 5-Star status and was named one of the world’s 20 best airlines in 2026, while still earning AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points when you book through American.
The partnership isn’t complete yet. You can’t redeem AAdvantage miles on STARLUX, and your elite status won’t follow you onboard. But American and STARLUX have both pointed to a deeper loyalty partnership ahead, and this codeshare is the step that usually comes first.
If Taipei, Tokyo, Bangkok, or Singapore is on your list for the coming year, run a search now, and if the launch fares work for your dates, book before October 23, 2026.
Read the full announcement in the American Airlines news release.
