Alaska Airlines an Odd Choice for IcelandAir Codeshair

When I boarded an IcelandAir flight to Reykjavik in June, my biggest regret was watching a nice chunk of frequent flier miles go flying out the window.
At the time, IcelandAir hadn't teamed up for codeshare agreements or participation in an airline alliance. That's changing somewhat: Passengers of Alaska Airlines and its subsidiary, Horizon, will soon be able rack up points and redeem points on IcelandAir flights. The agreement is scheduled to begin in the fall.

This makes some sense since Alaska Airlines serves Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, and IcelandAir offers service from SEA-TAC to Reykjavik. It also seems like it will allow at least some U.S. travelers headed to Iceland to book all their flights directly from the IcelandAir Web site.

But there are a few big "Howevers" in the equation:

1. The codeshare only applies to "select" routes.
2. Why Alaska and Horizon?

Alaska Airlines is a decent airline - but there are other airlines that could have connected IcelandAir to U.S. travelers far more effectively. U.S. Airways has a strong domestic presence nationwide, and is improving its service and on-time performance. Even Southwest Airlines and its bare-bones approach would've connected IcelandAir more effectively than Alaska Airlines.

It's a head-scratcher and certainly little incentive for tourists outside a few of Alaska Airlines' West Coast routes to ponder a trip to Iceland. That's unfortunate, because it's an amazing country for everyone from urban fashionistas to photographers to hardcore, multi-day backpackers. High prices are the main culprit for keeping travelers away, along with a lack of exposure. The upcoming codeshare agreement doesn't do much to help either drawback.

Whatever the logic, that leaves many travelers coming away empty-handed in the loyalty point department. It's annoying to fly 7 hours and not have something to apply to the next trip. Even if frequent flyer miles aren't a pressing concern for travelers, coming up with a goose egg is a factor on some level.

IcelandAir has missed a chance to connect and endear itself to potential visitors. That's too bad considering the quality of its fleet and inflight service - not to mention its signature destination.