airberlin topbonus - airberlin to be oneworld member from Feb 1.

I've been reading different reports of when airberlin is set to join oneworld on the forum and on various blogs. Being based in Berlin myself, I decided to give them a call and ask what the situation was. The guy I spoke to at the topbonus programme stated that they would be a member of oneworld on 01 Feb (2012) and that the oneworld benefits would be rolled out by "early March". He also mentioned that as an MPC member, I can collect miles as of 01 Feb.

This information may or may not be true, but the person I spoke to sounded pretty sure of the information he gave me. He also knew immediately that CX Gold was OW Sapphire.

Just thought it would be good to share here :) Especially that we now have an alternative to *A in Germany!

Happy flying!

Thanks for sharing! When was this call?

Thanks for sharing! When was this call?

Around 5 minutes before the OP :)

Thanks. If they told it today then I guess it must be for sure (since only 9 days left). I hope I'll be able to use my Sapphire card on my late-February flight on HG. Lounge access would be really appreciated :)

There is no proof of this. It is not mentioned on the AB or OW websites.

There is no proof of this. It is not mentioned on the AB or OW websites.

Hence the "This information may or may not be true" disclaimer. I'm just sharing what one guy at topbonus told me. I remain skeptical myself.

Just received an email from AAdvantage regarding new members to Oneworld.

It appears that airberlin will join later than February 1, 2012.

From the Oneworld website (News):

oneworld is the world's premier global airline alliance. It brings together some of the best and biggest names in the airline business - American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, LAN, Malév Hungarian Airlines, Qantas, Royal Jordanian and S7 Airlines, and around 20 affiliates including American Eagle, Dragonair, LAN Argentina, LAN Ecuador and LAN Peru. India's Kingfisher Airlines will join in 10 February 2012 with airberlin following soon afterwards and Malaysia Airlines later in 2012.

No exact date is mentioned but definitely after Kingfisher joins.

mxm135 :)

Last time I asked the AB guys they said it will be April 2012. And this information is about one year old.

I am not very confident that they will start earlier.

But who knows.

S.

Sorry. But there would be more fanfare and press releases if this were going to happen next week. Sometime in Q2 sounds more logical to me.

I wouldn't be too enthusiastic about this. Just got hold of a recent issue of the "Manager" magazine where the whole Air Berlin debacle is debated : "Air Berlin auf Crashkurs". Doesn't look good for the airline itself and the benefits of being a OW member are highly questionable. A good read and highly recommended. Maybe a "too little too late" scenario.

I asked at the BA lounge at London Gatwick alst week when I will be able to use their lounge on a AB ticket and was told from April.

their current partnership with Etihad is colliding with OW BA/QF and other interests. AB is promoting aussie-fares much below QF/BA. Also I find that both sides are keeping this too quite for the moment. I would bet that it will stall last moment.

headhuntercyprus when you say promoting aussie fares (not questioning it) but can you provide an example or a link or a heads up where they are promoting aussie fares.i see nothing on their website, am i looking in the wrong place.thanks

I was in VIE yesterday on a NIKI/AB flight to FRA.

They had no idea about OW, status, lugagge allowance, etc, especially when the ticket was plated on AA and theirs was a feeder flight to FRA-DFW. They charged us 100 EUROS for each additional piece of luggage and refused to let us check in at the elite desk.

The FRA station was very aware of the VIE lack of training/knowledge

I was in VIE yesterday on a NIKI/AB flight to FRA.

They had no idea about OW, status, lugagge allowance, etc, especially when the ticket was plated on AA and theirs was a feeder flight to FRA-DFW. They charged us 100 EUROS for each additional piece of luggage and refused to let us check in at the elite desk.

The FRA station was very aware of the VIE lack of training/knowledge

Not sure why you would expect to get elite treatment on a non-OW airline. Nothing about this here: http://www.aa.com/i18n/aboutUs/codesharePartners/airBerlin.jsp

I don't think you'll get benefits, even on an AA flight #, until airberlin is actually in oneworld...

I was in VIE yesterday on a NIKI/AB flight to FRA.

They had no idea about OW, status

Why should they? AB is not a OW world member, yet.

S.

Exactly. You were not entitled for any of those things. Except free baggage which is for everyone, but I guess you exceeded limit.

Anyone able to post OW miles to their AB account yet? I have a BA flight on Saturday and it would be nice to put it into AB. I was able to do this with AA on New Years eve.

Thanks

Anyone able to post OW miles to their AB account yet? I have a BA flight on Saturday and it would be nice to put it into AB. I was able to do this with AA on New Years eve.


AB has an agreement for award miles with several OW Carriers like AA and BA.

I got award miles for a domestic flight with AA in December.

To get status relevant miles you have wait for the final OW integration.

S.

I wouldn't be too enthusiastic about this. Just got hold of a recent issue of the "Manager" magazine where the whole Air Berlin debacle is debated : "Air Berlin auf Crashkurs". Doesn't look good for the airline itself and the benefits of being a OW member are highly questionable. A good read and highly recommended. Maybe a "too little too late" scenario.

That's very interesting. Could you reveal a bit more high-level details - especially on the OW part? Unfortunately I missed the opportunity to pick up a "Manager" magazine when I was in FRA last week...

That's very interesting. Could you reveal a bit more high-level details - especially on the OW part? Unfortunately I missed the opportunity to pick up a "Manager" magazine when I was in FRA last week...

Picked up my copy at the LH lounge at IAD and finished reading the issue 1/2012 here in Phuket , then tossed it. Air Berlin crews stay at the hotel I am in and they more or less confirmed the situation, although everyone hopes for the best. Try goggling articles, I just did and there is plenty that pops up when you search for "Air Berlin auf Crashkurs". Sorry can't help you more at this point.

Just checked on the Manager website, article can be downloaded and read for free two months after original issue date.

Check their website:
On 20th March 2012, airberlin will become a full member of the oneworld® alliance.

They even have a big counter counting down the seconds to full membership.

Just checked on the Manager website, article can be downloaded and read for free two months after original issue date.

Thanks, I'll either wait until end of Feb or will consider their trial offer then.

Check their website:
On 20th March 2012, airberlin will become a full member of the oneworld® alliance.

They even have a big counter counting down the seconds to full membership.Which timezone?;)

Which timezone?;)

Most likly Germany. UTC/GMT +1 hour

:p

Why should they? AB is not a OW world member, yet.

S.


Because I booked a ticket with AA.com using the aa/aa eagle/OW partner function. AA is plating carrier and they offered me a ticket returning from VIE. NIKI is just a feeder with AA being the primary carrier.

Imagine if AAeagle charges you $100 per bag when you travel from SAN-LAX-LHR. It's just not right

If I buy a ticket on NIKI VIE-FRA and then interline to DFW on AA, I get that, but if the entire ticket is issued on AA, I really think I should get at least my luggage benefits... otherwise, the whole "partner" BS is no value to me. I could have bought a ticket for less than the baggage charge....

Exactly. You were not entitled for any of those things. Except free baggage which is for everyone, but I guess you exceeded limit.

There was three of us with 2 bags each on an international ticket issued by AA. I guess that is exceeding the limit

"Kingfisher Airlines’ oneworld implementation put on hold" - because of financial issues. Note that they put that note out only 7 days prior to the planned joining date...

http://www.cathaypacific.com/cpa/en_IN/aboutus/pressroomdetails?refID=fe217c7075445310VgnVCM62000 007d21c39____

I still couldn't access the "manager magazin" article how bad it really is with the financial situation of airberlin, but think it should be better. Very interesting though that a lot can still change on such short notice. I definitely hope that airberlin won't share the same fate of delay.

"Kingfisher Airlines’ oneworld implementation put on hold" - because of financial issues. Note that they put that note out only 7 days prior to the planned joining date...

http://www.cathaypacific.com/cpa/en_IN/aboutus/pressroomdetails?refID=fe217c7075445310VgnVCM62000 007d21c39____

I still couldn't access the "manager magazin" article how bad it really is with the financial situation of airberlin, but think it should be better. Very interesting though that a lot can still change on such short notice. I definitely hope that airberlin won't share the same fate of delay.

Wow.. not good, especially after Malev halt to operations

Because I booked a ticket with AA.com using the aa/aa eagle/OW partner function. AA is plating carrier and they offered me a ticket returning from VIE. NIKI is just a feeder with AA being the primary carrier.

Imagine if AAeagle charges you $100 per bag when you travel from SAN-LAX-LHR. It's just not right

Well, it's 50 euro for the second bag, which is not $100. That's pretty standard in europe. Your 1st bag is free. That's better than pretty much every airline in the USA for non-elite customers.

If I buy a ticket on NIKI VIE-FRA and then interline to DFW on AA, I get that, but if the entire ticket is issued on AA, I really think I should get at least my luggage benefits... otherwise, the whole "partner" BS is no value to me. I could have bought a ticket for less than the baggage charge....

You can contact AA customer relations to complain. But, at the end of the day, you should always check for things like this when you're flying on a non-alliance airline, regardless of what the flight number is. Personally, I think you should at least get luggage benefits in cases like this, but that's not how it works, anywhere than I can think of.

You won't Get ANY oneworld benefits until March 20th the day they actually join the alliance! Until then you're stuck with no status and with what other airline your flying. they have FF benefits set up with many airlines right now, but not reciprocity of benefits!

see here for more about them joining the oneworld alliance
http://www.whendoublewidesfly.com/2012/02/when-germans-attack.html

Well, it's 50 euro for the second bag, which is not $100. That's pretty standard in europe. Your 1st bag is free. That's better than pretty much every airline in the USA for non-elite customers.



You can contact AA customer relations to complain. But, at the end of the day, you should always check for things like this when you're flying on a non-alliance airline, regardless of what the flight number is. Personally, I think you should at least get luggage benefits in cases like this, but that's not how it works, anywhere than I can think of.

I do know that AC to Europe is $70 for the 2nd bag for cattle class.
50 Euro is about $67 CAD.

see here for more about them joining the oneworld alliance
http://www.whendoublewidesfly.com/2012/02/when-germans-attack.html

Well, funny that you mention that blog. In another article just a few days later, the same blog refers to the deferred entry of Kingfisher only 7 days before planned joining date because of financial difficulties, and MALEV as another OW member collapsing same day.

I'll only start clapping my hands if airberlin has actually joined and released more details on which OW status they will match. Looking at above mentioned news, anything can still happen until joining date...