Unfortunately, I don't know how to create the link directly to the website, but this week's FREQUENT FLYER CRIER says US is destined to join the *A. Check out the news at:

www.frequentflyercrier.com (http://www.frequentflyercrier.com)

[This message has been edited by romadaro (edited 07-12-2001).]

Here is a working link:

http://www.frequentflier.com/

However the current newsletter doesn't seem to be posted yet. All they said was that their "best guess" is that US Airways will join the Star Alliance.

Thanks! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif This has been rumoured for a while now! Please also see:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum51/HTML/000532.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum82/HTML/000248.html

If anyone from US is reading this, I'd much rather see them join One World... I've given up on United, tossed my PremEx card in the trash, don't want to go back!

Assuming the merger tanks for good, there will likely be a settlement between the parties. One thing of enormous value to USAirways is getting in an alliance. This is a winner for everyone. It costs UA very little, is worth a lot to US (and thus can be used as a bargaining chip to reduce any legal claims), and in the end, provides much of the synergy originally sought by the 2 companies in the first place.

I think everyone agrees that USAirways needs to join a global alliance, but Star? I hope not. Like BWI flyer, I would much prefer One World. I really can't stand United for so many reasons, and since most of my flying is domestic, my only issue is that I would prefer flying American over United.

Does anybody want to look at Qualifier? While not as globally covering as 1World or *, Qualifier does have full Europe coverage and is flown by carriers already in a FF partnership with US - Sabena and Swissair. US could be the top dog on the U.S. side in this alliance as opposed to playing second fiddle to UA in * or AA in 1World.

For me, the issue is simple. Can I get to the city I really want to on X alliance? The only place for which *A and 1W differ on that question, that I would normally fly to, is YEG. No 1W carrier goes there. Therefore, I prefer to see my favorite airline go Star. (Besides, CHA already has American Eagle, but no *A carrier.)

Qualiflyer is essentially Swissair and its affiliates, some of which it owns. They are in real trouble. In today's world, small countries just can't support a national airline, particularly if that country is outside the EU. That alliance has very litle future, and in fact, the SSAIR companies have their own sidebar deal with AA.

Despite its existing partnership, US also has very little overlap with Qualiflyer--I think that BRU is the only European hub that that is a US destination, and SN is not exactly without its own problems. They overlap in the US at IAD and BOS, but US doesn't run international flights out of any of those. I see very few route synergies here, as much as I would like to see it happen. Also, I think that AA would block such a move by its partners SR and SN.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by chalf:
Despite its existing partnership, US also has very little overlap with Qualiflyer--I think that BRU is the only European hub that that is a US destination, and SN is not exactly without its own problems. They overlap in the US at IAD and BOS, but US doesn't run international flights out of any of those. I see very few route synergies here, as much as I would like to see it happen. Also, I think that AA would block such a move by its partners SR and SN.</font>

Agreed that BRU is the only current gateway. However, US's #1 and #2 desired international destinations are MXP and ZRH. Those could happen without too much difficulty in the next round of liberalizations.

Qualiflyer, made up of Sabena, SwissAir and a few others is on it's way down. The Belgian government, which owns a majority of Sabena, is threatening legal action against SwissAir for reneging on an agmt. to buy up to 85% of the struggling Sabena. I don't see Qualifyler going anywhere.

I would LOVE to see US join oneworld! I wouldn't have to worry about requalification as Plat on AA and might even have a chance at ExpPlat!

------------------
I wish I were 1,000 miles away

I would currently favor star because:
1. UA has chanel 9, no other carrier has anything like it;
2. From postings on this board, it seems that UA 1K's have very good luck with change fee waivers and other fare rule waivers. This is a critical benefit, especially for people that mainly buy discounted tickets;
I have never flown AA, so really cannot compare its service to UA. I am intrigued that the AA Admireals clubs have 802.11B wireless access via MobileStar. Also see the AA board if you want to try MobileStar for 3 months free.

While the *A may not be perfect, I'll take it! Beggers can't be choosey! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

I'd vote for the *A because Singapore Airlines is in the program.

I want them to stay out of all of the alliances, entrance into an allaince means tons of flights will now have 1ks and senators and AAplats overwhelming the Silvers, Golds and Chairmans and the benefits seens by the US loyal flyer will decrease.

That may be true, but the airline cannot survive without one. In addition, the choice of destinations for ALL DM members will be far greater. When American ends its' partnership with US in August, how will you get to Hawaii?

Go http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starsmilie.gif Go!

[This message has been edited by chexfan (edited 07-18-2001).]

Star or oneworld.... either is fine with me. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by geo1004 (edited 07-18-2001).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by unixguy:
I want them to stay out of all of the alliances, entrance into an allaince means tons of flights will now have 1ks and senators and AAplats overwhelming the Silvers, Golds and Chairmans and the benefits seens by the US loyal flyer will decrease.</font>

Partially correct. Alliance member elites will get to use the preferred check-in line, the clubs and get early boarding, but no upgrades unless U is their "home" carrier. If U were to join *, all that means is I can use the short line and the Red Carpet Club if I'm flying on UAL. It does not mean that I can use U upgrades on UAL. What it might mean is that UAL Premier members might become DM Silver members because of the easier upgrades and SWUs. On *A, the perks really aren't that great on other carriers until you hit the Gold Preferred/Premier Exec/50k/year level.