In May, Seattle-based Alaska Airlines announced a loyalty partnership with EL Al Israel Airlines that would allow travelers on both carriers to earn miles when flying on the partner airline. Now, Alaska is doubling-down on at least part of that relationship by offering a double mile promotion between San Francisco International and Tel Aviv airports.

Starting on flights departing on October 15th, Alaska Airlines loyalty members crediting miles to their Mileage Plans account will be able to earn double award miles when flying between San Francisco and Tel Aviv. This means that instead of the 14,800 miles typically earned on an economy-cabin round trip flight between the two major cities, a passenger will earn just under 30,000 - enough for an additional domestic round trip booked within the Alaska Airlines network.

Alaska's new promotion comes as part of a creative strategy that the carrier has always employed for its loyalty partnerships. Rather than relying on the merits and simplicity of a traditional loyalty alliance like Oneworld, Skyteam or Star, Alaska regularly builds one-off relationships with specific carriers that suit its needs. Carriers like Emirates, Singapore, British Airways, Aer Lingus and Condor, for example, all have mileage or codeshare relationships with Alaska and yet contribute to different mainline alliances.

El Al, too, has long forged its own path in the loyalty industry, choosing to codeshare and partner with different carriers rather than joining a formal alliance.

The promotion also comes at a time in which Alaska's relationship between some of its legacy partners is in transition. According to the Anchorage Daily News, Alaska and American are ending many parts of their loyalty partnership next year as the carriers transition to relying on their own networks rather than those of their partners (both American and Alaska have expanded dramatically in the last half-dozen years and no longer need as many partner flights).

Considering the value that both Alaska and El Al put into specific airline partnerships, it may make sense for the carriers to double down on the new arrangement and offer an incentive to new travelers. And for the time being, passengers between San Francisco and Tel Aviv will reap some healthy profits.