American STARLUX Codeshare Links Taipei to Four US Gateways

Taipei just got easier to reach from the US West Coast. American Airlines and Taiwan-based STARLUX Airlines announced a STARLUX codeshare partnership this week that puts American's flight code on STARLUX trans-Pacific services between Taipei and four US cities, with flights starting September 30, 2026.

Tickets for the new codeshare flights went on sale September 23, according to STARLUX, which published details of the arrangement on its official news site. American confirmed the partnership in its own September 24 announcement, and Loyalty Lobby, which quoted the airline's official notice, reported that select codeshare flights are already bookable for travel beginning at the end of the month. The launch covers travel in both directions, so STARLUX customers can connect into American's domestic network on one booking.

What the codeshare actually covers

The core of the deal is straightforward. American will place its flight number on STARLUX-operated flights between Taipei Taoyuan International Airport and four western US gateways: Los Angeles International Airport, Ontario International Airport in California, San Francisco International Airport, and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. A traveler booking through American's site or app can find and buy a seat on a STARLUX aircraft with an American flight number attached, instead of booking the two carriers separately.

The partnership runs the other way too. STARLUX will market American-operated domestic flights out of Los Angeles and Phoenix, which STARLUX says extends its reach to 20 North American destinations. STARLUX named New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Charlotte, Miami, Orlando, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, and Las Vegas among the featured connection cities, and said promotional fares apply to bookings made by October 23.

A few practical details come with the partnership. Passengers can book the whole journey on a single ticket, and checked bags are transferred straight through to the final destination without being reclaimed and rechecked mid-trip, subject to customs rules. AAdvantage members who book an American-coded flight operated by STARLUX will earn miles and Loyalty Points, and the two airlines said they are working on future benefits including mileage redemption.

Why this one matters for travelers

The two carriers have been moving toward this for over a year. In August 2025 they signed a base-level interline agreement that already allowed single-ticket bookings across both airlines with through-checked baggage. A codeshare goes further: it lets each airline sell the other's flights under its own code, so a multi-airline itinerary shows up in one search result instead of needing to be pieced together by hand. The STARLUX codeshare follows a busy month of trans-Pacific reshuffling: Delta is adding new routes out of Los Angeles, Norse Atlantic is cutting nearly all of its US services, and the FAA is rolling out an AI-powered air traffic system aimed at cutting delays.

For travelers planning trips to Taiwan, that consolidation helps. Taipei is a draw for food trips, night market visits, and family travel, and STARLUX's own US network only touches a handful of cities. Under this partnership, a traveler in Dallas or Chicago can book one itinerary to Taipei that connects through a STARLUX gateway, arrives on a single ticket, and earns AAdvantage miles along the way.

The mileage piece is the part frequent flyers will notice most. "AAdvantage members purchasing a codeshare flight under the partnership can earn miles and Loyalty Points," American said in its announcement, adding that the two carriers will work together on mileage redemption and additional travel benefits. Earning American miles on STARLUX-operated flights is a new option that did not exist before this week.

Both airlines framed the deal as a network play. "Taipei remains a top destination for global business, visiting friends and family and leisure travel, and together with STARLUX Airlines, we're partnering to provide new travel options," said Anmol Bhargava, American's senior vice president of alliances. "This collaboration strengthens our global network and unlocks new competitive itineraries." STARLUX CEO Glenn Chai called the codeshare an important milestone, describing American as an ideal partner whose North American network complements what STARLUX has built across Asia.

More could follow. STARLUX plans to add its Phoenix-Taipei service to the codeshare once regulatory approvals are secured, and the carriers left the door open to more loyalty benefits over time. The four West Coast routes go live September 30. STARLUX published the announcement at latestnews.starlux-airlines.com, and American's notice was covered by Loyalty Lobby.