Other Asian, Australian and South Pacific Frequent Flyer Programs - Shenzhen Airlines - when is it joining *A?

I have a roundtrip in full Y coming up in August on Shenzhen Airlines (no discounts on that route). I read last year that Shenzhen is supposed to join Star sometime this year. It would be awfully nice to get the miles for Y and get lounge access.

Any one know exactly when Shenzhen is joining Star?

Also, I can book the flight under an Air China flight number (Air China codeshares pretty much every Shenzhen flight), but I'll still not earn MileagePlus miles doing that, correct?

Are you sure Y is the lowest fare you can get? Usually the A fare class for first class is lower than Y. Check it out on ctrip.com

AFAIK, Shenzhen air is already shown on the newest *A reference book! That means SZ will officially be a *A member in a very short time

As for the code share w/ air china, it cannot be accumulated as air china's flight credit on UA.

Btw, Y in SZ has a great chance getting a upgrade:)

Happy trip!

Are you sure Y is the lowest fare you can get? Usually the A fare class for first class is lower than Y. Check it out on ctrip.com

AFAIK, Shenzhen air is already shown on the newest *A reference book! That means SZ will officially be a *A member in a very short time

As for the code share w/ air china, it cannot be accumulated as air china's flight credit on UA.

Btw, Y in SZ has a great chance getting a upgrade:)

Happy trip!

Unfortunately, there are certain routes in China where there are no discounts at all, usually routes from a hub to a small secondary city that has few flights. (Same thing in the states until Southwest, etc. started flying). The only fares on this route are full F and full Y. And since everyone is paying full Y, I don't think anyone gets upgraded.

Well, since it's full Y anyways, I'll wait and see if Shenzhen shows up on the *A list in the next 2 weeks. Not holding my breath though. :|

Are you sure Y is the lowest fare you can get? Usually the A fare class for first class is lower than Y. Check it out on ctrip.com

AFAIK, Shenzhen air is already shown on the newest *A reference book! That means SZ will officially be a *A member in a very short time

As for the code share w/ air china, it cannot be accumulated as air china's flight credit on UA.

Btw, Y in SZ has a great chance getting a upgrade:)

Happy trip!

I have done 200+ Y segments in China (various airlines), and have only received 3 operational upgrades.

What the exact route you are looking for? Maybe I can check if there is a lower price for you

Check fares on elong.net or ctrip.net
Unless you book last minute, you can mostly purchase cheaper than Y.

Check fares on elong.net or ctrip.net
Unless you book last minute, you can mostly purchase cheaper than Y.

The fact that the OP said, "no discounts on that route" suggests to me that he understands that discounts exist on most routes (and, has presumably already checked ctrip/elong). While I'm hard pressed to think of any routes that are ALWAYS full fare, some cities are hard to reach without paying full fare or close to it. Dunhuang, Kashi, and Lijiang come to mind.

A funny thing is that if you are flying Dalian Airlines(subsidiary of Air China), you can actually get *A miles for the fly even though Dalian is not a *A member. Simply because Dalian Airlines does not have its own reservation system, departure management system or IATA code. So you can only book Dalian flight on airchina.com(aka. Air China's reservation system), and have flight number in CA8***. Also, the ticket will be issued with Air China ticket stock(999-***). Then you will check-in at Dalian Airlines' counter with Air China agent and departure system, and will probably get a Air China boarding pass. Those *A partners have definitely no idea this is not a Air China flight, so they will just give you credit as it is a Air China flight.

Same drill for Shandong Airlines.

A funny thing is that if you are flying Dalian Airlines(subsidiary of Air China), you can actually get *A miles for the fly even though Dalian is not a *A member. Simply because Dalian Airlines does not have its own reservation system, departure management system or IATA code. So you can only book Dalian flight on airchina.com(aka. Air China's reservation system), and have flight number in CA8***. Also, the ticket will be issued with Air China ticket stock(999-***). Then you will check-in at Dalian Airlines' counter with Air China agent and departure system, and will probably get a Air China boarding pass. Those *A partners have definitely no idea this is not a Air China flight, so they will just give you credit as it is a Air China flight.

Same drill for Shandong Airlines.

But Shandong have and use their own IATA code.

But Shandong have and use their own IATA code.

CA also does code shares with them.

as *G can I already get lounge access with SZ or do I need to wait them to officially be part of *A?
I'm flying quiet often to SZ but I'm sticking to CA due to the lounge access and Biz check in.

Guys/Gals, Shenzhen airline code is ZH and not SZ. I am so looking forward to ZH officially become full member of *A. Words on the street is end November 2012 as ZH celebrate their 20th Anniversary.

As for Shandong Airlines, SC, you cannot earn *A miles. Even if it is a CA codeshare using a SC metal, you can't earn miles on other *A program except on CA's own program.

As for Shandong Airlines, SC, you cannot earn *A miles. Even if it is a CA codeshare using a SC metal, you can't earn miles on other *A program except on CA's own program.

I've earned *A miles on SC in the past, but admittedly that was around 2 years ago.

Nov.30

The date for Shenzhen is 30 November at which time Shenzhen's FFP will be merged into Air China's Phoenix Miles.

Guys/Gals, Shenzhen airline code is ZH and not SZ. I am so looking forward to ZH officially become full member of *A. Words on the street is end November 2012 as ZH celebrate their 20th Anniversary.

As for Shandong Airlines, SC, you cannot earn *A miles. Even if it is a CA codeshare using a SC metal, you can't earn miles on other *A program except on CA's own program.

Not true. I earned UA miles on CA flights operated by SC just earlier this year. As long as it is a CA flight # and booked as a CA flight it's *A eligible.

Not true. I earned UA miles on CA flights operated by SC just earlier this year. As long as it is a CA flight # and booked as a CA flight it's *A eligible.

Nope, UA did not give me milegae credit even though they were qualified L fare on CA coded flights on SC-metal as well as on ZH-metal.

I had to apply for a CA FFP and have them credited to it.

At the check-counters in CAN (on a ZH-metal) and at TNA (SC-metal), they don't even recognise my UA & SQ *G, hence, I was not given the extra baggage allowance or the use of lounges.

Not true. I earned UA miles on CA flights operated by SC just earlier this year. As long as it is a CA flight # and booked as a CA flight it's *A eligible.

You might have been on a CA flight where CA wet leases the plane and crew from SC, those flights are *A eligible. However, CA code shares operated by SC are not eligible for *A as SC is not an *A member.

SC Code shares are in the range of CA 1151-1200, CA 4075-4098, CA 4600-4999

http://www.airchina.com.cn/en/about_us/partnerships.shtml

Nope, UA did not give me milegae credit even though they were qualified L fare on CA coded flights on SC-metal as well as on ZH-metal.

I had to apply for a CA FFP and have them credited to it.

At the check-counters in CAN (on a ZH-metal) and at TNA (SC-metal), they don't even recognise my UA & SQ *G, hence, I was not given the extra baggage allowance or the use of lounges.

The lounge in Jinan isn't a *G lounge, but you can get in if you have CA gold or above.

The lounge in Jinan isn't a *G lounge, but you can get in if you have CA gold or above.

Of course I know this. I am just responding to gradsflyer stating the fact that if it is not a CA-metal, no mileage, no extra baggage allowance, no lounge access etc., for *A members.

Of course I know this. I am just responding to gradsflyer stating the fact that if it is not a CA-metal, no mileage, no extra baggage allowance, no lounge access etc., for *A members.

As previously stated, I have received miles from Jinan Airlines (CA flight number) in the past, and they were EQM in the eyes of BD (back when BD was in *A).

As previously stated, I have received miles from Jinan Airlines (CA flight number) in the past, and they were EQM in the eyes of BD (back when BD was in *A).

Well that could have been then but as of now, CA codeshare on SC & ZH on SC-metal & ZH-metal, respectively, do not earn mileage on UA or SQ, provided they are qualified fare, as far as my experience is concen.

I can't wait for ZH to be full member, hopefully by next week.

Here you go, a day earlier than expected.

Here's a brief article from Business Traveller Asia Pacific: Click Here (http://www.businesstraveller.asia/asia-pacific/news/coming-up-new-airline-to-join-star-alliance)

Here's the Star Alliance website on Shenzhen Airlines: Click Here (http://www.staralliance.com/en/about/airlines/shenzhen_airlines/)

Enjoy!