Star Alliance - Star Alliance Member Airlines Launch Comprehensive New Frequent Flyer Awards

Star Alliance Member Airlines Launch Comprehensive New Frequent Flyer Awards

'Star Alliance Awards' Improve Award Travel Flexibility and Ease

Alliance member United Airlines today announced the introduction of Star Alliance Awards in its Mileage Plus frequent flyer program. With similar programs already introduced by Air Canada, Mexicana and Varig Brazilian Airlines, United's announcement completes the launch of these new awards by all Star Alliance airlines based in the Americas. The other Star Alliance carriers in the region -- Air Canada, Mexicana and Varig Brazilian Airlines -- have already launched their programs.

Star Alliance Awards enable customers to use just one frequent flyer award ticket for travel to more that 700 destinations worldwide on any combination of Star Alliance airlines.

Previously, a Mileage Plus award ticket could only combine one other Star Alliance airline in addition to United. Now customers can book any combination of Star Alliance airlines on one ticket for their award travel, providing passengers with added convenience and flexibility. By eliminating the need to use two or more award tickets to reach certain destinations, Star Alliance Awards in some cases also reduce the total number of miles required for award travel to those destinations.

The program is simplified through a single, geographic-based chart. An Around-the-World award -- previously not offered in many programs -- will also be available within Mileage Plus and most other Star Alliance Awards charts.

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/020806/latu101_1.html

No sign of British Midland bringing in a star alliance award?

Stephen

I have just looked at the 'new' awards info on www.ual.com (http://www.ual.com) and notice that it used to take 85-95k miles to fly Australia to Europe via Asia but now the only choice is Australia to Europe via North America for 100k miles.

Am I missing something or has this 'improvement' just meant that I pay more miles for a less convenient flight now?

And didn't an Around the world Y class ticket cost 185k miles before being 'enhanced' to 200k?

hmm so that now makes qantas cheaper in terms of miles, syd-lhr, doesnt it? oops just realised points is miles not kms..so qantas is still more expensive..as one would expect of qantas..

[This message has been edited by franjelley (edited 08-07-2002).]