America West FlightFund (Discontinued Program) - So it's official

I'm sure y'all may already know this, but flying back PHX-SAN tonight HP FA's played a video on-board outlining updates for the merger. The new US Airways will be a full member of Star Alliance, and they even referenced the fact that your Flightfund miles can be used to over "x" number of cities around the world on any US or *A partners.

I've seen that video a few times myself now. Clearly HP is making the statement that the new US will be part of Star. However, in an employee Q&A (http://www.shareholder.com/americawest/EdgarDetail.cfm?CIK=1029863&FID=950153-05-2122&SID=05-00)just this past week, management seems to indicate that this is not a done deal.

Q. Does the new US Airways have to re-apply to be a Star Alliance Member? When the merger is official does the company have an obligation to stay in the Star Alliance and code share with United? How much money each year does the Star Alliance mean for US Airways?

A. US Airways is currently a Star Alliance member, including reciprocal frequent flyer programs with 15 airlines around the world. The continued participation in the Star Alliance is dependent upon the domestic code-share relationship with United Airlines. The combined airline’s membership would need to be approved by United as a modification to the terms of the United/US Airways code-share agreement for the purpose of being a member of the Star Alliance. Although we haven’t started discussions with United regarding the Star Alliance we are hopeful that they will see a code-share agreement as beneficial to both companies. As for US Airways’ monetary benefit from being a part of the Star Alliance, we’re not privy to that financial information yet.

I think it is very odd that they'd be trumpeting Star membership before even opening discussions with the player that will make the decision.

I would assume this to mean that while they haven't officially started discussions with United regarding the code-share and Star, they have enough of an unofficial indication to be comfortable that it will happen.

With an issue of this significance, why do you suppose they haven't yet started discussions?

I hope they do get into *A. It would be nice to get PPS sectors and HP/US miles on SQ flights instead of UA miles.

For all you denizens of the valley of the sun, imagine having Singapore Air as your partner to Asia, NZ and Oz. Rather a step up from the "partnership" with NW!

I too find this odd. I've seen this video now four times since Wednesday and am quite sick of it! I can only imagine how sick of this video the flight attendants must be.

Yeah, but we take a step down in losing BA & VS to Europe. LH is ok, but I'm not fond of them.

Let's be real, securing F/J awards on SQ using US miles isn't going to be a walk in the park. We'd be competing with SQ PPS elite members(who get first crack at awards), the massive amount of *A FF members, VS, DL, and MX FF members.

If UA pulls the plug, I can't say that I'd be crying over the issue. I like flying in VS' UC cabin.

Of course, US itself has flights to Europe via CLT and PHL. It would be nice if they added a PHX-LGW flight. The BA flight is always full.

I personally think if UA has a problem with HP/US joining *, OneWorld would be happy to have HP/US. Probably not Skyteam since CO might still have a problem with HP/US.

Since AC invested money in this, I would think the chance of HP/US in * is pretty high.

I personally think if UA has a problem with HP/US joining *, OneWorld would be happy to have HP/US.

While I would jump for joy if this happened, I seriously doubt it would. AA wants N. America for itself and isn't willing to share.

I think it is very odd that they'd be trumpeting Star membership before even opening discussions with the player that will make the decision.

I would assume this to mean that while they haven't officially started discussions with United regarding the code-share and Star, they have enough of an unofficial indication to be comfortable that it will happen.

With an issue of this significance, why do you suppose they haven't yet started discussions?


I agree this does seem odd. I have trust in Doug Parker but this really causes me some pause. If they are telling all of the customers very publicly that something is going to happen that they have not even negotiated yet what else might they be telling us that they really don't know about yet?

Does this mean we really won't be able to combine our US and HP miles? Are there other things we have been told that will change?

I sure hope not!

Jennifer

I just flew yesterday (PHX-ORD) and there was no video. I'll look for it again on the way back Wednesday, but could we see this as a glitch or as a sign that there's been a speed-bump in some aspect of what's presented in the video? :eek:

I'm probably freaking for no reason. No Star membership probably opens up membership in one of the other alliances (probably not SkyTeam, since they're already too US centered).

While I would jump for joy if this happened, I seriously doubt it would. AA wants N. America for itself and isn't willing to share.

Although AA did fight tooth-and-nail to keep CP from being swallowed-up by AC.

Although AA did fight tooth-and-nail to keep CP from being swallowed-up by AC.

CP?

CP?

The old Canadian Pacific, which became Canadian Airlines International, which AC bought.

Although AA did fight tooth-and-nail to keep CP from being swallowed-up by AC.

But that was because AA and SABRE had a services contract with CP that was worth tens of millions of dollars per year.

Ahh - the good 'ole days of CP - definitely what it meant to fly first-class.

I do hope HP is in *A - although the pool of elites may dilute upgrades et al., at least there are many more options around the world to earn EQMs. Not to mention also, cross benefits.

As for US Airways’ monetary benefit from being a part of the Star Alliance, we’re not privy to that financial information yet.


Taking the conversation off topic, it seems odd HP would have all the financial details so late in the merger game. I'm not an M&A expert by any means, but would they have gotten this closure along with other financial details. Maybe HP just doesn't think *A financial add that much to the mix and haven't bothered, but that seems to at least not peak at that part of the books.

Yeah, but we take a step down in losing BA & VS to Europe. LH is ok, but I'm not fond of them.

Let's be real, securing F/J awards on SQ using US miles isn't going to be a walk in the park. We'd be competing with SQ PPS elite members(who get first crack at awards), the massive amount of *A FF members, VS, DL, and MX FF members.

If UA pulls the plug, I can't say that I'd be crying over the issue. I like flying in VS' UC cabin.


I assume you have little experience using DM to fly SQ. I have gotten free F awards on SQ using my Dividend Miles even when redeeming the award a month before departure. SQ is rather fair and allows other *A carriers to redeem awards operated by SQ freely, unlike United that blocks off tons of award seats.

I assume you have little experience using DM to fly SQ. I have gotten free F awards on SQ using my Dividend Miles even when redeeming the award a month before departure. SQ is rather fair and allows other *A carriers to redeem awards operated by SQ freely, unlike United that blocks off tons of award seats.

Your'e correct. I was basing my opinion on the comments of others who were trying to book awards on SQ.