Which alliance or Individual Program are you delightful be part of to join in:

Star Alliance
One World
Sky Team

Any other Individual Airlines Loyalty Program

I'm on Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer programme and its very user-friendly.

That makes it part of Star Alliance.

Oneworld has lots of good international airlines. British Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Japan Airlines all have good service and a huge network. They also charge less for a free reward ticket compared to Star Alliance. I can fly transpacific with them for only 60,000 miles compared to 75,000 for Star.

OneWorld, the name says it all! :)

Both One world and Star Alliance, so maybe Star Alliance- more airlines.

star alliance!they have successful and proper international airlines!!

I dont know what is supposed to a "proper" airline, but since I am relatively free, here is a listing of the various airlines in each of the alliances:

Star Alliance - The airline network for Earth

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New Members in 2005:
• Blue1
• South African Airways
• TAP Air Portugal

oneworld - revolves around you

http://210.193.130.21/owimages/logos_singleline/ei.png?ftr=15&wid=96&cvt=gif,palettetype=adaptive,significantbits=8

http://210.193.130.21/owimages/logos_singleline/aar.png?ftr=15&wid=124&cvt=gif,palettetype=adaptive,significantbits=8

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http://210.193.130.21/owimages/logos_singleline/ib.png?ftr=15&wid=77&cvt=gif,palettetype=adaptive,significantbits=8

http://210.193.130.21/owimages/logos_singleline/la.png?ftr=5&wid=74&cvt=gif,palettetype=adaptive,significantbits=8

http://210.193.130.21/owimages/logos_singleline/qf.png?ftr=15&wid=100&cvt=gif,palettetype=adaptive,significantbits=8

SkyTeam - Caring more about you

http://www.skyteam.com/EN/img/logo_mexiq.gif

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New Members on September 13, 2004:
• Continental Airlines
• KLM
• Northwest Airlines

New Member in 2005:
• Aeroflot

Possible/future members:
• Kenya Airways
• Malaysia Airlines
• Malév Hungarian Airlines (associate)
• Tarom

I didnt find new member updates for oneworld thou...anyone with added info can mention it here.

I'm a member of Cathay Pacific's Marco Polo Club and Asia miles, so I am a Oneworld member.

I think future members of oneworld could be either China Eastern or China Southern I heard StarAlliance and Oneworld are both trying to lure those carriers to join. So is JAL which has no affiliation with any alliances yet.

Skyteam will be bigger than Oneworld.

Skyteam will be bigger than Oneworld.


Unfortunately yes. Oneworld and Staralliance started out at the same time but for some reason Oneworld is kinda slow in gaining members.

http://www.asiamiles.com/cx/internet/asiamiles/images/eng/logo_asiamiles_sm.gif


Apparently Asia Miles more be progressively to marketing its business rathan than One World themselves


PARTNERS
Aer Lingus
Alaska Airlines
American Airlines
British Airways
Cathay Pacific
China Eastern
Dragonair
Finnair
Gulf Air
IBERIA
Japan Airlines /Japan Asia Airways
LAN
Quantas
Royal Brunei
South Africa Airways
Swiss International Airlines
Vietnam Airlines

Unfortunately yes. Oneworld and Staralliance started out at the same time but for some reason Oneworld is kinda slow in gaining members.
Oneworld needs more members dammit.

http://www.oneworld.com/images/level3/gr_ow_logo_sm.gif
- 1900 aircraft
- 575 destinations in 135 countries
- 8000 flights a day
- data from June 2004 press release

http://www.staralliance.com/star_alliance/press_room/Images/HorNav_Button/star.gif
- 2477 aircraft
- 755 airports in 132 countries
- 14,048 daily departures
- data from May 2004

http://www.skyteam.com/EN/img/logo_sky.gif
- 1169 aircraft + 566 in related airlines
- 500 destinations in 110 countries
- 7865 daily departures
- data from summer 2003

I suppose Oneworld goes to 2 more countries than Star Alliance.

I suppose Oneworld goes to 2 more countries than Star Alliance.
Yeah, but with 180 cities/airports less then Star Alliance?

Most prob this is because You have two major American airlines in Star Alliance compared to one in oneworld, giving a high number of destinations all in one country.

American Airlines has heaps of US destinations and its regional subsideries like American Eagle too.

Star Alliance aircraft

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid122/pdbcac2ec69cd851913ca67677af2ac14/f834ab97.jpg

SIA's version with the tail still in airline colours...said to be an exception?

Pictures by heirloom:

http://img16.photobucket.com/albums/v47/sybarite/airport/IMGP5699.jpg

http://img16.photobucket.com/albums/v47/sybarite/airport/IMGP5701.jpg

http://img16.photobucket.com/albums/v47/sybarite/airport/IMGP5702.jpg

^one world was in negotiations with Swiss, but Swiss backed out and is considering joining with Star Alliance, selling a stake to Lufthansa.

one world also lost a founding member in Canadian Airlines after Air Canada purchased it.

Star Alliance also has lost two members in Ansett Australia, which bankrupted itself, and Mexicana Airlines, which isn't currently in an airline alliance for some reason.

I am a member of Delta SkyMiles, Northwest WorldPerks, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, Air Canada Air Miles, United Airlines MileagePlus, US Airways Dividend Miles, American Airlines Rewaards.

Oneworld does not have an international branding scheme. Rather, each member keeps its liveries but codeshares extensively with each other. British Airways (tails) and Cathay Pacific (body) in particular have lots of special liveries on their planes :

British Airways has a lot of interesting tails but the airplane body is quite standardized :
http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/afp/20040628/capt.sge.iol11.280604143126.photo00.default-300x300.jpg

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20040725/capt.mti10307251702.hungary_forced_landing_mti103.jpg

Cathay Pacific has several planes that are completely painted with special liveries, including one featuring the entire HK skyline by brush :
http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/brandhk/awc.jpg

American Airlines
http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20040721/capt.ny83107211944.earns_airlines_ny831.jpg

----doublepost

@huai wei
*cough cough* i dont mind if you dont acknowledge, but i do if you acknowledge wrongly

member of united airlines mileage and star alliance.

not active member of krisflyer because they're so stingy with their miles

@huai wei
*cough cough* i dont mind if you dont acknowledge, but i do if you acknowledge wrongly
Huh you refering to what? The pictures? Ops...I go change now! Paiseh! :D

Frequent Flyer programmes in Eastern Europe suck compared with Asia.

http://www.asiamiles.com/cx/internet/asiamiles/images/cma/AMPartners/zuji_logo_eng.jpghttp://www.asiamiles.com/cx/internet/asiamiles/images/eng/logo_asiamiles_sm.gif

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More ways to earn Asia Miles through online travel bookings with ZUJI

ZUJI's back -- with even more fabulous destinations, more great getaways, and of course -- more ways to earn Asia Miles every time you purchase travel online through Asia Pacific's leading online travel portal, between 3 August 2004 and 31 January 2005. Here's how...


Program Detail (http://www.asiamiles.com/am/1%2C%2C89235_111562_eng%2C00.html)

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I certainly don't think this alliance is for the goodness of passengers. We, passengers, don't get a lot back despite what the alliances are saying. You can't even get 1 single ticket with good price if you are trying to fly on different airlines in 1 alliance. I think it is more marketing gimmick than real delivery.....My experience with any alliance so far is bad except for the Northwest / KLM alliance....but that's being dissolved into Skyteam as well.

More of convenience and also being neglect form autonomy to chosen under to the monopoly of marketing stategies

Although there are still of few individual carriers who is running for his own program
but soon and later all of them will come to dismissed from the market rule apparenty :|

If you don't eager for any privilege render from them the solo mileage programs is one of the alternative way for the mostly frequency flyer to attend at definitely :)

actually i do find there are minor benefits. i usually fly singapore airlines, if possible, but their mileage program sucks. the frequent flyer points are cancelled out every two or three years or something - it's difficult to accumulate enough for a free ticket. the united airlines mileage program however has no expiry date for its miles. with star alliance i can fly singapaore airlines and get united airlines miles, which i can in turn use to redeem singapore airlines flights :D

http://www.tw.united.com/home/img/ual_head.jpg

Mileage Plus

Alway is the BEST program among for all membership indeed
That why thay are owning to #1 not even in Asia, also global recognition :)

I am having to 5 membership but only be activated for 2 :cheers:

CX One world , The Club
UA Star Alliance , Mileage Plus
AC Star Alliance , Aeroplan
CI Dynasty Flyer
BR Evergreen Club

On that front, I agree with you Heirloom..... I truly enjoy my PPS and how I could get miles on any Star Alliance airlines. However, Qantas Frequent Flyer program or any Oneworld Frequent Flyer program is better since you can have your status credit no matter which airline you are flying as long as it belongs to Oneworld.

But The CLUB, privilage program of CX, belonging to One World and the mileage redemption is subject to Asia Miles's program to that all accumulated mileas wherein you are carrying to within the program date, only be valid for every 2 years and therefore will be subject to expiration if you are not in using before due date

Also the criteria for one world of individual membership tier is higher than any Star Alliance partner ?? :eek2:

To meet with increasing demand for busy summer travel, Star Alliance member carriers have added more than 750 flights to and from the Americas throughout the summer 2004 schedule.

Withthe recent addition of US Airways to Star Alliance, Jaan Albrecht, CEO of Star Alliance, noted that passengers now have expanded service from the East Coast of the United States and the Caribbean via US Airways hubs in Philadelphia, Charlotte and Pittsburgh. In addition, Albrecht said, "passengers can fly from any of 755 airports in 132 countries which Star Alliance member carriers serve as well as have access to 575 airport lounges worldwide".

Following are the additions to destinations served in the Americas, by Star Alliance airlines for summer 2004:

Air Canada http://www.staralliance.com/star/frame/menu_images/Newbuttons/29.gif

· With new double daily non-stop services between Montreal and three European gateways, Air Canada is doubling its services this summer to and from Canada's second largest city and Frankfurt, London and Paris.

· On August 1, 2004, Air Canada inaugurates the first ever non-stop service between Toronto and Hong Kong with A340-500 aircraft, the world's longest range airliner, featuring lie-flat seats and state-of-the-art entertainment amenities.

· Air Canada recently launched non-stop flights to Caracas, Venezuela; and Bogota, Columbia from Toronto, with convenient connections to and from Europe, becoming the only airline offering scheduled, non-stop service between Canada and these South American countries.

· Air Canada has increased non-stop services between Vancouver and the northeast United States with daily non-stop flights this summer to Boston, Washington Dulles and Chicago, in addition to its popular year-round daily New York's John F. Kennedy - Vancouver service.

United Airlines http://www.staralliance.com/star/frame/menu_images/Newbuttons/41.gif

· United Airlines has further expanded its extensive transcontinental service with the reinstatement of a daily flight connecting Sacramento, California's capital, with the nation's capital at Washington-Dulles International Airport. Additional growth in the transcontinental market has included the addition of a seventh daily flight between Los Angeles International Airport and New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, and a third daily flight between Oakland and Washington-Dulles.

· United further strengthened its service to the Hawaiian Islands by adding daily, non-stop Boeing 777 service between Chicago O'Hare International Airport and Honolulu. This complements United's existing service to Hawaii from its hubs in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Denver.

· United's international network has grown with the addition of daily non-stop flights between Chicago O'Hare and Osaka, Japan, between Washington-Dulles and Zurich, Switzerland, between San Francisco and Beijing, China, and between Chicago O'Hare and Bermuda as well as the addition of a second-daily Tokyo-Honolulu flight, operated in conjunction with Star Alliance partner ANA.

US Airways http://www.staralliance.com/star/frame/menu_images/Newbuttons/us.gif

· US Airways is expanding its reach in both domestic and international gateways this summer by adding 22 new routes and 31 new daily flights.

· The airline has resumed its daily summer flights to Bermuda from Boston, Charlotte, Washington, New York and Fort Lauderdale, and for the first time, US Airways will fly to Bermuda from Baltimore and Orlando. From Philadelphia, the carrier has started non-stop flights to Glasgow, Scotland, and has also resumed summer seasonal service to Dublin and Shannon, Ireland. The airline will also increase flights between Charlotte and both Portland, Maine and Salisbury, Maryland.

VARIG http://www.staralliance.com/star/frame/menu_images/Newbuttons/42.gif

· VARIG has resumed its non-stop flights between Miami to Rio de Janeiro, four times a week.

· VARIG has upgraded its daily B-777 New York John F. Kennedy to Sao Paulo flight to the larger 70 seater Business Class cabin and also replaced its daily B-767 Miami - Sao Paulo flight with the larger MD-11 aircraft.

Air New Zealand http://www.staralliance.com/star/frame/menu_images/Newbuttons/30.gif

· Air New Zealand has launched thrice weekly, non-stop flights between Auckland and San Francisco. San Francisco is the first new international destination for Air New Zealand since 1995. The carrier also flies into Los Angeles from Auckland and Christchurch.

bmi http://www.staralliance.com/star/frame/menu_images/Newbuttons/33.gif

· bmi added Toronto to its North American flight schedule from Manchester, England. bmi also flies to Chicago and Washington, D.C.

Lufthansa http://www.staralliance.com/star/frame/menu_images/Newbuttons/35.gif

· Since March 2004, Charlotte has been a new daily destination for Lufthansa from Munich.

· Lufthansa has also increased flights to major cities on the west coast of the United States, for example to Los Angeles, San Francisco and Portland, Oregon.

Singapore Airlines http://www.staralliance.com/star/frame/menu_images/Newbuttons/38.gif

· In February 2004, Singapore Airlines started a daily, non-stop service to Los Angeles from Singapore, increasing its frequency to Los Angeles to 21 times a week. It also operates daily one-stop services via Tokyo Narita and Taipei, respectively.

· In June, Singapore Airlines commenced a daily, non-stop service between Singapore and Newark Airport, increasing its frequency to New York to 14 times weekly. It also operates a daily service to New York John F. Kennedy via Frankfurt.


South African Airways and TAP Air Portugal are scheduled to join the alliance in 2005.

China Southern Airlines today signed an agreement for future membership to the airline alliance, SkyTeam.

The SkyTeam Alliance was founded in June 2000 by Aeroméxico, Air France, Delta Air Lines and Korean Air. In 2001, CSA Czech Airlines and Alitalia joined the alliance. Since then, the SkyTeam alliance has expanded customer service with flights to 121 countries with 517 destinations, offering more than 8,300 flights per day with annual passenger traffic of more than 218 Million passengers.

“This agreement signing event is an important step forward into the future for China Southern Airlines to adapt itself to the need of reforms and opening to the international community, as it will strengthen the airline’s international cooperation and global competitiveness,” said Mr. Yan Zhiqing, Chairman, China Southern Airlines. He added that, “after joining Sky Team, the all-new Baiyun International Airport will be the first hub airport in China for SkyTeam. This new hub base will - at the same time - bring about new opportunities and growth for China Southern Airlines.”

Before this agreement signing, SkyTeam members had already established close relationships with China Southern Airlines. “As early as 1997, China Southern Airlines inked the ever first code-share pact in the Chinese aviation industry with Delta Air Lines. Delta has placed its code on China Southern flights from Los Angeles to Guangzhou for years,” explained Mr. Lu Kun, Vice President, China Southern Airlines.

Mr. Li added that, “In January this year, China Southern and Air France jointly launched Guangzhou-Paris service under a code-share arrangement and in August we began code-sharing with Korean Air on each other’s Incheon – Shenyang routes. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, which is poised to join SkyTeam this year, also has an important relationship with China Southern in both passenger and cargo services from Amsterdam to Beijing and numerous cities throughout China.”

“As a strategic partner for the alliance, China Southern will help us provide greater access to the country and region for customers of all the SkyTeam carriers,” said Mr.Yang-Ho Cho, Chairman and CEO, Korean Air.

“With China Southern’s entrance, the SkyTeam alliance will offer passengers new access to China, greatly facilitating the member airlines’ flights arrangement. The airline alliance is just aimed at providing passengers with more choices and greater convenience,” added Mr. Jean-Cyril Spinetta, Chairman and CEO of Air France.

SIA's version with the tail still in airline colours...said to be an exception?


http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/p5bf3a55b118f3125ee64ca4bab736d4c/f734bab6.jpg

Yepa, really exceptional one for only SQ indeed :)

7 September 2004


oneworld, a global airline alliance, is offering air travellers the world over an enticing incentive to encourage them to sample more of its international network – a bonus of up to 15,000 frequent flyer miles or points that can be redeemed for flights across the grouping’s 575-destination map.

To participate, travellers must already be a member or enroll as a new member of any one of the eight oneworld airlines’ frequent flyer programmes – American Airlines’ AAdvantage, the British Airways Executive Club, Qantas Frequent Flyer, Cathay Pacific’s Marco Polo Club, Iberia Plus, LAN’s LANPASS, Finnair Plus or Aer Lingus’ Gold Circle Club.

Then fly on at least three oneworld airlines, including the one with which you have registered as a frequent flyer member, between 1 October and 30 November 2004, on eligible fares. These include a number of economy/coach class fares, besides those for travel in First, Business or British Airways’ World Traveller Plus.

There are minor differences in the way the promotion operates in some member airlines’ frequent flyer schemes. Some require participants to register for the bonus promotion first. The size of the bonus varies too between some member airlines, because of the different structures of their individual frequent flyer schemes. For instance, members of Iberia Plus will be eligible for a 1,200 point bonus.

oneworld Managing Partner John McCulloch said: “The bonus is just that – a bonus, in addition to the regular rewards earned for each of those flights. It’s a way of highlighting to customers new and old that if their travels take them beyond their regular airline’s schedules to other parts of oneworld’s unrivalled international map, they’ll receive the same high level of care, service, support and frequent flyer privileges from all other carriers in our group.”

NEW YORK, Sept. 13, 2004- Global travelers will have additional route and fare choices as SkyTeam today announced that Continental Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Northwest Airlines are now full members of one of the world's fastest growing airline alliances. The SkyTeam Governing Board also revealed that effective Sept. 15, passengers will be able to accrue and redeem frequent flyer miles interchangeably on any of the nine member airlines. With the addition of three new members, SkyTeam now serves 341 million passengers with 14,320 daily departures to 658 global destinations in more than 130 countries.

SkyTeam's Governing Board said, "The entry of Continental, KLM and Northwest into the alliance marks the single largest airline integration in aviation history and is an important milestone for global airline customers. When the alliance launched in 2000, we promised SkyTeam would alter the competitive landscape for airline alliances by focusing on the needs of our customers. Our growth over the past four years in terms of network reach, frequencies and destinations is a testament to our commitment to continually live up to that promise."
Growing the Network

The three new carriers add to SkyTeam's extensive network of hubs and destination cities, allowing member airlines to provide their passengers more travel options. Together, the three new members add ten additional hub locations and 141 new destinations to the alliance's roster, strengthening SkyTeam's reach in all key travel regions:

In Asia-Pacific, Northwest's hub at Tokyo's Narita airport and Continental's Guam hub will join Korean Air's Seoul-Incheon hub as SkyTeam's major hubs in the region, linking passengers to 11 new destinations in five countries. SkyTeam's Asia offerings now include Northwest's new service from Portland, Oregon to Tokyo-Narita and service from Detroit to Guangzhou, China, scheduled to begin in late October. In addition, Continental begins new service between Honolulu and Nagoya, Japan in December. Thanks to combined network and fares, Air France and KLM are able to offer unparalleled service between Europe and Asia.

- In Europe, with four European carriers, including Europe's first pan-European airline group, SkyTeam will now offer passengers more choice on transatlantic routes. With Air France, Alitalia, CSA Czech Airlines and KLM, SkyTeam has hubs and strong market positions in all European regions and a very extensive intra European network.

- In the Americas, with Aeromexico and Delta Air Lines, the addition of Continental and Northwest will further open up service to and from Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean, adding cities such as Quebec, Quito and Aguadilla (Puerto Rico) to SkyTeam's network. Continental's extensive transatlantic network serving 19 destinations will also provide SkyTeam customers with additional service options from its international gateways in Houston and Newark/New York. Northwest's Detroit and Minneapolis hubs provide additional travel options for European customers bound for Midwest cities.

- In Africa, KLM's strong network will allow alliance passengers to access key cities such as Cape Town (South Africa), Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), Kano (Nigeria) and Nairobi (Kenya).
Underscoring the Customer Focus

In addition to more travel options, SkyTeam member airlines will provide customers greater recognition in terms of frequent flyer mileage accrual and redemption possibilities, all with consistent, high quality service. Effective Sept. 15, 2004, passengers traveling with any of the nine member airlines can earn miles towards SkyTeam Elite status and redeem miles on any of the nine airline members. This means that customers can accrue valuable frequent flyer miles quicker than before.

On the ground, SkyTeam Elite Plus passengers have access to an additional 62 state-of-the-art airport lounges with amenities to make travel easier, bringing the total number of airport lounges to more than 390. For example, Northwest's WorldClubs at Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul and Tokyo and all of Continental's Presidents Club locations feature wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) access and computer battery charging ports. And Northwest's WorldClubs at Detroit and Tokyo have showers to provide a truly refreshing break for busy global travelers. In addition, passengers will continue to experience the existing SkyTeam customer benefits, including a single check-in for connecting flights and baggage.

Gordon Bethune, Chairman and CEO of Continental Airlines, said, "Around the world, today's air travelers demand reliability, flexibility and high-quality service. We know from our previous dealings with them that the SkyTeam members are world-beaters by all these measures, and we're proud to be part of a global alliance that shares our focus on the customer."

"SkyTeam is not only benefiting the passengers, but also the cargo customers", said Leo van Wijk, CEO and president of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. "SkyTeam Cargo, with Aeromexico, Air France, Alitalia, CSA, Delta, KLM and Korean, offers the largest global cargo network for its customers. SkyTeam Cargo operates a worldwide system of more than 500 destinations in 110 countries and provides a consistent standard of performance, quality and service."

"We look forward to providing our customers with even greater access to the world through SkyTeam," said Richard Anderson, CEO of Northwest Airlines. "In turn, Continental, KLM and Northwest will provide the consistent, quality service SkyTeam passengers have come to expect."
Alliances in a Changing Industry

SkyTeam carriers are able to provide their customers with additional services and benefits because of their alliance membership. At the same time, the member carriers also benefit from a business perspective by maximizing efficiencies and exploring synergies with partner carriers.

Speaking on behalf of the founding members, Jean-Cyril Spinetta, CEO of Air France and c hairman of Air France-KLM, said, "In an ever transforming industry, alliance membership is a necessity, allowing airlines to work together and navigate change. As illustrated today, SkyTeam continues to drive innovation in the industry as it welcomes two airlines from the US and incorporates Europe's leading airline group, Air France-KLM."

Each of the new members have long been recognized as among the top airlines in the world:

- Continental serves 265 airports in 47 countries with a fleet of 358 aircraft. With 41,000 employees, the carrier enplaned 52.2 million passengers in 2003.

- KLM serves over 130 airports in 65 countries with a fleet of 112 aircraft. The airline employs more than 29,600 people and carried 19 million passengers in IATA year 2003-2004.

- Northwest is the world's fifth largest airline with hubs in Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Memphis, Tokyo and Amsterdam. Northwest serves 222 cities. With a fleet of 458 aircraft, the airline employs some 39,000 people and carried 52.1 million passengers in 2003.

SkyTeam is the global airline alliance partnering Aeromexico, Air France, Alitalia, Continental Airlines, CSA Czech Airlines, Delta Air Lines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Korean Air and Northwest Airlines. Through one of the world's most extensive hub networks, SkyTeam offers its 341 million annual passengers a worldwide system of more than 14,000 daily flights covering all major destinations. Visit SkyTeam on the Web at www.skyteam.com

.http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid139/pcce93ca2327ace95f2a2aa908ca2e4ae/f7033470.jpg

With Cathay Pacific's revamped Online Booking service, you can earn 2,888 Asia Miles for your first online booking or redemption, plus a further 588 Bonus Asia Miles for each subsequent booking between 10 August and 30 November 2004.

http://www.asiamiles.com/cx/internet/asiamiles/images/eng/logo_asiamiles.gif

Star Alliance has launched the Circle Asia Fare, providing more choice and value for those travelling through North Asia*, Southeast Asia* and the Southwest Pacific*.

The fare, which is available for sale and travel as of November 1, can be used for a circle trip covering all three of the aforementioned geographic regions. The journey may commence from any destination served by a Star Alliance member carrier in these three regions, whereby the origin and final destination must be the same country. The fare is available at two mileage levels, either covering 15,000 or 18,000 miles, and is offered for travel in First, Business or Economy Class. The itinerary may cover up to 18 sectors and must include at least two stopovers, whereby only one stopover per city is permitted. Tickets issued on this fare are valid for a maximum of six months and require a minimum stay of three days.

As with any of the Star Alliance fare products, the Circle Asia Fare allows mileage accrual on any of the member carrier's frequent flyer programmes.

The Star Alliance network now offers a total of ten different fare products. In addition to the new Circle Asia Fare, Star Alliance member carriers offer a Round-the-World Fare, air passes for Asia, Brazil, Europe, Japan, North America and the South Pacific and the Circle Pacific Fare. Moreover, the Star Alliance network also offers a special discount product for convention organisers and delegates called Conventions Plus.

The Star Alliance network was established in 1997, members include Air Canada, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, bmi, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Spanair, Thai Airways International, United, US Airways and VARIG Brazilian Airlines. South African Airways and TAP Air Portugal are set to join in 2005. Overall, the member carriers offer more than 14,000 daily flights to some 772 destinations in 133 countries.

*Note - this fare covers the following countries:

Southeast Asia: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam

North Asia: China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, South West Pacific: Australia, New Zealand

Premium class customers travelling on the Star Alliance network during the month of November stand the chance of winning a holiday for two to discover the hidden treasures of Japan.

The Star Alliance Visit Japan Campaign Sweepstake initiative, which runs from November 1-30, will provide the opportunity for the lucky winners to enjoy Business Class flights and ten days accommodation at a selection of the 32 ANA Hotel locations in the Land of the Rising Sun.

The initiative is part of a two-year commitment by Visa International and the Star Alliance network to jointly leverage a broad range of promotions, international advertising, in-flight communication, frequent traveller programmes and cardholder communication to drive inbound tourism to Japan.

“The sweepstake promotion is yet another way to reward customers for their loyalty while promoting the myriad and marvellous sights and sounds of this beautiful country,” said Mark Davies, Director – Brand & Marketing Communications, Star Alliance.

To be eligible to win, passengers travelling First or Business Class on any Star Alliance member carrier international flight must correctly complete an entry form and submit it to a member of the cabin crew prior or lounge staff prior to midnight GMT on November 30. Forms will be distributed primarily on board and in some departure lounges (for Air New Zealand, Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines only) by participating carriers across the network. Aside from six grand prizes of a trip for two to Japan, 30 Delsey luggage sets can be won and all winners will receive a copy of “Japan”, a mini encyclopaedia of Japan produced by Kamakura Shunju-sha Co. Ltd..

Star Alliance member carriers Spanair, US Airways and VARIG are not participating in the contest.

Desven, hate to take exception to you view, but Star hardly can be called the alliance of succesful airlines. At last count, United, US Air, Air Canada are in Chapter 11 and Air Kiwi and SAS are clinging on by the teeth for survival!!
Star certainly has "lots" of member airlines but not much real quality (except SIA)

Star Alliance has launched its global interline e-ticket product. Following an extensive testing schedule, interline e-ticket is now being rolled out across the member carriers. Air Canada and Lufthansa was the first pair to launch in November. ANA and United are coming online this month, with Air Canada and Air New Zealand due in January.

All other e-ticket pairings will become live as part of the Star Allince global interline e-ticket roll out, which will be completed by the end of August 2005. At that point customers can travel across the entire Star Alliance Network using one single e-ticket.

From a technical standpoint, all the information contained on a paper ticket is stored in an electronic form in an airline's e-ticket database. The crucial part is exchanging this e-ticket information with other airline systems, through an agreed message format. Using the Star Alliance infrastructure, StarNet, one single standard has been developed for exchanging e-ticket information between the individual member carrier's systems. The advantage of this, versus individual bilateral links, is that new members or changes in the system can be integrated more easily and quickly.

With interline electronic ticketing, frequent fliers no longer have to worry about waiting for tickets to arrive by post, queuing to collect tickets at a counter, nor can tickets get lost. Furthermore traveling on e-tickets also speeds up check-in and boarding.

For the member carriers, electronic ticketing allows them to lower distribution costs. According to IATA, ticketing costs for a paper ticket average between seven and nine US dollars, whereas an electronic ticket only averages two US dollars.

Alliance also pooling resources to cut costs

NONDHANADA INTARAKOMALYASUT CHATRUDEE THEPARAT

Star Alliance, the world's largest airline group, yesterday warned that the service fees at the Suvarnabhumi international airport need to be competitive if Thailand is to position itself as the aviation hub in the region.

Chief executives of the 17-carrier alliance, which counts Thai Airways International (THAI) as a founding member, expressed the view during a two-day meeting in Chiang Mai over the weekend, echoing other international airlines that operate in and out of Bangkok.

Star Alliance CEO Jaan Albrecht told reporters that it was important for the Thai government to set competitive fees for the new international airport as it had competition from other airports in neighbouring centres such as Singapore, Hong Kong and Kuala Lampur.

CEOs of the 17 airlines yesterday met with Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra at Government House to discuss the progress of the Suvarnabhumi airport and related issues.

Mr Albrecht said the group had asked the government to put all of the Star Alliance airlines under a single terminal so they could work as closely together as possible. The government was also urged to operate all commercial airlines in a single airport.

The group, however, stopped short of discussing with the premier the airport fees and the official opening date of the Suvarnabhumi airport, scheduled for September 2005 but increasingly seen as likely to be delayed.

THAI president Kanok Abhiradee said airlines had to shoulder extra expenses such as security while governments subsidised the cost for other modes of transport.

"Whether the airport fees are expensive or cheap is subjective: the airport operator may say they are cheap while airlines hope to bring them down. But what the airlines want is a reasonable price for us," said Mr Kanok.

However, Mr Thaksin said the fees were already competitive, compared with other international airports in the region.

At the two-day meeting, Mr Kanok said THAI had succeeded in persuading other Star airline members to show a three-minute advertisement of Thailand under the theme "Happiness Thailand 2005" on at least half of the 2,400 aircraft operating under the group, giving the country exposure to about 100 million passengers next year.

The members also agreed to work closely on procurement of fuel and other products to increase bargaining power in a bid to save costs, he said.

Five months ago, the group set up a subsidiary to place joint purchase orders for fuels. Four purchasing offices have been opened at airports in San Francisco, Los Angeles, London and Paris, with plans to open more in major cities.

At the same time, the members agreed to jointly launch technology advancement to set standards and save costs, he said.

Mr Kanok said THAI also benefited from the meeting with the launch of the Star Alliance Thailand Pass, which gave special discounted domestic fares to overseas passengers visiting Thailand using THAI in conjunction with international travel to, from or via Thailand on any Star Alliance member carrier.

Published on December 14, 2004

Bosses of the 15 airlines in the Star Alliance met Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in Bangkok yesterday to discuss aviation cooperation for the network in the lead-up to the opening up of Suvarnabhumi International Airport.

Star Alliance also launched a global interline electronic ticket that will allow the passengers to travel across the network using a single e-ticket.

“Global interline electronic ticketing is a further example of how Star Alliance can help reduce complexity, while at the same time improve customer service and driving down costs for our member carriers,” Star Alliance CEO Jaan Albrecht told a press conference.

Albrecht and the 15 carriers’ top executives met Thaksin at Government House yesterday. The CEOs came for their annual meeting, held in Bangkok and Chiang Mai over the past two days. The alliance, formed in 1997, is one of the largest carrier networks.

Kanok Abhiradee, president of Thai Airways International Plc (THAI), which is one of the founding members, said the alliance wants to use Bangkok’s new airport to service more carriers not only for Star Alliance members, but for all operators.

“Prime Minister Thaksin will help us discuss any co-operation [needed] on

aviation,” he said.

The airlines have been discussing their cooperation plan between themselves, along with the Thai government’s open-sky policy and marketing promotions, plus cost-saving measures.

The alliance’s Chief Executive Board commented that the new airport, which is officially due to begin operating next year, should also promote faster growth for the aviation industry and tourism in light of Thailand’s target to receive 20 million visitors in next five years to boost foreign exchange earnings.

Albrecht said the group is looking to include more partners in Asia countries especially operators from China and India. The group’s latest members are South Africa and Air Portugal.

Kanok said all member airlines operating in Thailand would adjust their flight schedules for the new airport. Some of Star Alliance members have already started on this.

In regard to the recent global oil crisis, the alliance said it recently set a company to negotiate with oil producers. As a result, the group has made big operational savings.

Last month, Star Alliance started its electronic ticket service with e-tickets bookable on Air Canada and Lufthansa flights. The service will be rolled out for ANA and United flights later this month. By August 2005, customers will be able to travel on the entire Star Alliance network of 15 carriers serving 133 countries using a single e-ticket, Albrecht said.

To make the e-ticket system work, Star Alliance has had to develop a single standard to exchange e-ticket information among the member carriers. E-ticketing arguably simplifies and speeds up the ticketing process for customers and reduces costs for airlines. It is estimated that costs for a paper ticket average US$7-9 (Bt280 to Bt360) while an e-ticket averages $2 (Bt80).

The alliance yesterday also launched Thailand Air Pass for travellers into Asian nations. It is a special discounted domestic fare for overseas passengers visiting Thailand using THAI’s domestic economy class in conjunction with international travel from or via Thailand. The price is $169 for the first three coupons and US$59 for each additional coupon.

The Star Alliance currently includes Air Canada, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, bmi, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Spanair, Thai Airways International, United, US Airways and Varig Brazilian Airlines.

The alliance’s combined revenues were $79.1 billion last year, with 353.2 million passengers on a combined fleet of 2,418 aircraft.

Suchat Sritama

The Nation, DPA

December 14, 2004

South African Airways (SAA) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to join the Star Alliance to improve its international network and benefit from the 15 member partnership's buying power, it said on Tuesday.

State-owned SAA said in a statement that the MOU was signed by its Chief Executive Khaya Ngqula in Bangkok on Monday.

SAA will benefit from the alliance's cross-marketing, code sharing agreements and reduced add-on fees for flights using the partners' networks.

"We fully commit to the integration into the Star Alliance within a year to ensure that our customers derive maximum benefits," Ngqula said.

"There is no question that the revenue model offered by Star Alliance is what SAA needs for a successful turnaround."

SAA reported a ZAR132 million rand (USD$23 million) profit before tax in the six months to the end of September, after a ZAR2.4 billion (USD$418.4 million) loss in the same period last year. It posted a pre-tax loss of 8.7 billion (USD$1.52 billion) in the 2003-2004 fiscal year.

Star Alliance is the biggest of the global airline groupings by market share, distance flown and number of passengers. Its members include Lufthansa, United Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Air Canada and SAS.

(Reuters)

LAN Airlines, the national carrier of Chile, is expanding its services between Australia and South America, with a fourth weekly service from Sydney to Santiago starting this month and a fifth weekly flight from July 2005.

The airline, a member of the oneworld global alliance, has just added a Saturday flight to its existing schedule of Monday, Wednesday and Friday - and from 5 July next year, there will also be a Tuesday flight.

The new services, operated with 259-seat Airbus A340-300 aircraft, have been introduced to meet soaring demand for travel to South America, one of the world's fastest growing destinations for both tourism and business. All of the aircraft have personal video screens in every seat in each of their three classes.

Flight LA 800 departs Sydney each Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 10.30am, flying via Auckland and arriving in Santiago at 12.45pm the same day - a journey time of 16.5 hours. The new Tuesday flight will also follow this schedule, and connections are available to destinations throughout South America, and to Havana, Cuba.

The return service, flight LA801, departs Santiago at 11.25 pm every Saturday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, arriving in Sydney, via Auckland, at 7.25 am on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays - a total flight time of 18 hours. And from July there will also be a Sunday evening departure.

British Airways has expanded its oneworld alliance with American Airlines to offer GCC customers a codeshare route to Calgary, the oil capital of Canada. Other destinations included in the expanded codeshare agreement include Ottawa and Wichita from Chicago whilst San Juan is accessible from Miami.

Message from The CLUB- CX

28 December 2004


Sunday's devastating earthquake and tsunamis in South East Asia have already claimed thousands of lives and left millions injured and homeless. Now there is great concern that the death and injury toll could be eclipsed by resulting disease and pestilence if relief and rehabilitation work is not carried out quickly.

Your donation makes an immediate difference

Wherever you are in the world, you can help bring relief to this humanitarian disaster by donating your Asia Miles™ to our partner charity organisations. Your donation will make a practical difference as miles can be redeemed for flights to carry much needed aid workers to the affected areas, and for other future charity work.

Asia Miles will match your donation on a mile-to-mile basis

By working together we can increase our effectiveness. Here's how - donate your miles right now or before 7 January 2005 and Asia Miles will match your donation on a mile-to-mile basis. So, if you choose to donate 10,000 Asia Miles, we will donate an additional 10,000 miles - making a total donation of 20,000 Asia Miles.

Our charity partners are Oxfam Hong Kong, UNICEF, ORBIS and C.A.R.E. Housing Society and you can discover more about them by visiting our Introducing Asia Miles for Charity webpage. Oxfam is one of the key charity organisations and as you read this email, their helpers are already assisting victims in Sri Lanka, one of the worst hit countries.

Donate now - it's easy and only takes a few moments

The minimum donation to each charity is 10,000 Asia Miles, with increments of 5,000 Asia Miles. Please log in to donate online now -- together we can make a difference!

Yours sincerely

Kester Yim
Manager, The Marco Polo Club

© Cathay Pacific Loyalty Programmes Ltd.



http://www.asiamiles.com/cx/internet/asiamiles/images/eng/logo_asiamiles_sm.gif
Asia Miles for Charity (http://www.asiamiles.com/am/1%2C%2C83127_83363_eng_%2C00.html?WAemail=CPL_DBM&WAcampid=CX30ME0412&uid=1001008672&bid=CPLPDBM041228&tier=M&mt=ENEWS&lid=EN&cid=CX30ME0412)

The CLUB member (https://www.cathaypacific.com/intl/ff/theclub/1,5323,,00.html?WAtxn=611&memID=&mpoNextURL=https://www.cathaypacific.com/intl/ff/theclub/members/forms/donation/1,,,00.html?mlcChecked=Y&mlcChecked=Y&status=)

https://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/internet/cxinternet/image/en/header/topheader_frequentflyer.jpg

I like more skyteam..just because of its airline presense here in Colombia and flexibility of destinations... for example CO or DL are perfect and efficient for US and North America, even to their worldwide destinations, AF to the whole world, especially Europe, Asia and Africa and CM for Latin America in their efficient hub in Panamá

In Colombia:
Star Alliance
AC-BOG from YYZ
RG-BOG from GIG,GRU,MAO

One World
LA-BOG from LIM, UIO, MIA and SCL
AA-BOG,CLO,MDE from MIA
BA-BOG from LHR*
IB-BOG from MAD

Skyteam
AF-BOG from CDG
DL-BOG from ATL
CO-BOG from IAH and EWR
CM-BOG, CLO, MDE, CTG, BAQ from PTY**

*BA's leaving Colombia and Venezuela from the 6th Feb. 2005 :cry:
**CM is an associate airline of CO

Key:
Airlines:
AC=Air Canada
RG=Varig
LA= LAN
AA=American Airlines
BA=British Airways
IB=Iberia
AF=Air France
DL=Delta Airlines
CO=Continental Airlines
CM=Copa Airlines
Airports:
BOG=Bogotá Eldorado
BAQ= Barranquilla Ernesto Cortizzos
CTG= Cartagena Rafael Nuñez
CLO=Cali Alfonso Bonilla Aragón
MDE= Rionegro(Medellin)Jose Maria Cordova
YYZ= Toronto Pearson
GIG= Rio Galeao
GRU= Sao Paulo Garulhos
MAO= Manaus
SCL= Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez
LIM= Lima Jorge Chavez
UIO= Quito
MAD= Madrid Barajas
LHR= London Heathrow
EWR= Newark Liberty
IAH= Houston Bush
ATL= Atlanta Hartsfield
MIA= Miami Intl.
PTY= Panamá Tocumen

January 5, 2005

Delta Air Lines said on Wednesday it is cutting its airfares by as much as 50 percent for travel in the continental United States.

Delta -- plagued by high costs, weak revenue, high fuel prices and rising competition from discount carriers -- had been expected to make the announcement since early this week.

The airline, which is restructuring in a bid to avoid filing for bankruptcy, said that no one-way economy fare would be higher than USD$499 and no one-way first class fare would be higher than USD$599. In addition, it is eliminating a restrictive rule that requires a Saturday night stay.

The company also said the new fare program -- dubbed SimpliFares -- would reduce fees for changing tickets by half, to USD$50 from USD$100.

In addition, the company said it would unveil other changes, including improving its web site and "revising" the food it serves aboard its flights.

In August, Delta rolled out a program in Cincinnati to test the discounted fares and the elimination of the Saturday night stay requirement.

Delta averted a bankruptcy filing in October when its pilots agreed to accept lower-cost employment terms. Three major airlines -- including United Airlines -- are currently under bankruptcy protection.

There has been speculation that other carriers would be forced to match Delta's changes, hurting industry revenue this year.

Northwest Airlines warned on Tuesday that such changes, if widely adopted, would immediately, adversely and significantly affect industry revenue.

(Reuters)http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid139/pcce93ca2327ace95f2a2aa908ca2e4ae/f7033470.jpg

KLM and Air France mergered...isn't it? And I think Northwest has very tight cooperation with KLM....so...are they all going to join the same alliance?

KLM and Air France mergered...isn't it?

Yes, they are made a deal ;)


January 7, 2005

Air France KLM reported December passenger numbers up 6.9 percent on Friday compared with the same month in 2003 as its passenger load factor rose 1.0 percentage point to 77.7 percent.

The recently merged group carried almost 5.2 million passengers in December, up 4 percent on a comparable basis, the company said in a statement.

Cargo traffic rose 13.6 percent as the load factor gained 2.3 percentage points to 71.9 percent.

Air France and KLM merged to create the world's largest airline by sales last year, but continue to run separate networks.

The group said KLM's passenger traffic rose 13.4 percent in December and the load factor gained 1.7 percentage points to 79.4 percent.

Air France passenger traffic rose 3.6 percent alongside a 0.6 point rise in the load factor to 76.8 percent.

The traffic figures build on signs of a tentative recovery in the airline industry following a deep recession but do not reflect any eventual impact from the Asian tsunami disaster on December 26.

Air France KLM said group Asia traffic rose 14.3 percent in December but capacity in the region dipped, shaving 1.5 percentage points off the load factor to 80.3 percent.

The group's American routes saw the load factor rise 1.3 percentage points to 83.4 percent.

(Reuters)

DOUBLE ASIA MILES WITH ROYAL BRUNEI AIRLINES FROM LONDON - 1 February to 28 February 2005

Royal Brunei Airlines (BI) is offering a special month long promotion to Asia Miles members.

Earn Double Asia Miles when you fly on eligible Business and Economy class to any eligible routes from London Heathrow on eligible subclasses from 1 February 2005 to 28 February 2005.

For more information and to book your flights contact Royal Brunei Airlines at (44) 20 7584 6660 or email to lonrba@rba.com.bn now!


http://www.bruneiair.com/images/rba_logo.gif http://www.asiamiles.com/cx/internet/asiamiles/images/eng/logo_asiamiles.gif

Qatar Airways and All Nippon Airways (ANA) have implemented a partnership linking their respective loyalty schemes.

Under the agreement, members of Qatar Airways’ Privilege Club and ANA Mileage Club can accrue and redeem mileage on each other’s global networks.

The partnership comes ahead of Qatar Airways’ first foray into the Japanese market when it launches non-stop scheduled flights between Doha, capital of the State of Qatar, and Osaka on March 31, 2005.

The Osaka service will be Qatar Airways’ first route launch of the summer 2005 season and its 11th destination in the Far East.

Qatar Airways’ Privilege Club members travelling on domestic or international ANA services will be able to accrue Qmiles for later redemption on flights on the Qatar Airways network and partner airlines.

All Privilege Club members – whether they hold Gold, Silver or Burgundy status – have the opportunity to secure cabin upgrades on Qatar Airways flights with their accrued Qmiles.

ANA Mileage Club members travelling to Qatar and beyond on business or leisure will be able to experience Qatar Airways’ award-winning Five Star service as recognised by Skytrax, the independent aviation industry monitoring agency.

ANA is one of the top 10 passenger airlines in the world with an extensive domestic network covering the whole of Japan, and 22 overseas destinations in Europe, North America, Asia and the Pacific.

The tie-up marks the start of an alliance between Qatar Airways and ANA, which is set to extend to code-share services in the near future.

Qatar Airways’ manager of Privilege Club, Gregory Epps said, “ANA has an extensive network of flights within Japan and internationally serving destinations from Tokyo and Osaka.”

“This partnership gives our Privilege Club members more opportunities to earn Qmiles and redeem them on our flights and on our partner airlines, Lufthansa, Virgin Atlantic, MEA and now, ANA.”

Qatar Airways’ new Osaka route will be operated with the modern Airbus A330-200 in a three-class configuration. The First Class cabin has 12 seats that convert to 180-degree flat beds, Business Class offers 18 seats that recline 160 degrees, while Economy features 208 seats.

Qatar Airways Flight QR820 from Doha International leaves every Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 2235, arriving at Osaka Kansai Airport at 1430 local time the following day. Flight QR821 will leave Osaka Kansai Airport every Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 2345, arriving in Doha at 0530 the following morning.

http://www.ana.co.jp/eng/image/h_brand_ana.gif http://www.qatarairways.com/images/QatarLogo.gif

January 19, 2005

By Keith Reed Boston Globe

NEW YORK — Frequent-flier miles are easier to come by as airlines sell more miles to partners like credit card companies and hotels, but they're harder than ever to redeem.

Behind-the-scenes deals with corporate partners are helping cash-strapped airlines rake in millions of dollars at a time when high fuel costs and lower fares are killing their bottom lines. At the same time, these deals give companies that buy miles a sought-after incentive to offer their customers.

But frequent-flier club members shouldn't think all the freebie miles they've racked up will add up to free trips. Even with more miles floating around, airlines are cutting flights and flying more crowded planes, limiting the seats available to frequent fliers.

"It's not that there's fewer seats out there, it's that the rest of the plane is full so there's no more to give away," said Randy Peterson, president of InsideFlyer.com, a Colorado Springs website that tracks frequent-flier programs. "The other seats are taken up by paying customers."

The difficulty some passengers have redeeming miles for flights that are convenient to them is leading many to use miles for nontravel-related rewards such as magazine subscriptions, or transferring them to hotel points programs when rules allow. Members of American Airlines' and US Airways' frequent-flier clubs received letters last month inviting them to spend unused miles on subscriptions; 500 miles got them 12 issues of Latina magazine, while 5,600 got 52 issues of Variety.

"One of the big complaints from fliers right now is that they've accrued all these miles and they're unavailable to get the seats," said Mark R. Cestari, vice president of marketing at SmarterTravel.com, a Boston-based website that tracks travel trends.

"There's kind of a movement among frequent fliers that the value of miles have been oversold, so now they're trying to use them to get satisfaction. That partially grows out of the fact that the airlines are making more seats available in the lower fares, so they're making fewer seats available for frequent-flier miles," Cestari said.

Airlines won't disclose how much they made last year selling miles to other companies until they file their annual reports with the US Securities and Exchange Commission in March. Some declined to discuss details of their frequent-flier programs.

Still, there is evidence that the practice is extremely lucrative for airlines.

"The sale of miles is growing," said Mark Bergsrud, vice president of marketing programs and distribution at Continental Airlines. "It's good business whether the oil price is low or high and good business before fares started to decline."

It may be particularly good now."

Continental reported $24 million from sales of its OnePass frequent-flier miles to other companies in the fourth quarter of 2003, but Bergsrud said the actual amount was probably larger because airlines account for those sales over several quarters.

Delta Air Lines landed $500 million in cash from American Express Travel Related Services Co. in October, when American Express paid for three years of points in Delta's SkyMiles frequent-flier program in advance. American Express offers a Delta SkyMiles credit card, which allows members to accrue miles as they make purchases with the card. Delta spokeswoman Tanya Dunne said she could not discuss the deal before the airline files financial reports with the SEC.

Selling miles to companies that give them away is good for the airlines not just for the cash they produce, but because many of those miles go unused anyway. United passengers got about 2 million free frequent-flier tickets in 2003, but Mileage Plus members still had about 9.7 million trips worth of miles sitting unused in the same year, according to documents filed with the SEC..

Members of US Airways' Dividend Miles program took 1.2 million awards trips in 2003, down 7.7 percent from the previous year, according to company filings. But the airline's frequent fliers were still hoarding miles worth 6.2 million trips.

Even if passengers used more miles for trips, it would be unlikely to hurt the airlines because it doesn't cost that much to add passengers to a flight that already has hundreds of paying customers on it.

If there's a seat available on a flight that hasn't been paid for already, "then we're not losing money," said Ned Raynolds, a spokesman for American Airlines.

About half the miles earned in American's AAdvantage frequent-flier program come from products or services other than air travel, said the company. American frequent fliers can earn miles through 1,500 different companies by buying things like Kellogg's cereal, flowers from 1800flowers.com, long-distance services from AT&T, or using a special Citibank credit card.

Still, the airlines are careful about how many frequent-flier seats are available on each flight. On most airlines, there are two tiers of frequent-flier free tickets. One tier will cost between 20,000 and 25,000 miles, but the tickets are usable only on a limited number of designated seats available on a flight. Once seats in that fare class are sold out, no more award tickets are available.

If passengers are willing to redeem between 40,000 and 50,000 miles, though, they can typically get any available seat on a plane.

Travelers say they have noticed that they have to burn more miles to use tickets.

For a New Year's Eve trip to Albuquerque, Eric Soskin of Cambridge said he tried to redeem 20,000 miles — the normal amount to get a standard ticket on Northwest Airlines — to no avail. Northwest's flights were full, so Soskin, who flies about 60,000 miles annually on the airline, wound up burning 37,500 miles from his account.

"I actually think it's become increasingly easy to find a ticket, but often at a cost of spending more miles," he said.

Scott Henderson of Cambridge said he had no choice but to use 40,000 US Airways miles to get to Orlando last Thanksgiving. He tried to use fewer miles to get a seat in coach, but all those seats were gone, he said.

"To get the dates I wanted to travel, I basically had to fly first class," and burn the extra miles, he said.

Keith Reed can be reached at reed(at)globe.com.

21 January 2005


British Airways is launching a special offer between Hong Kong and London in World Traveller Plus, the airline’s premier economy cabin, for just HK$8,888 return plus double Asia Miles.

Bookings can be made until February 28, 2005, and tickets are valid for travel until December 31, 2005.

World Traveller Plus features wider seats and seven extra inches of legroom than those in the economy cabin, along with adjustable headrest, footrest and lumbar support, and also a complete choice of in-flight programmes including 18 entertainment and 10 game channels.

Executives can make the most of their time on board with the availability of in-seat lap top power and the advantage of an entirely separate cabin, for an affordable price.

This exclusive offer to London will also earn travellers double Asia Miles. Tickets must be issued between January 21 and February 28, 2005 and passengers should complete travel by December 31, 2005. Tickets are valid for 60 days. Certain terms and conditions apply.

http://www.britishairways.com/cms/global/images/logos/logo.gifhttp://www.asiamiles.com/cx/internet/asiamiles/images/eng/logo_asiamiles.gif

21 January 2005


Thai Airways International is to show a documentary about Thailand’s major tourist attractions, “Happiness Thailand”, on the inflight entertainment programme of THAI and also 15 Star Alliance member carriers from 24 January 2005 onwards, as part of its ongoing Thailand tourism industry recovery plan.

The 2-minute “Happiness Thailand” documentary, produced by THAI, introduces selective preferences for travel in Thailand as follows:

* Happiness with Nature
* Happiness in Relaxation
* Happiness with Thai Taste
* Happiness in Paradise
* Happiness with Friendly Welcome

The documentary will be shown on international flights of THAI and 15 Star Alliance member carriers (at a total of 17 airlines) namely Air Canada, Air New Zealand, All Nippon Airways, Asiana Airlines, Austrian Airlines Group (Lauda Air and Tyrolean Airwyas), BMI, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Spanair, Thai Airways International, United Airlines, VARIG Brazilian Airlines and US Airways.

http://www.staralliance.com/star/frame/menu_images/SA_logo.gif http://www.thaiair.com/images/includes/s.gif

i am on SAS ,Scandinavian Airlines System ,Eurobonus-program:)


http://tinypic.com/1ftno4

tada!:);)

Australian Regulator Confirms Qantas/BA Alliance
February 8, 2005

Australia's antitrust regulator said it would allow an alliance between Qantas and British Airways on the 'Kangaroo Route' between Sydney and London to continue for another five years.

Between them, Qantas and BA carry 40 percent of passengers flying between Australia and Europe and 30 percent of passengers traveling from Australia to Southeast Asia.

The alliance between the two airlines has been in place since 1995 and is set to continue despite BA selling its 18.25 percent stake in Qantas last September.

Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic and its discount sister airline Virgin Blue had sent submissions to the regulator claiming the way Qantas and BA cooperated on the routes was anti-competitive.

A Virgin spokeswoman said the group had not yet decided whether to appeal the decision.

"Virgin Atlantic is very disappointed with this decision and we cannot understand why the ACCC would have reached this decision," the spokeswoman said.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) ruling confirms its draft decision last August that the Joint Services Agreement (JSA), under which Qantas and BA coordinate their operations, could continue.

"It is clear from submissions made to the ACCC that there has been strong price competition on the kangaroo route, particularly for leisure travellers, over recent years, and the ACCC is satisfied that this price competition will continue," it said.

The ACCC said that while the alliance did lessen competition for business travellers on Australia/UK routes, this was outweighed by cost savings, the availability of discount seats and schedule connections.

BA welcomed the decision which it said followed a 21 month investigation.

"The JSA on the kangaroo routes has been in place for 10 years and we have always said it is pro-consumer and pro-choice," Roger Maynard, BA's director of investments and alliances, said in a statement.

(Reuters)


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United Offers Special Fares and Double Miles to Celebrate New Nagoya Service

http://a56.g.akamai.net/7/56/7207/1726fc69ee7005/www.united.com/images/ual_logo_home.gif

11 February 2005


United Airlines is offering special, low introductory fares from cities in the US to Nagoya, Japan. In addition, customers are eligible to earn double Mileage Plus bonus miles when travelling roundtrip on qualifying flights on United's new nonstop service from San Francisco to Nagoya between March 26, 2005 and June 11, 2005.

"Our Nagoya service provides United customers a gateway to greater Japan, and all that this thrilling country has to offer," says Dennis Cary, senior vice president-Marketing. "We are pleased to celebrate our inaugural service to Nagoya with outstanding fares and mileage rewards for our customers."

These special low introductory fares on flights to Nagoya are available from a number of US cities and are based on required roundtrip purchase. Each-way sample fares include:

$325 - Boston
$305 - Chicago
$305 - Denver
$295Las Vegas
$295 - Los Angeles 1
$325 - New York City
$325 - Philadelphia
$295 - Portland, OR
$295 - San Francisco
$325 - Washington, D.C.

United's new daily nonstop service between San Francisco and Nagoya is scheduled to begin on March 26, 2005, and will be operated with Boeing 777 aircraft. Because of United's code-share agreement with Star Alliance partner All Nippon Airways (and regional carriers Air Nippon and Nakanihon), the Nagoya service will enable United to serve more destinations throughout Japan, with convenient domestic and international connections from Nagoya's brand new Central Japan International Airport - Centrair, opening Feb. 18, 2005. Other Japanese cities made accessible by these partnerships include Fukuoka, Sendai and Sapporo -- all open for sale now on service beginning April 1, 2005 - and Niigata, Nagasaki and Kagoshima - open for sale Feb. 17, 2005 for service beginning April 1, 2005.

United’s inaugural Nagoya service also coincides with the opening of the 2005 Aichi World Expo on March 25, 2005, which is expected to bring increased international passenger traffic to the region.

Bonus Miles from Hertz UAE for Gulf Air Passengers

14 February 2005


Gulf Air passengers signed up to the airline’s frequent flyer programme can now take advantage of exclusive rates and earn an extra 1,000 miles when renting a car with Hertz UAE.

Passengers visiting the UAE until 15 March will be able to rent cars at special rates and gain the extra miles when hiring a car for two days or more at any of the company’s ten car rental locations throughout the country.

The stylish Mini Cooper is available at Hertz UAE

The special rates start at just Dhs.139 per day for a Honda Jazz, while those looking for something ultra sporty can pick up a stylish Mini Cooper for Dhs.249 per day.

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Frequent flyers demand an upgrade
By STUART INNES
19feb05

CRITICISM has swelled that frequent flyer club members are having difficulty redeeming their points on free flights.

The starry visions of free flights to glamorous destinations is what drives many people to spend through credit cards to build reward points that can be converted into travel.

The Qantas Frequent Flyer program is one of the biggest "clubs" in Australia. But with limited seats for members to redeem their points, some of them are left grumbling.

One in five Australians is a member of the Qantas Frequent Flyer program – 4.1 million members.

Last year's Qantas annual report lists $252 million as a liability for unredeemed Frequent Flyer points.

"Qantas wants people to use points on things other than flights," Clifford Reichlin, who runs website frequentflyer.com.au, said of Qantas sending brochures to members about products they could buy with their points instead of flying. He said the difficulty many people had redeeming their points on flights they wanted "has been going on for years and there is no improvement."

Qantas was looking after its gold and platinum members, while people with fewer points were finding it hard to get a flight they wanted.

He also claimed that the changes to the formula for earning and redeeming points that Qantas will implement in May were leading many people to change to other programs.

Mike Ebstein, director of reward scheme experts MWE Consulting, told The Advertiser the Qantas changes had not won it many friends. The changes were retrospective, yet people expected to redeem their points under the rules that applied when they had earned them.

He said some points holders wanted to redeem them quickly and delays were frustrating them. The demise of Ansett in late 2001 had left many people with a lot of points that were useless.

"They are determined not to get into that again," Mr Ebstein said.

Australian Consumers' Association deputy chief executive Norm Crothers said airlines should be more transparent.

"We have concerns about people with smaller amounts of points getting seats," he said.

"There could be better disclosure that the program is really aimed at people who fly a lot. They (the airlines) say seats are limited, but it's not until people try to travel they find out how limited."

Australian Competition and Consumer Association chief Graham Samuel said the ACCC had been consulted by Qantas regarding its change of rules.

Qantas had been reasonable in giving people plenty of notice by announcing the changes last year – and a chance to redeem points under the old system.

Mr Samuel advised consumers to read carefully the terms and conditions on frequent flyer schemes "and don't over-expect".

Star Alliance Member Carriers start Flying from New Central Japan International Airport in Nagoya

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18 February 2005

Star Alliance member carriers flying to Nagoya, Japan, have all switched their operations to the new Central Japan International Airport (Centrair). The move includes locating all Star Alliance carriers at Centrair under one roof and the opening of a Star Alliance lounge.

At the new single-terminal airport, the Star Alliance member carriers can now offer customers a reduced average minimum connecting time of one hour, for transfers between international and domestic and vice-versa. This compares to an average minimum connecting time of more than one hour at Tokyo-Narita, rising to two hours when a change of terminal is involved.

“At Star Alliance we have always followed the strategy of using the opening of either new airports or terminal facilities to enhance the service provided to our customers. The new Centrair Airport is again a case in point and will be followed by similar announcements at other airports during the course of this year”, said Jaan Albrecht, Star Alliance CEO.

Making use of the superb transfer facilities at Centrair, the Star Alliance member carriers have revised their schedules in and out of Nagoya, in order to provide enhanced network connectivity to customer. Star Alliance Japanese member carrier ANA has, for instance, added five new domestic destinations served out of Nagoya – Fukushima, Matsuyama, Tokushima, Tottori and Yonago, bringing the total from 17 to 22, with the number of flights rising from 51 to 63. Regional and long haul services will also be improved. Star Alliance carriers Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways International currently all serve Nagoya and Air Canada is reinstating their service between Vancouver and Nagoya as of April 26, 2005, while United is scheduled to launch a new daily San Francisco – Nagoya flight as of March 26, 2005. Overall, the eleven Star Alliance member carriers serving Japan operate more than 7,000 weekly flights to, from and within the country, flying to a total of 85 domestic and international destinations and providing direct links to 17 countries from Japan. Additionally, with the opening of the new Centrair airport, Star Alliance can now offer its customers the choice of connecting through three key international airports in Japan: Centrair, Osaka – Kansai and Tokyo – Narita.

Star Alliance has also implemented its so called “Move under one roof” concept at the new Centrair airport. All member carriers are located in the same part of the terminal, sharing check-in counters and ticketing facilities.

In addition, Nagoya now boasts the second Star Alliance lounge in the world (the other being located in Zurich, Switzerland). Spread across 455 square metres and one level below the international departures concourse, the new lounge provides a total seating capacity of 110, spilt into a First (10) and Business Class (100) section. The elevator access to the lounge is conveniently located just 50 metres beyond passport control. All passengers travelling in either First or Business Class on a Star Alliance member carrier operated flight or holding a Star Alliance Gold Card will gain entry into the lounge. Once inside, a wide range of services to either facilitate business or to help relax road-weary travellers are on offer. Internet access is provided through either hi-speed wireless or through normal phone lines. In order to keep the noise level to a minimum and as not to disturb other visitors, travellers can take advantage of private phone booths for mobile phone use. Both a variety of hot and cold drinks are offered, including espresso, different kinds of tea, draft beer, wine and spirits. Snacks, such as cheese, crackers, cookies and Japanese specialties are available. Moreover the lounge is equipped with a plasma TV, has an individually ventilated smoking section as well as restrooms.

Delta and Continental are my favorite airlines so I guess I'll go with SkyTeam.

SkyTeam opens new facility at Mexico City International Airport
1 March 2005


SkyTeam customers traveling via Mexico City International Airport (MEX) can now make use of a brand new alliance facility, which includes more room, an enhanced flight information display system, and an expanded passenger drop-off area. The space will be shared by the six SkyTeam members that currently serve Mexico City's international airport. Currently, Air France, Aeroméxico and Delta Air Lines are operating out of the new facility, with Continental Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Northwest Airlines scheduled to move to the location shortly.

The new facility further illustrates SkyTeam's customer benefit focus. The co-located area at the new Bay F1 is within a section of the international airport that was recently renovated with passenger convenience in mind. Eligible SkyTeam passengers traveling to and from Mexico City can enjoy:

- More accessible passenger-drop off: Located on the first floor of the international terminal building, the facility is now easily reached from both the curbside as well as the parking garage exit.

- Separate arrival and departure areas: In the new area, arrival and baggage claims are located on the lower level, with departures located one level above, helping streamline passenger flow.

- More space: The new roomy locale provides SkyTeam passengers with additional areas to sit, more room to move about and will easily accommodate the 6,000 passengers who visit the airport each day throughout the peak season.

- Electronic signage: Ticket desks are equipped with new Flight Information Display Systems (FIDS) which allow staff to provide travelers with the most up-to-date flight status and boarding times available.

In addition to the central ticketing area, SkyTeam passengers flying international first and business class will also enjoy lounge access at one of the two Aeroméxico Premier lounges or the Continental Presidents Club located in the airport.

More than 20 million passengers pass through Mexico City's international airport annually, one of the busiest in Latin America. Mexico City is also one of SkyTeam's 29 hubs around the world. In addition to Mexico City, SkyTeam has co-locations in 20 other cities around the world, including: Athens, Barcelona, Beijing, Brussels, Buenos Aires, Caracas, Geneva, Istanbul, Lagos, Manchester, Munich, Milan-Malpensa, Moscow-Sheremetyevo, Paris-CDG2, Rome, Stuttgart, Tunis, Venice and Vienna.

Cathay Pacific offers double Asia Miles to Hong Kong Residents
14 March 2005


Cathay Pacific is offering Hong Kong residents double Asia Miles to all members travelling in economy class on all Cathay Pacific flights. The offer is open to all existing and new Asia Miles members.

To qualify, all tickets must be issued in Hong Kong and online registration through asiamiles.com completed between 10 March and 15 April 2005. Travel must be completed between 1 April and 31 May 2005. The promotion is eligible for members residing in Hong Kong only.

Cathay Pacific General Manager Hong Kong & China Sales Clement Lam said, “With Cathay Pacific’s double Asia Miles promotion, members can take advantage of great offers from travel and lifestyle partners that much faster. It’s also a great time for anyone who is not already a member to join."

Oneworld enables passengers to fly across its entire network with only electronic tickets
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oneworld is the first of the global airline alliances to complete the roll-out of interline e-ticketing (IET) between all members of the grouping .

This means its customers can travel with the convenience of just one electronic ticket throughout the unrivalled combined network served by the alliance`s eight member airlines - American Airlines, British Airways, Qantas, Cathay Pacific, Iberia, LAN, Finnair and Aer Lingus - and their 17 affiliates. Together, they fly to 603 destinations in 136 countries worldwide.

Interline e-ticketing offers passengers considerable advantages. It makes connections between flights by different airlines smoother, easier and more reliable, and reduces the time and hassle involved in rebooking from one carrier to another, should that be needed for any reason.

Customers have no traditional paper ticket to lose or risk having stolen, checking-in is quicker and smoother, and they have access to the speed and convenience of new automated features, like self-service or internet check-in, helping eliminate queues at airports.

e-tickets and interline e-ticketing also provide millions of dollars a year in savings for the airlines, with IATA, the world airline association, estimating that electronic tickets cut costs by around US$8 for each paper ticket eliminated. On that basis, with more than seven million passengers a year transferring between oneworld partners, the alliance`s IET programme stands to save the eight member airlines around US$60 million a year.

With the number of passengers connecting between the alliance`s carriers growing - by 12 per cent in 2004 - the financial contribution of IET will increase further.

oneworld Managing Partner John McCulloch said: "oneworld was created to make travel to more places more easy for more people - and completion of interline e-ticketing links between all our member airlines is a significant landmark towards that goal. It makes travel throughout oneworld`s unmatched worldwide network simpler and smoother for our customers - while also cutting costs considerably for our member airlines.

"Being the first alliance to extend this level of customer convenience between all our airlines is a reflection of oneworld`s determination to offer our alliance customer service better than the competition and to reap the benefits that technology provides for both our customers and shareholders. It also underlines oneworld`s ability to get things done faster and more efficiently by being a manageable-sized grouping of committed and high quality carriers."

American Airlines and Finnair set the alliance`s IET programme rolling in May 2002 when they became the industry`s first airlines in separate continents to offer this service. American then became the first airline in the world to complete IET links with all its global alliance partners, in June last year. British Airways followed suit, completing its connections with all its fellow oneworld members in October, joined by Qantas in December.

Finnair is the latest partner to extend IET to all its fellow oneworld members. Twenty five of the alliance`s potential 28 pairs of partners are now linked up with IET, covering 99 per cent of the passengers transferring between oneworld airlines` flights. The remaining three connections - between Aer Lingus with Cathay Pacific, Iberia and LAN - will be completed within the next month.

Frequent Flyer Programs To End
(Posted: Apr 1, 2005)

Business travelers across America are shocked to learn that all airline frequent flyer programs will be terminated within the next two weeks.

A total of 17 airlines – all 15 frequent flyer programs in the U.S., as well as the two programs in Canada – abruptly scuttled their programs in a frenzied one-hour period late yesterday afternoon. CU Airways touched off the wave of cancellations at 1 p.m. with a terse statement that its program would end on April 31. Within minutes, the other 16 airlines had announced they too were getting off the frequent flyer merry-go-round.

Harvey Rabbitt, a salesman waiting on standby at Grover’s Mill International, was dumbfounded. “I’m shocked,” he said. “But if there’s one thing frequent flyers never do, it’s complain. So I guess I’ll just have to accept it.”

Concerned that the moves could see airline stocks plummet and send shock waves throughout the economy, governments around the world trading in all transportation stocks. The one exception at press time appears to be the Tirana Stock Exchange in Albania.

As a result of the cancellations, members of frequent flyer programs must book any outstanding award trips by midnight, April 15. All award trips claimed must then be completed by April 31.

The 17 airlines, expecting a last-minute rush of award requests, will keep their frequent flyer customer service lines open around the clock. Most of the carriers are even installing additional phones, personnel, and automated recordings, in an attempt to offset the anticipated rush of phone calls.

“Like most other airlines with mounting frequent flyer liabilities, we have been looking for quite some time for a way to get off the hook,” said Harold Grinditstein, president of Deter Air Lines. Everybody wanted out, but nobody wanted to be first. But one carrier tested the water, (so) we all tore off our clothes and plunged in.”

Gee Roof, president of Untied Airlines, said his company has devised a way to soften the blow for its members. Each member phoning in to claim an award certificate will be given 80,000 bonus points, he says. Those points, like all others currently in members’ accounts, must be used by the April 15th deadline.

Ironically, a spokesman for CU Airways now says that carrier cancelled its frequent flyer program in error. He explained the airline’s Strategic Planning Associates of Marketing held a secret meeting early yesterday morning to look at the ramifications of a series of scenarios. A number of options were considered, ranging from scrapping the program in its entirely to awarding quintuple mileage in all months containing to the letter “R.” In fact, the committee recommended the latter choice, but notes from the earlier discussions were handed erroneously to the company’s public relations department.

For airlines, there could not be a better time than late April for travelers to claim free trips. Most people have run their credit cards to the limit to pay for March spring-break vacations, and are now forced to make a minimum payment on their credit cards before they can charge their summer vacations. As a result, most planes over the next two weeks would be flying almost empty. By filling the seats with flyers traveling on free awards, the airlines can pay off their debts to members without cutting into revenue payloads.

There is, of course, the possibility that not all members will be able to get space by the April 15 deadline. However, Frank Lowerendozo, former president of Incontinent Airlines, says capacity controls should not be a problem.

“Even if you can’t get on a flight,” he says, “keep in mind that the awards certificates themselves are suitable for framing and can make lovely Christmas gifts, especially for someone with a fear of flying.”

A spokesperson for AwardPlanner, a frequent traveler award management program said, “The phones have been ringing off the hook with distraught travelers who are afraid that since both the IRS and airline award redemption deadlines are on the same date, either the IRS or the awards will have to wait.” Unlike the soon-to-be defunct programs, the IRS will grant extensions.

The news that frequent flyer programs could indeed be ending has sent hotel stock rocketing as it is assumed that travelers will use the hotel guest programs as a substitute to earning free travel with the airlines. In fact, Jamie Baredit, vice president as Starry Night Hotels, noted that new memberships were coming in at a rate of nearly 500,000 a minute. Stock trading for Paris Hotels has been halted because the share trading volume has paralyzed the system.

Meanwhile, economists are divided on how the demise of frequent flyer programs will affect the Western Economy. The most pessimistic forecast comes from Harvard University economist John Kenneth Goldbrick.

“Without bonus points, no business person in his or her right mind is going to go though the hassles and frustrations of modern-day flying,” he said. “And without business travel, there will be no business conducted. The world could be facing a depression equal to or greater than that of 1930s.”

Frequent flyer guru and publisher of InsideFlyer magazine Randy Petersen was packing his personal items into a box when contacted at his Colorado Springs office. “I guess that’s it,” he said. “At least I managed to build a tequila bar before these yahoos shut us down. In fact, I think I’ll head over there right now.”

However, Senator and potential presidential candidate Hillary Plimpton foresees little long-term effect from the curtailment of business travel. Entrepreneurs will simply find new ways of carrying out international commerce, she says. The fax machine, she predicts, may well replace the jet airplane as the primary mode for international marketing.

With that in mind, International Busy Machines has already announced the world’s first Frequent Fax Program. The company says it will award telecommunications points for every fax transmission. Members can accumulate their points towards free telecommunications awards. With 8,000 TC points, a member will be able to upgrade a fax message from standard flimsy fax paper to glossy bond paper, while 125,000 TC points will allow a fax on glossy bond paper to sent all the way around the world.

For up-to-the date information on the cancellation of frequent flyer programs, contact the airline of your choice. Someone will likely remind you that today is April 1.

One of our favorite business travel writers is Douglas McArthur, who writes the "Traveling On Business" column for the Toronto Globe & Mail. He wrote an original article several years ago to appear on April Fool’s Day and it seems that a few flyers did call the service center with their concerns. We liberally borrowed from his original article and want to acknowledge this excellent sense of humor regarding the frequent-flyer programs.

Evergreen Club member, you’ll earn 500 bonus miles for ordering your meal online after you complete your journey.

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SkyTeam Round the World and Europe Pass Fares Offer Travelers More Choices
13 April 2005

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Passengers traveling via SkyTeam's Round the World (RTW) and Europe Pass products will soon have greater options, in terms of schedules and destinations, with the addition of Continental's, KLM's and Northwest's route networks. Effective April 15, RTW customers can select flight options from any of the nine member airlines, while Europe Pass customers have their choice of routes operated by the alliance's four European carriers.

For RTW passengers, the new options provide greater access to destinations in the United States, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as key cities in Africa. In Europe, passengers with a trans-Atlantic or inter-continental ticket can now extend their trip with discounted fares to destinations such as Belfast, Northern Ireland and Berne, Switzerland under the Europe Pass product.

"As we approach the busy summer travel season, choice and flexibility are high priorities for leisure travelers," said Dominique Patry, chairman of the SkyTeam Steering Committee and vice president alliances and international affairs at Air France. "SkyTeam, with its customer focus, understands these needs and is pleased to offer additional options now that our network reach has expanded with the inclusion of Continental, KLM and Northwest."

Originally introduced in 2002, SkyTeam's Europe Pass allows alliance customers who purchase a trans-Atlantic or inter-continental ticket to Europe to also purchase three or more one-way intra-European flight segments at reduced fares. The segments are available on flights operated by Air France, Alitalia, CSA Czech Airlines and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines to destinations in 44 countries. Fare prices Plus local taxes are calculated on the basis of distance flown in Europe for each coupon on non-stop flights operated by the four carriers.

For those with itineraries that span both the Atlantic and Pacific, SkyTeam offers passengers choice and flexibility with four RTW packages. On a trip around the world, travelers can plan between three and 15 stops, with the opportunity to backtrack on the same continent. Fares for the four RTW packages are based on the number of miles traveled and are good for trips ranging in length from 10 days to up to one year. All itineraries must start and end in the same country and require a trans-Atlantic and a trans-Pacific flight.

I've just noticied today reply 68, and it's obviously an april 1st joke!

Star Alliance named as world's best Airline Alliance
15 June 2005


In a recent passenger survey conducted by Skytrax Star Alliance was named the world's best airline alliance. This honour for Star Alliance comes as part of the 2005 World Airline Awards and is the second time in three years that the alliance has been given this accolade.

Star Alliance currently has 16 member carriers presently serving 795 destinations in 139 countries.

The alliance offers its Gold Card holders (top tier customers in the individual carriers' frequent flyer programmes) access to more than 620 lounges worldwide.

Star Alliance was established in 1997. The members are Air Canada, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, bmi, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Spanair, TAP Portugal, Thai Airways International, United, US Airways and VARIG Brazilian Airlines. South African Airways and SWISS will bi integrated during the course of the next 12 months.

China Southern Airlines and Shangri-La offer New Summer Mileage Program
17 June 2005


China Southern Airlines is teaming up with its FFP partner, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, to offer double FFP kilometers in the airline's Sky Pearl Club.

Through August 31, Sky Pearl Club members can earn double kilometers when using Select Rate at any Shangri-La hotel, resort or Traders hotel.

To celebrate the opening of its new tower, Pudong Shangri-La, Shanghai is offering Sky Pearl Club members Select Rate (starting from US$280+15% service charge for a Premier Room) with triple kilometers for a minimum of three consecutive nights stay.

This offer is valid from August 1, 2005 to October 31, 2005.

June 22, 2005

Air Canada parent ACE Aviation sold a 12.5 percent stake in its Aeroplan loyalty points business on Wednesday in the airline industry's first spinoff of a frequent flyer program.

Underwriters agreed to take up 25 million units of Aeroplan Income Fund at CAD$10 a unit, raising CAD$250 million (USD$203 million).

The spinoff values the loyalty program at about CAD$2 billion.

"We are extremely pleased to see the market valuing Aeroplan at CAD$2 billion, making it one of Canada's largest business trusts and the first-ever monetization of an airline frequent flyer program," ACE Aviation Chief Executive Robert Milton said in a statement.

Jacques Kavafian, analyst at Research Capital, said the price of the new Aeroplan units was in line with expectations. The market is valuing Aeroplan at a higher multiple of earnings as a separate entity than it does as part of ACE Aviation, he said.

"I think the value of Aeroplan is not reflected in Air Canada's share price," Kavafian said.

Like Air Canada, Aeroplan has a dominant position in the Canadian market.

Aeroplan has about 5 million members in a country of 33 million and tie-ins with more than 60 commercial partners, including Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and American Express.

Airline consultant Robert Mann said struggling US airlines probably are watching the Aeroplan spinoff and considering a similar move.

"You could presume that every one of the major carriers has a price tag on it," Mann said. "I think they will all do it. It's a question of when do they need the money."

"You start to put a value on everything when you're forced to," he added. "So far, it hasn't gotten to the point of separating the unit and making public offerings."

In the Aeroplan spinoff, underwriters have an option to buy up to 3.75 million additional units at the offer price for 30 days after the closing to cover over-allotments.

Aeroplan Income Fund will own 12.5 percent of Aeroplan Limited Partnership, and that could swell to 14.4 percent on the overallotment option, ACE Aviation said.

After the offering, ACE Aviation will own 87.5 percent of Aeroplan LP, or 85.6 percent if all of the overallotment is used.

Aeroplan LP will keep about CAD$100 million of the net proceeds of the offering, in part to fund a reserve for Aeroplan Mile redemptions.

The rest, CAD$125 million, or CAD$160 million if the overallotment option is exercised in full, goes to ACE Aviation.

Royal Bank of Canada agreed to provide Aeroplan LP with CAD$475 million of credit, of which about CAD$300 million will be used to fund the balance of the reserve for frequent flyer points redemptions.

Canadian income funds or trusts do not pay corporate tax, but distribute cash flow to investors, who are taxed on the payouts they receive. Trusts have become popular with investors seeking higher yields, and that has spurred the conversion of a range of companies.

(Reuters)

http://www.traveldailynews.gr/images/23320.jpg In celebration of its fifth anniversary, the SkyTeam alliance reflected on accomplishments to-date and outlined strategic focus areas for its next five years and beyond. Members Aeromιxico, Air France, Alitalia, Continental Airlines, CSA Czech Airlines, Delta Air Lines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Korean Air and Northwest Airlines pledged to work together on key initiatives, including customer service enhancements, development of the alliance network to accommodate anticipated passenger growth and implementation of technology and e-Services alliance-wide.

On June 22, 2000, Aeromιxico, Air France, Delta Air Lines, Korean Air launched the SkyTeam alliance. "Five years ago, four carriers outlined a goal of providing more choices, better service and expanding offerings," said Jean-Cyril Spinetta, chairman and CEO, Air France-KLM. "Since that time, the alliance has surpassed those objectives and has grown dramatically in terms of members, service offerings and amenities, always maintaining our customer focus."

Membership Development

SkyTeam has grown from four to nine members, with the addition of CSA Czech Airlines and Alitalia in 2001 and Continental, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Northwest last September.

SkyTeam signed agreements with Aeroflot and China Southern in 2004, which paved the way for their future entry into SkyTeam. Both carriers are making solid progress to fulfill the alliance`s joining requirements. In addition, earlier this month, SkyTeam announced the first airlines to participate in the Associate program – Air Europa, Copa Airlines, Kenya Airways and Tarom. "As part of our focus on the customer, SkyTeam will continue to grow in a carefully planned way that provides the most benefits to our passengers," said Yang-Ho Cho, chairman and CEO of Korean Air.

Network Expansion

SkyTeam has grown from a combined fleet of 979 offering 6,402 daily departures to 451 destinations in 98 countries in 2000 to a fleet of 2,069 aircraft offering 15,207 daily departures to 684 global destinations in more than 130 countries in 2005. Since its inception, SkyTeam members have been committed to providing greater connectivity to passengers via the hub-and-spokes model. Strategic network development will continue to be a key initiative, as demonstrated in the investments being made in aircraft, equipment and facilities. For example, several member airlines have placed orders for superjumbo jets that will serve the alliance`s major hubs, including Incheon and CDG. The alliance is also focused on providing complementary point-to-point service to offer a network that best meets passenger needs. In addition, the alliance is currently exploring possibilities for new, larger colocated facilities at Beijing, Madrid and Tokyo.

Using Technology to Enhance Passenger Services

SkyTeam has grown from serving 174.3 million annual passengers as of July 2000 to serving 343.6 million annual passengers as of April 2005.

Even before IATA announced its "Simplifying the Business" proposal, SkyTeam members have been investing in e-Services to improve the passenger experience. With nearly half of the agreements between members already in place, SkyTeam will offer alliance-wide interline e-ticketing by the end of the year. The alliance is also exploring the future enhancement of individual carriers` kiosks for all alliance customers and the use of RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) in baggage tracking.

"Our focus for the next five years is improving service for our customers and providing them with new product offerings," said Gerald Grinstein, CEO of Delta Air Lines. "With further progress in the area of e-Services, closer coordination among members and more service options for passengers, we are giving our customers even more reasons to choose SkyTeam"

Vicky Karantzavelou - Friday, June 24, 2005

JAL and LAN Airlines Tie-up Frequent Flyer Programs
29 June 2005


Japan Airlines Group and LAN Airlines are to inaugurate a reciprocal frequent flyer program agreement on July 1st, 2005 (subject to Japanese Government approval). The agreement will enable members of the JAL Mileage Bank (JMB), JAL’s frequent flyer progam, and LANPASS, LAN's frequent flyer program, to accumulate and redeem mileage on each other’s networks.

LAN Airlines Group is an alliance of five airlines in Latin America: LAN Airlines, LAN Peru, LAN Ecuador, LAN Argentina and LAN Express. The LAN alliance’s route network covers 46 destinations in Latin America and seven destinations in the United States, Europe and South Pacific. LAN Airlines joins Air France, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Dragonair, and Emirates to become JAL’s 7th global frequent flyer program partner airline.

JAL Mileage Bank members will be able to accumulate JMB mileage when traveling on LAN Airlines, LAN Peru, and LAN Ecuador international flights on or after July 1, 2005. LAN Airlines domestic flights and LAN Argentina flights are not included in the agreement. JMB award tickets can be redeemed on both international and domestic LAN Chile and LAN Peru flights, as well as on LAN Ecuador international flights and LAN Argentina domestic flights. Award applications can be made by JMB members from August 1st , 2005 for flights departing on and after August 15, 2005.

LANPASS members traveling on Japan Airlines international flights will be able to accumulate and redeem LANPASS kilometers on JAL flights.

JAL Doubles Number of Charter Flights between Tokyo and Seoul
30 June 2005


From August 1st, 2005 Japan Airlines (JAL) is to double the number of daily round-trip charter flights it operates between Haneda (Tokyo) Airport and Gimpo (Seoul) Airport. The new charter flights will increase the total number of flights offered by JAL, between Japan and Korea, from 230 to 244 per week (on a one-way basis).

Currently JAL operates a daily round-trip charter flight between Tokyo and Seoul (JL8831/8832), using Boeing 747 aircraft with 86 seats in business class and 292 seats in economy class. JAL will introduce a similar second daily charter flight service (JL8833/8834) on August 1st . Together with adjustments made to the original charter flight’s schedule, the new service will greatly enhance the options available to passengers traveling between these two cities. The flights offer convenient access to the heart of both cities, and will even enable travelers to visit the cities on just a one-day trip.

Travellers can reserve a seat on JAL’s charter flights by either purchasing a fully inclusive package holiday, or simply by buying a normal or discounted air ticket.

Lufthansa and SWISS Customer benefits start 20 July 2005
13 July 2005


From July 20, only two weeks after the Lufthansa and SWISS airlines received cartel clearance, members of Miles & More and Swiss TravelClub will be able to start benefiting from the advantages of the new partnership.

Swiss TravelClub members will be able to earn Club Miles on all Lufthansa-operated scheduled flights. They can also redeem previously earned miles for Lufthansa Free Tickets. Conversely, members of Miles & More can earn award and status miles on SWISS-operated flights and book award flights with SWISS.

Reciprocal lounge access also begins on July 20. Members of Swiss Circle and Swiss Travel-Club Gold may use Lufthansa Senator Lounges when flying with Lufthansa. In return, HON Circle members and Senators of the Miles & More programme have access to Swiss First and Swiss Business Class lounges respectively whenever they fly SWISS.

Services are expected to be further harmonised when SWISS joins the Star Alliance which is foreseen for summer 2006.

Qatar Airways offers Frequent Flyer Incentives on New Delhi route
13 July 2005


To celebrate the launch of Qatar Airways’ new scheduled flights to the Indian capital New Delhi, the airline is offering a two-fold incentive to members of its frequent flyer programme, Privilege Club.

Qatar Airways offers Frequent Flyer Incentives on New Delhi route

With the launch of the Delhi route tomorrow, Privilege Club members can earn double Qmiles for the first full month of the new service. In addition, members will receive a 50% discount on mileage redemption for travel on the Delhi route for a limited one-month period.

The redemption benefits mean Privilege Club members, who normally need to redeem 20,000 Qmiles for an Economy seat, will only have to use up 10,000 Qmiles.

In Business Class, the full redemption award is reduced from 25,000 Qmiles to 12,500 Qmiles after the discount.

The airline will operate seven flights a week non-stop between Doha, the airline’s operational hub and capital of the State of Qatar, and New Delhi, from July 14.

The route will be operated with an Airbus A320 in a two-class configuration of 12 seats in Business and 132 in Economy.

Iain Webster, Qatar Airways’ Senior Manager Loyalty, said, “This introductory bonus is an additional 'thank you' for the support of our most loyal customers. I also look forward to welcoming many new members from India to Privilege Club."

Qatar Airways currently operates 19 scheduled flights a week between Doha and four Indian destinations - Cochin, Trivandrum, Hyderabad and Mumbai.

This summer, the airline will increase capacity to India with 11 additional flights a week taking the number of services to 30 across five Indian cities, including Delhi.

oneworld tests online reservations in Germany
14 July 2005


Global airline alliance, oneworld, has improved its website allowing customers to book and pay for flights on its member airlines through the alliance website.

The service, launched today, is initially available only to companies in Germany who have registered as customers for oneworld's businessflyer corporate sales product.

If the market trial is a success, the alliance plans to extend the facility next to businessflyer customers in France and then potentially to other oneworld fare and sales products.

oneworld businessflyer enables small and medium sized companies in Germany to gain discounts of up to 50% on regular published rates for their business travel in return for a more regular relationship with the alliance and its airlines.

Through just one point of contact, they can select flights by the alliance's eight carriers to more than 200 of the most popular destinations worldwide for German businesses, with departures from nine German gateways - Berlin Schoenefeld or Tegel, Cologne, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hanover, Munich or Stuttgart. In many cases, connections are available also from various other airports and railway stations across Germany. Tickets are eligible for mileage rewards and points in any of the oneworld airlines' frequent flyer programmes.

Germany is one of only two countries worldwide served by all oneworld's eight partners, with a total of almost 1,700 flights a week, and direct services to 18 destinations in Europe, the Americas and Asia with connections from there to the 600 destinations in 135 territories served by the alliance worldwide.

The on-line booking engine will enable businessflyer customers to book not just the special businessflyer tickets but also any publicly quoted fares offered by any oneworld carrier - American Airlines, British Airways, Qantas, Cathay Pacific, Iberia, LAN, Finnair and Aer Lingus, along with their dozen affiliate carriers.

Almost 1,200 companies have signed up for the businessflyer scheme since it was launched two years ago, working with around 600 travel agencies, with revenues doubling year-on-year so far in 2005.

oneworld Vice-President Commerical Nicolas Ferri, in Frankfurt today to switch on the new businessflyer booking engine, said, "Germany is one of oneworld's most important markets worldwide, which is why our corporate customers in the country are the first to benefit from our new ability to take flight bookings on our website.

"Together, our airlines provide air travellers throughout Germany with a real alternative to the dominant home carrier. Now our corporate customers across the country will find it easier than ever to organize their worldwide travel with the world's leading quality grouping of airlines - while making substantial savings at the same time. It's another example of oneworld's commitment to provide excellent alliance service to customers worldwide."

Oneworld!

Aeroflot to join Sky Team in 2006

RBC, 21.07.2005, Moscow 17:38:16.Aeroflot will become a fully-fledged member of the Sky Team aviation alliance this spring, Delta Airlines vice president for international relations Jorge Fernandez has told journalists. Fernandez believes by that time Aeroflot will complete all the procedures necessary to join the alliance, organize online ticket sales and build its own terminal.

As reported earlier, by the end of this year Aeroflot has to conduct negotiations and establish relations with Sky Team's members in such spheres as branding, timetable coordination, code sharing, marketing, advertising and distribution, etc. Sky Team consists of Aeromexico, Air France, Alitalia, CSA Czech Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Korean Air.

Airlines offering breaks for awards

BY TOM PARSONS

The Dallas Morning News

Several carriers are offering frequent-flier tickets for fewer miles. United, American and America West have reduced mileage awards for short-haul flights, and US Airways is discounting award tickets for travel in the U.S. and selected international markets.

United is offering award tickets for fewer miles on nonstop flights of 750 air miles or less in the continental U.S. and Canada. Travel in coach for 15,000 miles round-trip or in first or business class for 30,000 miles for travel through Dec. 31 on United, United Express or Ted. Tickets must be booked at www.united.com/reduced awards.

On American, fly for 15,000 miles in coach or 30,000 miles in first or business class for nonstop flights of up to 750 air miles. Travel is valid within the continental U.S. and Canada from Sept. 1 through Feb. 28 on American, American Eagle or AmericanConnection. Tickets must be booked online at www.aa.com/shorthops.

US Airways is offering a discount of 20 percent on award tickets for travel in selected markets. Miles must be redeemed online. Travel round-trip within North America for 20,000 miles in coach or 40,000 miles in first class for a restricted award ticket and 40,000 miles in coach or 80,000 miles in first for an unrestricted award ticket for travel from Sept. 15 through Feb. 28.

Discounts are also available for international destinations; www.usairways.com.

As well as offering short-haul flights for 15,000 miles round-trip within the continental U.S., America West has a new flexible frequent-flier redemption program. The carrier is allowing travelers to combine restricted and unrestricted award seats, as well as coach and first class seats. The new system should make it easier to snag an award ticket.

Skywards gift vouchers
United Arab Emirates: Tuesday, August 09 - 2005 at 07:19


Skywards, the frequent flyer programme of Emirates and SriLankan Airlines, is offering members gift vouchers in exchange for accumulated Skywards Miles. The vouchers can be exchanged for a variety of products and services through participating companies including Damas, Magrudy's, Rivoli, Danat Dubai Cruises, and Budget Rent A Car.

The power of an Alliance in the evolution of the industry
Wednesday, 10 August 2005

Alliances are fulfilling an increasingly important role as airlines seek new ways of doing business and some may not survive if they are unwilling to transform was the warning from Star Alliance CEO, Jaan Albrecht in Sydney on Monday discussing trends in the Asia Pacific region to members of the Australian National Aviation Press Club.

FaresProMr Albrecht said he was keen to take up the offer to discuss the evolution of the industry seeing as aviation in the country represented an important factor in Australia's day-to-day reality.

“Wealth and prosperity of this great nation relies to a certain degree on a well functioning and competitive airline industry covering the domestic travel needs and connecting Australia to the ‘rest of the world'” he said.

Mr Albrecht explained that the evolution of the aviation industry at the turn of the 21 st century caused changes far more radical and demanding on airlines than before the turn of the century during IATA times of regulated and controlled markets which later developed into a more liberal and competitive regime.

Mr Albrecht said events such as September 11, SARS, bird flu and more recently, soaring jet fuel prices had triggered changes to the global economic environment and in parallel, there have been changes to the competitive environment as well with the introduction of more discount airlines into markets.

“A new breed of competitors have emerged on the feeding grounds of the established species, described as light-weight, young, dynamic, the so-called low cost carriers,” he said.

“And it is that change that is forcing the good, old species of the Network airlines - others call it the legacy carriers – to consider transformation in order to survive.”

“Because if you don't transform, extinction will be unavoidable,” he said.

Mr Albrecht cited collapsed Ansett along with a number of airlines including Sabena and Swissair which he said were ‘clinically dead but kept alive, for reasons beyond economic sense'.

With the founding of Star Alliance in 1997, Mr Albrecht said the airlines which began with the network began the transformation process of the industry, which today can be considered as a successful change.

“Recognizing the economic changes towards globalization the five carriers understood, that no one single airline alone would be able to cope with the global demand in international air travel,” he said.

“Consolidation was impossible since governments and regulators around the world would not allow cross border investments in other country's national airlines. The alliance concept was a way of overcoming these obstacles by allowing like minded, but competing airlines, to work together for their overall common good.”

He explained that the alliance was formed with the vision to become the leading global airline alliance for the international traveller and with the goal to contribute to the long-term profitability of members beyond their individual capabilities.

“Despite the gloomy predictions of many early critics when Star Alliance was first launched, the alliance idea has continuously grown in size and relevance,” he said.

More than 60 per cent of the world market for international air travel is served by airlines being part of an alliance. Mr Albrecht said the airline industry evolution has now been transformed from competition between airlines to competition between alliances.

Success for the alliance model was attributed to customers' access to a global network, smooth and efficient service when connecting between airlines and the combined frequent flyer programme.

Mr Albrecht said the member airlines benefited from the alliance through increased revenue, and a growing cost saving potential which global collaboration can offer.

Travellers using alliances can make use of “Round-the-World” fares or similar and corporate customers can control or reduce travel budgets by working together with one single contact for travel needs through an alliance.

”Over and above new Alliance products are in the pipeline, because we understand that we have to continuously adapt to the needs of the international travellers in order to maintain our leadership position,” he said.

Mr Albrecht cited Air New Zealand as an example of an airline going through its own transformation, and one he said will “serve as a role-model for others in our industry”.

“Turning a national icon like Air New Zealand into one of the young, dynamic and light-weight species is hard work. Being ready to cope in parallel with local low-cost carrier competition and over-dimensioned trans-Tasman growth philosophies of certain individual airlines developed in well-funded company headquarters thousands of miles away is almost a mission impossible,” he said.

Star Alliance is considered to be an essential factor Air New Zealand going forward according to Mr Albrecht, which he said meant an extension of the alliance's focus.

“Not only are we supposed to develop more passenger-pleasing alliance products but we also are to investigate emerging technologies to assist the carriers in developing their own new business models.”

Mr Albrecht went on to outline the new entrants in the world of GDS's, and listed Star Alliance member carriers as being able to break the dominance, cost structure and poor flexibility of the GDS systems.

“A technology refresh is long overdue. Our teams are working on establishing a state-of-the-art technology platform allowing our member carriers to make use of common processes in reservations and airport operations, thus creating even higher levels of customer service and at the same time significantly reducing the IT cost,” he said.

“Cost reduction has become a key issue for us in the alliances. The industry will lose around six billion US dollars in 2005, according to the latest IATA forecast. In this year the fuel cost are leaving an inerasable imprint on the carrier's balance sheet.

“And again, this is where the alliance can help by enhancing its capabilities to make use of the combined bulk purchasing power of 16 of the world's best airlines. Already today we are saving tens of millions on fuel alone.”

Mr Albrecht said key important factors such as returning to and maintaining the long-term profitability of network carriers in order to survive and prosper, deserved united effort.

“Not the least, because there are airlines out there, which have established so-called low cost business models for certain markets. However, we do not under-estimate any of them. And to be honest both models have been learning something from each other.”

Before visiting Australia, Mr Albrecht said he noted some low cost carriers in the US and here have started adding frills including frequent flyer programmes, lounge services and in flight entertainment.

“So as part of the industry's evolution we see a convergence of the business models. It will be interesting to observe, who will be cleverer in its transformation,” he said.

An integral part of the industry's evolution in the future will be further consolidation, according to Mr Albrecht, and noted recent mergers including KLM and Air France, Lufthansa and Swiss and American West and US Airways. He also pointed out the first sign of consolidation in the crowded South East Asian low cost airline industry with Jetstar and Valuair combining.

“But, in general, while alliances are well and truly established these days, the reality is, the changes of the competitive environment would in some areas require further transformation,” he said.

Star Alliance's 16 member airlines connect all continents, and with the addition of South African Airlines early next year, the network will serve 840 destinations in 155 countries.

“No other airline alliance can offer the Australian traveller a better and more extensive network, when going abroad” Mr Albrecht said.
The Star Alliance network, according to Mr Albrecht, is expected to grow in markets including China , India and Russia which he said were currently underrepresented on the map of airline alliances.

Star Alliance in talks with Ind partnersAdd to Clippings
PTI[ MONDAY, AUGUST 08, 2005 01:12:56 PM]

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SYDNEY: Star Alliance said it's in talks with Air India, Jet Airways and Sahara Airlines to get one of them to join the world's largest group of airlines, extending its network to the second-most populous nation.

``The Indian government has been opening the international market so these domestic carriers are not having access to the international network,'' the group's chief executive Jaan Albrecht said in Sydney on Monday. ``This is an area we are watching very closely.''

Joining Star Alliance would give a carrier access to more than 15,000 connecting flights a day run by other carriers flying to 840 destinations in 150 countries. Airline alliances help increase sales and reduce costs by feeding passengers onto other networks, sharing common facilities and making joint purchases.

``The evolution in India is quite dramatic,'' Albrecht said. An agreement may be reached ``rather quickly,'' he said.

Frankfurt-based Star Alliance has also been looking to add a member from China and Russia, Albrecht said.

He said ``China, Russia, India are our main target countries.'' The group has been in talks with Beijing-based Air China, the country's largest international carrier.

Albrecht also said the group will make a recommendation in a few months on a strategy for acquiring a Russia-based partner.

SkyTeam launches Corporate Travel Program
16 August 2005

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SkyTeam, a global airline alliance, has introduced a new corporate travel program for global companies, offering competitively priced, customized travel solutions across most of the alliance's 684 destinations in 133 countries via a single contract.

SkyTeam partners nine members, including Aeroméxico, Air France, Alitalia, Continental Airlines, CSA Czech Airlines, Delta Air Lines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Korean Air and Northwest Airlines.

"With increased corporate globalization, SkyTeam's global corporate travel program provides multinational corporations more options and a more efficient way to manage their global travel program," said Steve Sear, Vice President Sales, Northwest Airlines.

Corporate customers who contract with SkyTeam will receive discounts for increased business with alliance carriers. The individual business travelers of these corporations will earn frequent flyer miles on the member airline program of their choice, which are redeemable on all other SkyTeam partners.

Corporate travel buyers will have the ability to work with one key airline contact that will manage the agreement on behalf of the alliance, ensuring ease of implementation. On the back-end, global and local sales forces from all nine airlines will provide the support needed to ensure thorough implementation of the customer's global needs.

While corporate customers still have the option of dealing with the airlines individually, this program offers many potential benefits. The solution offered provides three key points of differentiation: a single contract, harmonized discounts and goals and a single source of performance reporting.

Air France undeterred by SkyTeam anti-trust setback

Flight International online news 09:00GMT: Air France remains confident that it will gain US anti-trust immunity for itself and five other members of the SkyTeam alliance, despite damning feedback from its application from the US Department of Justice.

The French flag-carrier, together with Alitalia, CSA Czech Airlines, Delta Air Lines, KLM and Northwest Airlines are seeking anti-trust immunity to increase their co-operation in the USA and further their relationship within the SkyTeam alliance.

The US Department of Transport is considering the application but, in its consultative role, the US Department of Justice has voiced strong opposition to the request.

Applicants must demonstrate that the benefits of their partnership cannot be achieved without immunity and that these outweigh any harmful effects on competition.

But the DOJ says that the application “fails to demonstrate” these criteria. In particular it highlights that there is “no justification” for immunity requested on transpacific routes and routes to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

It says that “a substantial portion” of the claimed benefits could be achieved by codesharing, which creates minimal anti-trust risk.

But Air France says that the DOJ only has a “consultative role” in the approval process. The airline says: “It is worth noting that the Department of Justice recognised that a transatlantic joint venture between the six carriers would not raise any competitive concerns with the Department of Justice, so Air France is confident that the anti-trust immunity application will be approved.”

VICTORIA MOORES/LONDON

Aeroplan allows you to purchase back-to-school items as well
Aug 26, 2005)

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If you're one of the more than 5 million Canadians who belong to Aeroplan, there's a new way to save on some of those back to school expenses ñ and back to college and university ones as well.

In the past few years, Aeroplan has advanced from offering air travel as the main reward, to a host of specialty rewards that are of particular interest to students and their parents.

Let's look at your opportunities to redeem your Aeroplan Miles ñ with school in mind.

First, pretty much every student today needs a computer and the gear that goes with it. So rather than paying cash for a laptop, you can redeem your Aeroplan Miles for all kinds of computer electronics with Aeroplan's partner, Future Shop and your child can start school or university with the technology they need to do their work. But 'electronics' isn't limited to computers with Aeroplan and Future Shop. You can redeem your Aeroplan Miles for an all-in-one copier-fax machine-scanner. Or a 20-inch colour TV. Or even an iPod. And with specials for Aeroplan Members only, you can get all kinds of Future Shop products at a discount as well.

Where can you find out what rewards are available? Just log on to www.aeroplan.com for a full list. With new partners signing up with Aeroplan all the time, it's worthwhile checking back regularly to see the new ways you can redeem your Aeroplan Miles.

But back to school. This week alone, there are offers on luggage and on gift certificates at Indigo Books and Music. With stores across Canada, and the ease of online shopping at www.chapters.indigo.ca, you can make book buying a breeze for your child. All of these and much more are yours just by logging on to: www.aeroplan.com.

Redeeming your Aeroplan Miles can help make going back to school a less costly and more rewarding experience. (And let's not forget being able to use your Aeroplan Miles the way you always have, by using them to fly someone you love to school or university ñ and home for the holidays).

Now you can earn Aeroplan Miles faster than ever.

What's more, you can now accumulate Aeroplan Miles in all kinds of ways than by flying on Air Canada or its Star Alliance partner airlines.

For instance, what student doesn't want to go digital? Whether they need high-speed Internet or a mobile phone or satellite television, you can put together a package for them from Bell Canada that will put the latest technology on their side and will let mom and dad earn Aeroplan Miles, all at the same time.

Don't forget to earn Aeroplan Miles for everyday purchases.

We encourage you to use the co-branded financial cards offered by CIBC and American Express that let you accumulate Aeroplan Miles with every dollar you spend.

Singapore Airlines expands Interline E-Ticketing programme with Star Alliance partners
31 August 2005


From September 2005, Singapore Airlines passengers with connections on Air Canada, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian Airlines, bmi, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Spanair and Thai Airways, will only require an interline electronic-ticket (e-ticket) for the entire journey.

“Through the expansion of interline e-ticket arrangements with our Star Alliance partners, Singapore Airlines is able to offer our passengers the conveniences associated with paperless travel to more destinations. Passengers need not worry about collecting tickets from their travel agents, enduring long queues at the ticketing office and losing their tickets. Together with Singapore Airlines’ automated check-in options, travel will be hassle free,” said Singapore Airlines Executive Vice-President, Marketing and the Regions, Mr Huang Cheng Eng.

In addition, Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer members and frequent flyer members of the participating partner carriers will be able to redeem their frequent flier miles towards e-ticketed interline travel.

Singapore Airlines first launched its interline e-ticket programme in April 2005 with United Airlines. With this expansion, Singapore Airlines now partners twelve carriers to offer this service.

Singapore Airlines has offered e-tickets to passengers since 1997. The Airline targets to issue only e-tickets by mid-2007, six months ahead of the IATA guideline of end 2007.

Double Miles on Northwest Airlines for US and Canada based passengers
31 August 2005


Northwest Airlines has matched a United Airlines offer that awards travelers with double the normal amount of miles accrued for flights and double the normal amount of miles that are counted toward achieving "Elite" status in Northwest's WorldPerks frequent flyer program.

"While our customers continue to book Northwest with confidence, it is critical that we fully compete for every customer on price, product, schedule and frequent flyer program offers," said Tim Griffin, executive vice president of marketing and distribution. "This offer allows members of our WorldPerks program to earn travel awards even faster, as well as enjoy the many benefits experienced by members who achieve 'Elite' status."

U.S. and Canada-based members of WorldPerks traveling on Northwest, Northwest Airlink or KLM-operated flights between today and October 9, 2005, will accrue double the amount of miles they normally would, as well as earn double the amount of miles counted toward reaching Elite status.

SkyTeam Ups Global Effort
By David Jonas

SEPTEMBER 05, 2005 -- The SkyTeam airline alliance last month took a step forward in its efforts to attract multinational corporate customers when it announced the availability of an integrated global program. Days later, however, the U.S. Department of Justice formally objected to SkyTeam's request for six-airline antitrust immunity. The U.S. Department of Transportation at press time had not made a final decision on the application, which, if approved, would provide more flexibility for participating airlines.

Meanwhile, the Star Alliance said it is moving closer to developing a common IT platform for member carriers, with Amadeus soon expected officially to snare the contract. The common platform is one of several projects underway within Star to drive cost efficiencies across the alliance and improve global customer service for individual travelers and corporate clients.

With similar intentions for multinational customers, SkyTeam said it stands ready to negotiate on a global basis. Initial development of joint corporate contracting predates the involvement of Continental and Northwest in the alliance (BTN, May 22, 2003), but travel management sources said the partnership's corporate sales efforts have progressed more rapidly this year.

SkyTeam cited the advantages of harmonized discounting, integrated account management and consolidated contract performance reporting. Though the alliance said it is in talks with "several" multinational companies, it would not identify any corporate clients currently using the global program.

Meanwhile, SkyTeam carriers Alitalia, Air France, CSA Czech, Delta, KLM Royal Dutch and Northwest airlines at press time still had not received a final answer from DOT on their joint request for antitrust immunity. Regulators likely were assessing DOJ's filing last month, which cautioned on possible anticompetitive ramifications and questioned the potential benefits.

"The requested immunity is not likely to lessen competition on the transatlantic routes, but does threaten to reduce competition in related domestic routes," DOJ said, suggesting any DOT approval should come with conditions to prevent potentially anticompetitive conduct by Delta and Northwest. DOJ also said that "unlike many previous applications, the proposed alliance will not advance Open Skies."

SkyTeam rival Star Alliance—already having launched unified corporate contracting to varying degrees, depending on the client—is pursuing a larger base of potential accounts. During a media briefing last month at the National Business Travel Association's annual convention (see story), vice president of corporate office Christian Klick said Star had secured about one-third of the business represented by the world's top 130 global companies and now is targeting another 4,000 companies for the Corporate Plus program.

These developments are meant to improve corporate-contracting processes and drive incremental market share by helping multinational travel buyers find value in alliancewide deals. Despite the enthusiasm voiced by various airline sales executives, however, many buyers remained skeptical. "We have a few alliance deals," said Citigroup vice president of global services sourcing Norma Rohrbach, "but the base problems are the alliances themselves, which cannot work well together."

John Heilner, vice president of consulting firm Management Alternatives, who was speaking with Rohrbach last month during the NBTA convention, suggested buyers could gain an advantage by pitting member carriers against one another: "In some cases, on a key route, it is better to negotiate directly with that international carrier than in an alliance."

In other cases, international alliance deals appear to work for some companies, like American Honda Motor Co., whereas domestic partnerships do not. "Domestically, I have not been real thrilled," said Charles Franklin, the car company's manager of corporate services. "Travelers say that once you get on that codeshare flight, you are a nobody."

To be sure, the major global alliances are more closely integrating products and processes with each passing month, with a goal of finding cost efficiencies for member carriers and developing seamless services for travelers.

Star Alliance, for example, is progressing on plans to implement a common IT platform across many, if not all, of its carriers, covering reservations, inventory, departure control and other functions. Key participants, including Lufthansa and United Airlines, have "firm commitments" to employ Amadeus for the project, according to Klick. A United spokesperson said Amadeus "has been selected as a preferred vendor but no agreement has been signed." United currently uses Cendant Corp.'s Galileo for much of its IT needs.

The alliance already has established StarNet, a central database linked to all member carriers. Star members also cooperate on fuel purchases, electronic ticket interlining and self-checkin kiosks.

In fact, Klick said self-checkin kiosk trials are underway in London, Munich and Tokyo, with a total of 40 airport rollouts planned by year-end. Other airport projects underway include joint terminals, concourses and connection centers.

Klick said responses to a request for proposals sent to distribution firms this summer were due by the beginning of this month. Star plans to select one or more distribution partners by year-end.

7 September 2005


Star Alliance is now offering a Frequent Flyer Programme (FFP) upgrade redemption option across the alliance, rather than on an individual carrier basis.

This enhancement is now available to the FFP members of ANA (ANA Mileage Club), Austrian (Miles & More), LOT Polish Airlines (Miles & More), Lufthansa (Miles & More) and Singapore Airlines (KrisFlyer). Other Star Alliance member carriers will begin to offer this product during 2006.

Star Alliance Upgrade Awards permits customers to redeem miles or points from their FFP account to upgrade by one class, either from Economy Class to Business Class or from Business Class to First Class, on scheduled flights operated by the participating member carriers.

Star Alliance Upgrade Awards requires a confirmed booking prior to travel through the existing FFP redemption channels, in general either a call centre or a website (depending on carrier’s offer). The upgrade is processed electronically through the computer reservations system, eliminating the need to issue paper certificates to the customers. Both conventional paper tickets as well as electronic tickets can be upgraded under this new scheme. As with most FFP redemption products, capacity restrictions apply and upgrades from certain types of fares are not permissible.

Star Alliance re-thinks GDS technology
Thursday, 8 September 2005

Global airline network, Star Alliance announced yesterday it was investigating the use of new distribution channel alternatives that could possibly save the group's airlines tens of millions of dollars.

FaresProWith seven online airlines, and almost 600 weekly flights servicing Australia, Star Alliance hopes new providers, Alternative Content Access Platforms (ACAPs) or Global Distribution Systems New Entrants (GNEs), will introduce viable alternatives to current Global Distribution Systems (GDSs).

Speaking at the second annual TRAVELtech Conference in Sydney, Stephen Pearse, General Manager of United Airlines in Australia and Chairman of the local Star Alliance Country Steering Committee, said that tickets usually costing US$13 to book using GDS technology would cost as little as US$1 using alternative providers.

"The 16 carriers in Star Alliance spent about US$2 billion in GDS fees a year, so you can see why we are very keen to seek an alternative," he said.

Mr Pearse said new providers were developing quickly and with their internet-based functionality, it allowed for faster and more efficient service compared with the traditional mainframe-based booking engines.

Currently, Untied Airlines, Air Canada , Lufthansa, SAS and Singapore Airlines are working with Star Alliance member carriers to produce a single strategy for selecting a GNE.

Mr Pearse said the carriers had attended a demonstration of the various GNEs in a workshop, and as a result, Star Alliance had issued a Request For Information (RFI) for ACAP services in June to assist in defining the network's standard for the next generation distribution technology and to further assess the players' capabilities.

A number of providers have responded to the September 1 deadline, and Star Alliance is now making vendor selections to enable implementations of the new products at various member airlines by 2006.

Star Alliance carriers to service Australia online are Air Canada, Air New Zealand, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways International and United Airlines. The 584 flights per week comprise almost 27 percent of seat capacity to and from Australia.

Star Alliance to create an alliance IT product for Lufthansa and United

Implementing an alliance product for its member carriers, Star Alliance, together with Lufthansa and United, has finalised a deal with Amadeus for a next generation technology platform for passenger service systems in the airline industry. (9/9/2005)


As a result of the development, Lufthansa and United will replace their own legacy IT systems, with expansion to other members being planned. The new platform is based on a common technical infrastructure and software.

Terming the decision as the realisation of a long time strategic goal, Jaan Albrecht, chief executive officer, Star Alliance said that common IT platform is driven by the effort to better serve the customer, significantly lower IT costs and dramatically increase the speed of delivering new products to market.

Lufthansa will begin transitioning the first functions from its current system to the Common IT Platform in the second half of 2006 and expects to complete migration by the end of 2007. United is presently finalising its migration timeline, according to a statement. Star Alliance stated the new system has been developed to better meet the customer demands in today's changing market environment, while at the same time permitting the member carriers to substantially reduce costs.

Glenn Tilton, president, chairman and chief executive officer, United said that the common IT platform will help provide what customers want: ease and convenience.

"The Common IT Platform is a good example of how we envisage future co-operation within the alliance. Up to now, we have very often worked on ensuring that existing products could be made 'alliance compatible'. With common IT we have looked at implementing an alliance product for our member carriers straight from the outset," Albrecht.

The new system offers enhanced customer service functionalities, specifically for both sales and airport environments, and includes such transactions as schedule, availability, inventory, reservations, fare quote and ticketing as well as passenger check-in. The improvement in customer service will come through ease of use as well as through common and better quality of data which the airline service agents will be able to access when dealing with alliance customers, said a statement.

SriLankan Airlines promotes Kuwait-Dubai flights with Bonus Miles
12 September 2005

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As part of a bid to boost awareness of its daily Dubai flights, SriLankan Airlines is offering bonus miles to Kuwait-based members of its Skywards frequent flyer programme. This promotion offers double Miles in Economy Class and triple Miles in Business Class for travel on this route between September 15th and November 30th 2005.

The Sri Lankan carrier offers convenient timings on its daily service, departing Kuwait at 1910 and arriving Dubai at 2145. The return leg is scheduled for departure from Dubai at 1725 with arrival in Kuwait at 1800. From October 30, flight timings will change slightly: the flight departs Kuwait at 1920 and arrives in Dubai at 2205. The return flight leaves Dubai at 1715 and arrives in Kuwait at 1805.

Skywards members must register for this offer and quote their Skywards membership number at the time of reservation and check in.

According to SriLankan’s Manager Skywards Ranjit De Silva, “Convenient flight timings plus Skywards rewards is a winning combination for travellers on the busy route between Kuwait and Dubai. While SriLankan is the prime carrier to Colombo, we also offer several intra-Gulf routes such as Kuwait-Dubai, and these flights are a useful alternative for regular travellers.”

Langham Hotels in FFP partnership with Japan Airlines
15 September 2005

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Langham Hotels International (LHI) has entered into a new strategic partnership with Japan Airlines (JAL) to offer value-added frequent flyer mileage benefits for members who stay at LHI's worldwide hotels portfolio.

Under the new partnership, over 17 million JAL Mileage Bank (JMB) members can earn mileage benefits when staying in any of the hotels under LHI in five gateway cities across the four continents, namely London, Boston, Hong Kong, Melbourne and Auckland. JMB members can receive 500 miles per stay at Langham Hotels and 300 miles per stay at The Eaton Hotel, Hong Kong.

LHI now has 9 partnerships with leading airlines, bringing the total number of Frequent Flyer Programme members able to earn mileage benefits at our hotels to over 60 million worldwide.

Star Alliance welcomes the New US Airways
30 September 2005

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Star Alliance has congratulated the new US Airways on the conclusion of its merger with America West Airlines and looks forward to integrating the enlarged carrier into the alliance. Once the merger is fully completed (all flights operating under US flight numbers), the Tempe, Arizona-based airline will add 1,000 flights per day to the Star Alliance network in North America. The alliance and US Airways are now working on providing the Star Alliance customer benefits to the airline's expanded network as quickly as possible.

"The merger between America West and US Airways is good news for customers, for the alliance and for our member carriers," said Jaan Albrecht, Star Alliance CEO. "From the customers' perspective, they will be able to make use of the Star Alliance benefits on new routes. From an alliance angle, we will improve our market position in North America, and from our member carriers' view, they will increase their network reach."

All in all, the three North American member carriers - Air Canada, United and US Airways - will operate more than 9,000 daily flights to more than 320 destinations across Canada and the USA. The complementary route structure - America West's strength on the West Coast and US Airways' concentrated coverage on the East Coast, Europe, Canada and the Caribbean - will further increase flight options for passengers.

The alliance customer benefits will be made available to all passengers using the new US Airways during 2006.

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Times Online October 11, 2005

Popular frequent flyer programme to vanish
Swiss TravelClub, one of the most lucrative frequent flyer programmes for its members, is to be replaced by Lufthansa’s Miles & More programme from next April. The announcement brings to an end speculation about the future of the programme that has been generated ever since Lufthansa announced its planned acquisition of Swiss International Airlines earlier this year.

Existing members of Swiss TravelClub will this month receive a personal invitation to join Miles & More. If they accept by the middle of November, all their Swiss TravelClub miles will be transferred one-for-one to Miles & More on April 1, 2006. Swiss TravelClub Silver members will become Miles & More Frequent Travellers while Swiss TravelClub Gold customers will be awarded Miles & More Senator status. All the miles transferred will be valid for three years and any status awarded will remain valid for two years. In general, award levels in the Swiss TravelClub are cheaper for award flights within Europe as well as for upgrades while long haul award flights are cheaper with Miles & More.

However, some aviation experts believe the replacement of TravelClub will incur substantial additional costs for Lufthansa. According to estimates by Ravindra Bhagwanani, general manager of frequent flyer consultancy Global Flight Management, the liabilities for outstanding miles in the Swiss TravelClub accounts for several 100 million euro applying a correct accounting practice, which he believes far exceeds the liquid funds of Swiss.

“This means that no full balance payment to Lufthansa can take place as part of the merger of both programs. Hence the corresponding costs need to be absorbed by Lufthansa or balanced off by additional revenues in other areas resulting from the total package of the takeover of Swiss respectively. As a result the take-over of financially beleaguered Swiss becomes a more expensive exercise for Lufthansa than the official purchase price suggests,” says Bhagwanani.

Japan Airlines seeks oneworld Membership
25 October 2005


Japan Airlines (JAL) has decided to apply to join the multilateral airline alliance, oneworld. Launched in February 1999, oneworld offers a global network provided by eight major airlines, namely American Airlines, British Airways, Qantas, Cathay Pacific, Iberia, LAN, Finnair and Aer Lingus, plus their 12 affiliates.

Presently, oneworld has a network linking around 600 cities in 135 countries, and by joining the alliance JAL’s network would further expand.

With a worldwide network which serves 206 airports in 34 countries and territories, and strong market presence particularly in Japan and Asia, JAL believes it would be able to significantly enhance the competitiveness of oneworld when it finally becomes a member of the alliance.

SkyTeam launches Asia Pass
18 October 2005


SkyTeam passengers traveling to Asia Pacific are now able to explore the area and earn additional frequent flyer miles by taking advantage of the new SkyTeam Asia Pass. The new fare product allows passengers to explore up to eight cities in the region with significant savings on fare prices.

The SkyTeam Asia Pass is designed to provide additional flexibility and convenience to passengers looking to visit multiple destinations in Asia. Expected growth rates in global passenger traffic show an increased demand for access to these destinations.

According to the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Strategic Intelligence Centre, 2005 year-to-date figures on collective international inbound arrivals within the Asia Pacific region show an increase of 10.5% over the same period in 2004, and PATA expects travel to Asia Pacific to increase 10.6% per year through 2007.

The SkyTeam network in Asia and the Pacific region gives travelers access to 61 cities in 21 countries, including three major gateways, Guam, Seoul and Tokyo. Passengers now have more convenient access to the most popular destinations in the region, including: Australia, China, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mariana Islands, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Mongolia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Palau Island, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, USA-Pacific, Vietnam.

In conjunction with an intercontinental round trip ticket to Asia Pacific on any SkyTeam airline, customers can buy three to eight flight coupons for exploring this area on international or domestic direct flights operated by Air France, Continental Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Korean Air or Northwest Airlines. SkyTeam passengers may book Asia Pass flights through any of the nine SkyTeam carriers.

Passengers traveling on the Asia Pass purchase coupons for individual segments of their trip. A minimum of three coupons is required to take advantage of the Asia Pass offering. Fares for a SkyTeam Asia Pass are based on the number of segment coupons purchased: US$750 for three coupons up to US$2,310 for eight coupons (plus local taxes or fees).

As an example, an adult passenger arriving from Europe or Africa could choose to visit Beijing, Seoul, Tokyo, Nouméa, Osaka, Taipei, Bangkok, Saigon and Seoul again and pay only US$2,310 (1,937 euros) for eight Asia Pass coupons. Conventional airfares would be more than US$7,000.

SkyTeam launches Asia Pass
18 October 2005


SkyTeam passengers traveling to Asia Pacific are now able to explore the area and earn additional frequent flyer miles by taking advantage of the new SkyTeam Asia Pass. The new fare product allows passengers to explore up to eight cities in the region with significant savings on fare prices.

The SkyTeam Asia Pass is designed to provide additional flexibility and convenience to passengers looking to visit multiple destinations in Asia. Expected growth rates in global passenger traffic show an increased demand for access to these destinations.

According to the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Strategic Intelligence Centre, 2005 year-to-date figures on collective international inbound arrivals within the Asia Pacific region show an increase of 10.5% over the same period in 2004, and PATA expects travel to Asia Pacific to increase 10.6% per year through 2007.

The SkyTeam network in Asia and the Pacific region gives travelers access to 61 cities in 21 countries, including three major gateways, Guam, Seoul and Tokyo. Passengers now have more convenient access to the most popular destinations in the region, including: Australia, China, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mariana Islands, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Mongolia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Palau Island, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, USA-Pacific, Vietnam.

In conjunction with an intercontinental round trip ticket to Asia Pacific on any SkyTeam airline, customers can buy three to eight flight coupons for exploring this area on international or domestic direct flights operated by Air France, Continental Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Korean Air or Northwest Airlines. SkyTeam passengers may book Asia Pass flights through any of the nine SkyTeam carriers.

Passengers traveling on the Asia Pass purchase coupons for individual segments of their trip. A minimum of three coupons is required to take advantage of the Asia Pass offering. Fares for a SkyTeam Asia Pass are based on the number of segment coupons purchased: US$750 for three coupons up to US$2,310 for eight coupons (plus local taxes or fees).

As an example, an adult passenger arriving from Europe or Africa could choose to visit Beijing, Seoul, Tokyo, Nouméa, Osaka, Taipei, Bangkok, Saigon and Seoul again and pay only US$2,310 (1,937 euros) for eight Asia Pass coupons. Conventional airfares would be more than US$7,000.

Jet Airways signs Frequent Flyer Programme Partnership with Gulf Air
17 October 2005


Jet Airways has signed an agreement with Gulf Air, which allows members of the Jet Privilege (JP) programme to earn and redeem JP Miles, when travelling on Gulf Air. Moreover, elite tier Jet Privilege members can also enjoy premium privileges such as lounge access and extra baggage allowance among others, when they fly with Gulf Air.

As this is a reciprocal relationship, members of Gulf Air Frequent flyer programme will also be able to earn and redeem miles, as well as enjoy special benefits when travelling on Jet Airways.

Jet Airways’ extensive network across the Indian subcontinent of over 280 daily flights together with Gulf Air’s 57 weekly services between India and the Gulf region, enables frequent flyers of both airlines to now enjoy a host of convenient connections offered by the two carriers.

To celebrate the launch of this new global partnership, Jet Airways’ Jet Privilege programme is offering its members an opportunity to earn Double JPMiles when they take a flight on Gulf Air before November 15, 2005 and vice versa.

Skywards by Emirates/Sri Lankan (hope emirates will join an alliance sooon!).

JAL set to launch Double Mileage Campaign
4 November 2005


JAL has launched one of its biggest ever frequent flyer mileage campaigns – the ‘All JAL’ Double Mileage Campaign. Between December 1st 2005 and March 31st 2006, the almost 18 million members worldwide of JAL’s frequent flyer program, the JAL Mileage Bank (JMB), will be able to earn double the flight mileage normally offered when they travel on JAL Group airlines’ extensive global network.

During the campaign period, double flight mileage can be accumulated in all classes on all of JAL Group’s international and Japan domestic flights, as well as code share flights operated by partner airlines booked under the JAL (JL) flight number.

JMB members are simply required to register for the campaign in advance of travel through either the JAL Website or JMB Center applicable to their JMB region. The campaign only applies to travel conducted within the campaign period and JAL fares eligible for JMB mileage accumulation. The offer cannot be combined with other flight mile bonus offers.

Airlines open lounge doors to club members

Club members of Northwest Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Continental Airlines will get expanded access to airport lounges across the world beginning Dec. 1, the carriers said Monday.

Members of Continental's Presidents Club, Delta's Crown Room Club and Northwest's WorldClubs can use any of the facilities no matter which airline they are flying. The plan takes away flight restrictions on which club members can visit.

Passengers are also offered flight assistance and access to business amenities such as conference rooms and work stations. Members can bring two guests or a spouse and children under 21 years old.

All three airlines serve General Mitchell International Airport, but only Northwest and Continental have private lounges at the Milwaukee airport.

SAS and Star Alliance sign travel agreement with Volvo Group
28 November 2005


SAS and Star Alliance have signed a new global travel agreement with Volvo AB, which means that Volvo has selected SAS and Star Alliance as its main supplier of air travel.

For SAS and Star Alliance, the agreement will result in increased revenue and for Volvo, which will have access to favorable prices, reduced travel costs. The air-travel agreement, which is for two years, is the largest that Volvo has signed with an airline alliance.

Twelve of Star Alliance's total of sixteen members are included in the agreement and the travel possibilities for Volvo employees extend to hundreds of destinations in fourteen countries worldwide.

In addition to favorable ticket terms and conditions, Volvo travelers will also have access to a large number of lounges and express check-in.

"SAS and Star Alliance are extremely pleased and proud that Volvo has selected Star Alliance as its principal supplier of air travel," said Ágústa Ólafsdóttir, Global Account Manager SAS.

"The negotiations continued for a year in strong competition with Sky Team before Volvo made its final choice. The agreement is strategically important for all parties and SAS and Star Alliance look forward to long-term, rewarding cooperation with Volvo."

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China Airlines and China Eastern Expand Mileage Program Cooperation
8 December 2005


China Airlines and China Eastern Airlines are expanding their mileage programs cooperation effective 1 January 2006. In the future, when flying with one of the airlines, frequent flyer members will be able to choose to accumulate mileage on either frequent flyer program.

China Airlines and China Eastern Airlines began mileage program cooperation in September, 2004. At the initial stage, all China Airlines international flights, and sectors of China Eastern's Hong Kong-Shanghai and Okinawa-Shanghai flights, were eligible for this cooperation program. In 2006, both airlines will expand the cooperation to all scheduled flights. The cooperation expansion will benefit around 7 million frequent flyer members for them to accumulate flown mileage faster in exchange for free tickets and free upgrades.

There are 2 million members in CAL's Dynasty Flyer Program. With 15,000 miles, members of the Dynasty Flyer Program can exchange their miles for seat upgrades on regional flights. There are more than 5 million members in China Eastern's Eastern Miles Club. Their members can exchange for domestic seat upgrades after only 3,000 kilometers. Currently, China Airlines has mileage program cooperation with three major aviation groups in China, i.e. Air China, China Southern Airlines and China Eastern Airlines.

Virgin Atlantic offers Frequent Flyers the chance to be an Astronaut
6 December 2005


Virgin Atlantic has joined forces with Virgin Galactic to offer its Flying Club members the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to become an astronaut. Members of the frequent flyer scheme around the world will be able to convert their earthly miles into space miles and earn themselves a trip to space to join the 100 mile high club.

Members will need to earn two million Flying Club miles on Virgin Atlantic flights to be able to redeem them for a trip with Virgin Galactic into space. The trip includes the three day Virgin Galactic Experience which will ensure that future astronauts can savour each second of their space flight. The experience will include ‘g’ acclimatisation, a flight in the White Knight and will take place in the US at the Virgin Galactic Spaceport. To date the world has seen only 444 astronauts, with the launch of Virgin Galactic commercial flights, the airline expects this to grow to many, many thousands – initially flights will cost $200,000 but Virgin Galactic expects prices to fall over time.

Sir Richard Branson, chairman of Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Galactic, said, “A journey into space seems like a distant dream for many but this deal makes it more even more achievable for our frequent travellers to become astronauts.

“We have always tried to offer more unusual and fun rewards, like hot air ballooning and white water rafting, alongside our more conventional awards, but this means our Flying Club rewards are now literally out of this world! No other airline will be able to match this amazing offer.

“We expect the first Virgin Galactic space flight to take place in 2008 which gives our Flying Club members time to save up all their miles.”

Virgin Galactic is a company established by Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group to undertake the challenge of developing space tourism for everybody. It will own and operate privately built spaceships, modelled on the history-making SpaceShipOne craft. These spaceships, it is hoped, will allow affordable sub-orbital space tourism for the first time in our history.

Asian Hotels Alliance partners with Finnair Plus
19 December 2005


Asian Hotels Alliance (AHA) has concluded an agreement with Finnair Plus, Finnair’s frequent flyer program. Effective January 2006, Finnair Plus members will be able to earn 1000 Finnair Plus points when staying at all AHA participating hotels all over Asia.

“Finnair Plus is pleased to welcome all AHA participating hotels on board the program, we look forward to working closely with AHA in creating more marketing opportunity and values to our Finnair Plus members in Finland and worldwide,” said Mrs. Heidi Niemenlehto-Jarvinen, Manager Partnership & Business Development, Finnair’s Customer Relationship Marketing.

AHA’s Founding Members are Dusit Hotels & Resorts (Thailand), Landis Hotels & Resorts (Taiwan), Marco Polo Hotel Group (Hong Kong), Meritus Hotels & Resorts (Singapore), and New Otani Hotels (Japan).

Star Alliance selects G2 Switchworks and ITA Software to provide ACAPs
14 December 2005


At a signing ceremony held during the recent bi-annual meeting of the Star Alliance CEOs, the alliance concluded contracts with two vendors who will provide so called Alternative Content Access Platforms (ACAPs) to the member carriers. The two companies selected are G2 SwitchWorks and ITA Software.

These contracts are the culmination of a process which began in June 2005. In an effort to reduce the 2 billion US Dollars which the 16 member carriers spend annually on GDS fees.

“By concluding these two agreements, Star Alliance has demonstrated that the work done at an alliance level can very well support the carriers need to adapt to changing market conditions,” said Jaan Albrecht, Star Alliance CEO. “Together with G2 SwitchWorks and ITA Software we will move forward in setting new industry standards in the area of airline distribution.”

Under this umbrella agreement, the member carriers will now enter into detailed discussions with the providers in order to build a tailor-made solution for their specific requirements.

The new distribution technologies will first be implemented in North America and are to be expanded to Asia and Europe within the next 18 months.

Air Canada Top Tier Aeroplan Members now able to Further Customize their Benefit Packages

MONTREAL, Dec. 23 /CNW Telbec/ - Aeroplan today announced improved
flexibility and choice within the benefit packages available to Air Canada's
most loyal, frequent flyer customers. The carrier's top tier membership
program, administered by Aeroplan, was awarded InsideFlyer's Freddie Award for
"Industry Impact" in 2003 and continues to lead the way for customizable
benefits for frequent flyers.
Members who achieve top tier status - Super Elite, Elite or Prestige -
will continue to receive a core set of benefits, along with additional options
from which members may tailor their top tier package. This added flexibility
means that, in addition to the key benefits that members have come to enjoy
from this leading edge program, members are also able to personalize their
portfolio of benefits more than ever before.
Notification to members on the achievement of top tier status has begun
and will continue into early 2006. This notification will also include details
on how top tier members may select their benefit package online. All benefit
package details for each top tier are available by visiting Aeroplan.com.
"Increasing the choice and flexibility of benefits for our most loyal
customers is consistent with Air Canada's approach to simplifying the travel
experience and offering our customers value-driven options that meet
individuals' own needs," said Sean Menke, Executive Vice President and Chief
Commercial Officer, Air Canada. "From our growing range of specialized Flight
Passes that offer buy-in-bulk savings, to flexible top tier member benefit
packages, we're innovating to customize the travel experience."
"Air Canada and Aeroplan continue to be leaders in loyalty recognition,"
said Rupert Duchesne, President and CEO, Aeroplan. "With the increased
flexibility in benefit options for tier members, our companies are jointly
pushing personalization to the next level."

2006 Qualification Levels
-------------------------

Members qualify for Super Elite, Elite or Prestige membership levels by
earning Status Miles and Status Segments through flights booked with Air
Canada and its Star Alliance partners. Status Miles and Status Segments earned
in 2005 count towards top tier benefits for 2006.

The qualification levels for 2006 and 2007 top tier status are as
follows:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tier Status Miles Status Segments
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Super Elite 100,000 Status Miles 100 Status Segments
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Elite 35,000 Status Miles 50 Status Segments
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prestige 25,000 Status Miles 25 Status Segments
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Additional top tier privileges from which members may select and augment
their core benefits package include:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Top Tier Bundle 1 Bundle 2
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Super Elite Select 2 of the following Select 2 of the following
5: 3:
- 10,000 Aeroplan Status - 4 Maple Leaf Lounge /
Mile bonus AC Arrivals Lounge
- Bonus Aeroplan Miles One-Time Guest Passes
Mileage (non-status) - 4 System Wide Upgrades
for all 2006 AC, AC - 4 North America Upgrades
Jazz and select Star
Alliance flights
- 2 Special System Wide
Upgrades
- 2 System Wide Upgrades
- 1 complimentary spousal
Maple Leaf Lounge card
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Elite Select 1 of the following Select 3 of the following
3: 4:
- 2 Special System Wide - 2 System Wide Upgrades
Upgrades - 4 North America Upgrades
- 4 System Wide Upgrades - 2 Maple Leaf lounge /
- 5,000 Aeroplan Status AC Arrivals Lounge
Mile bonus One-Time Guest Passes
- Bonus Aeroplan Miles
(non-status) for all
2006 AC, AC Jazz and
select Star Alliance
flights
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prestige Select 2 of the following Select 1 of the following
3: 2:
- 2 System Wide Upgrades - 2,500 Aeroplan Status
- 4 North America Upgrades Mile bonus
- 2 Maple Leaf Lounge / - 25% bonus Aeroplan Miles
AC Arrivals Lounge (non-status) for all
One-Time Guest Passes 2006 AC, AC Jazz and
select Star Alliance
flights
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

About Air Canada

Montréal-based Air Canada provides scheduled and charter air
transportation for passengers and cargo to more than 150 destinations on five
continents. Canada's flag carrier is the 14th largest commercial airline in
the world and serves more than 29 million customers annually. In 2005, an
independent survey of more than 12 million international air travelers ranked
Air Canada as the Best Airline in North America. Air Canada is a founding
member of Star Alliance providing the world's most comprehensive air
transportation network.

About Aeroplan

In the more than 20 years since its inception, Aeroplan has grown into
Canada's premier loyalty marketing company.
Aeroplan's millions of members earn Aeroplan Miles with its network of
more than 60 partners, representing more than 100 brands, in the financial,
retail and travel sectors and redeem those miles towards travel to more than
700 destinations worldwide or for a wide array of exclusive lifestyle rewards.
Together with its world-class partners, Aeroplan develops and executes
innovative and appealing member-targeted marketing programs designed to engage
the loyalty of this elite and prestigious segment of Canadian consumers.
For more information about Aeroplan, please visit www.aeroplan.com.



For further information: Gillian Hewitt, Aeroplan, (416) 352-3706,

Skyteam Named 2005 Best Airline Alliance
Posted on Saturday, January 07, 2006 @ 5:38 PM CET by sn26567

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Skyteam Readers of Global Traveler Magazine choose alliance in annual survey

Today SkyTeam was named the 2005 Best Airline Alliance by Global Traveler Magazine. Selected by the magazine's readers in an annual reader's survey, Global Traveler cited the alliance's growth in terms of member airlines and route network over the past year as a key factor for receiving this recognition. SkyTeam will be recognized at a luncheon at the Grand Hyatt in New York on January 17, 2006.

"SkyTeam values its passengers and is focused on delivering the highest level of customer experience in the industry," said Dominique Patry, chairman of the SkyTeam Steering Committee and vice president, International Affairs and Alliances at Air France and one of the alliance representatives accepting the award on behalf of SkyTeam. "This award supports the SkyTeam value proposition and we are honored that our customers recognize our industry-leading efforts. We look forward to continuing to provide the quality service our customers have come to expect. "

Rising to number one this year from second place in 2004, SkyTeam attributes its ability to best serve business and leisure travelers to its continued focus on providing the utmost in worldwide connectivity and customer service in preferred hubs across the globe. Over the past sixteen months, SkyTeam has taken steps to strengthen its offering to its passengers.

In September 2004, SkyTeam added new members Continental Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Northwest Airlines, bringing its membership to nine carriers and giving more passengers access to the highest quality service to 684 destinations in 133 countries worldwide. Last year, SkyTeam announced the launch of an Associate Program, which will initially include Air Europa of Spain, Copa Airlines of Panama, Kenya Airways of Kenya and Tarom of Romania. With the added carriers, the alliance's expanded network better serves passengers' needs, making SkyTeam the alliance of choice for more travelers.

"Averaging about 32 roundtrip flights per year, Global Traveler readers make up part of the core business and frequent travel market," said Francis X. Gallagher, publisher and CEO of Global Traveler. "This market benefits from the expanded worldwide access SkyTeam offers as a result of the alliance's significant growth – in terms of members and network – over the past year. This growth, along with the individual recognition CSA Czech Airlines and Air France received in this year's survey helped SkyTeam win 2005 Best Airline Alliance."

Global Traveler Magazine surveyed 4,839 readers from February 1 – August 31 with open-ended questions assessing opinions of the most superior performers in 38 categories related to business and luxury travel. For more information on survey methodology, visit www.globaltravelerusa.com.

Also planning to accept the award on behalf of SkyTeam are Paul Matsen, executive vice president and chief marketing officer at Delta Air Lines; Jorge Fernandez, vice president, International and Alliances at Delta Air Lines; and Nat Pieper, vice president, Alliances at Northwest Airlines.

About SkyTeam

SkyTeam is the global airline alliance partnering nine members, including Aeroméxico, Air France, Alitalia, Continental Airlines, CSA Czech Airlines, Delta Air Lines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Korean Air and Northwest Airlines. Through one of the world's most extensive hub networks, SkyTeam offers its 343.6 million annual passengers a worldwide system of more than 15,000 daily flights covering all major destinations. Visit SkyTeam on the Web at www.skyteam.com.

Air France press release, New York, 6 January 2006

Jat Airways will join the SkyTeam alliance
Posted on Saturday, January 07, 2006 @ 4:06 PM CET by webmaster

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JAT Galemos4 writes "After a major conference in Belgrade, Jat’s commercial director Milutin Popović announced that Jat will be joining the airlines of the SkyTeam airline alliance. He repeated twice that Jat will become a full member. Air France, one of the worlds leading airlines has offered its support to Jat and said that it will do it’s utmost for Jat to become a member.

Middle East Airlines, Air Liban applies for SkyTeam Associate Airline status
18 January 2006


Middle East Airlines, Air Liban (MEA), Lebanon's national carrier, has taken the first steps toward becoming a SkyTeam Associate Airline.

Air France will serve as the airline's sponsor during the joining process, with completion expected within the next 15 months.

"We are pleased that MEA, with an established presence in the Middle East region and in the Arabic world, is interested in affiliating itself with SkyTeam," said Jean-Cyril Spinetta, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Air France - KLM. "The alliance looks forward to working with the airline and providing all passengers with additional opportunities in this high-growth market."

The Associate Program extends SkyTeam's benefits to more passengers. As part of their involvement with SkyTeam, Associate Airlines will adhere to key alliance customer programs, including frequent flyer reciprocity, lounge access and codeshare agreements.

MEA, which celebrated its 60th anniversary last year, serves 1.2 million passengers annually. With a modern fleet of three Airbus A330-200 and six Airbus A321-200 aircraft, the airline flies to 26 destinations in 17 countries, serving cities in Europe, the Middle East, Gulf States and Africa.

SkyTeam Defers Antitrust Quest After DOT Rejection
By Jay Boehmer & Chris Davis

JANUARY 23, 2006 -- Six carriers of the SkyTeam alliance this month withdrew their request for antitrust immunity following last month's decision by the U.S. Department of Transportation to turn down the carriers' application. Although DOT rejected requests after it "tentatively concluded that the carriers failed to demonstrate sufficient public benefits that would result from a grant of antitrust immunity," the partners in the airline alliance said they would, at a later date, pursue their request.

"However, in light of the fact that the Department remains open to reconsidering a grant of immunity to the joint applicants in the future, the joint applicants have decided at this time to withdraw their request for approval of and antitrust immunity for the alliance agreements," counsel for various SkyTeam carriers filed in a docket with DOT this month.

The agency noted the objection of the U.S. Department of Justice, based on the potential for anticompetitive conduct, to the carriers' application (BTN, Sept. 5).

DOT proposed to grant broad codesharing authority to the six carriers, including bankrupt Delta and Northwest airlines, noting that "code sharing would allow the carriers to achieve most of the benefits they are seeking, such as being able to provide new and more convenient service," according to a release.

The six carriers—Air France, Alitalia, CSA Czech, Delta, KLM and Northwest—in 2004 applied to DOT for antitrust immunity (BTN, Sept. 20, 2004). Some, but not all, legacy domestic carriers and DOJ objected (BTN, Sept. 19).

While DOT noted the antitrust immunity request would yield little more benefit for consumers than would code sharing, Delta, in a statement this month, countered the assumption.

"ATI would benefit the traveling public by allowing Delta and its SkyTeam partners to offer international customers more transatlantic service, shorter travel times, more departure times and better opportunities to find discounted fares by choosing alternative routes to a destination."

Northwest echoed Delta's sentiment in a statement that expressed "surprise and disappointment" at the ruling. "The decision is inconsistent with all of the DOT's prior decisions wherein they have consistently granted ATI to other global alliances, especially when, as here, the proposal is pro-competitive and will greatly benefit consumers," said Andrea Fischer ******, Northwest Airlines senior vice president of government affairs.

"Approval is critical for SkyTeam to provide maximum benefits to both U.S. consumers and the participating airlines. A more fully integrated SkyTeam offers significant advantages. Major corporations, which are sophisticated consumers of airline services, support SkyTeam's request. These companies, including General Motors, General Mills, Ford and FedEx, say that an expanded SkyTeam will improve flight schedules, reduce travel times, add new service and lower fares," ****** said. "DOT's decision places these benefits in jeopardy, and does not help Northwest's efforts to emerge from bankruptcy. It is also inconsistent with the DOT's recent efforts to obtain 'Open Skies' between the United States and European Union, as well as liberalization of airline ownership and control issues."

American unveils frequent-flier promotion

American Airlines said Tuesday that customers who fly three round trips between D/FW International Airport or Dallas Love Field and Austin, San Antonio, Kansas City and St. Louis from March 2 to May 26 will earn 30,000 frequent-flier miles. Each trip must begin or end at D/FW or Love Field and begin or end in Austin, San Antonio, Kansas City or St. Louis.

On March 2, American Airlines is launching service from Love Field -- Southwest's home base -- to Austin, San Antonio, Kansas City and St. Louis. American will operate five flights a day between Love Field and Austin using 50-seat Embraer 145 regional jet aircraft.

In December, Southwest started flights from Love Field to Kansas City and St. Louis after Congress loosened the Wright Amendment.

American says this one of the most generous frequent-flier offers in its program's 25-year history.

"We've said all along that if rules regarding Love Field were changed, we would shift flights from D/FW Airport and vigorously compete for every customer at Love Field," says Dan Garton, executive vice president of marketing at Fort Worth-based American, whose home base is D/FW Airport.

Southwest and American are locked in a heated battle over the Wright Amendment. The federal law limits long-haul flights into and out of Love Field. Southwest wants the law repealed; American wants it kept intact.

American is the No. 2 carrier at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, behind Dallas-based Southwest (NYSE: LUV). American Airlines is a subsidiary of AMR Corp. (NYSE: AMR).

For more information about the frequent-flier promotion, visit www.aa.com/offers.

Japan Airlines one step closer to oneworld membership
9 February 2006


Japan Airlines (JAL) and oneworld have exchanged a memorandum of understanding, completing the Asian carrier’s first step towards joining the global airline alliance.

The agreement was signed just three months after JAL first indicated its intention to seek oneworld membership. It sets out a framework for the remaining steps to be taken before the alliance can formally invite the airline to join. All parties have committed to reach this stage in the next few months – and then to bring the new recruit on board oneworld on a fast track programme. Assuming all remaining agreements can be reached, this should see JAL flying as a fully fledged member of the alliance in around a year.

American Airlines will be supporting JAL through these tasks, as its prime oneworld sponsor, assisted by Cathay Pacific.

oneworld Managing Partner John McCulloch said, “Adding Japan Airlines will be one of the most significant developments in oneworld’s history. We are delighted that we have been able to reach this key stage in our discussions so soon. It signals an excellent relationship going forward. Bringing JAL on board is a top priority for the alliance. oneworld and all its member airlines have committed to do whatever is necessary to complete this process as smoothly and speedily as possible. We look forward to working with the team at JAL to complete the steps necessary before we can issue a formal invitation to join.”

JAL Group Chief Executive Officer Toshiyuki Shinmachi said, “Discussions between Japan Airlines and oneworld have progressed at an extremely swift pace. The memorandum of understanding signifies Japan Airlines’ first major step towards obtaining full membership of oneworld. We hope that we can maintain this pace and successfully complete all the stages ahead of us, so JAL can enter oneworld as soon as possible, to the benefit of our customers.”