oneworld - HA & TAM as future OW members?

I'm sure that this has been asked before, but would HA make a good fit for OW? AA doesn't seem to have a problem partnering with HA.

And I pose the same question about TAM. I would think that AA and BA would want TAM for intra-Brazil codeshares.

Has there been any mention of possible OW membership for either of these two airlines?

If there are any existing threads that would answer these questions, I'd appreciate it. Search doesn't seem to turn anything up.

The primary impediment to an airline joining any of the alliances are the costs to convert their systems to be alliance-compatible. Everything from the CRS to boarding pass formats. Apparently this costs many millions of dollars, making it unlikely for an LCC (like HA) to ever join any alliance. This is ignoring the whole question of airline operations, safety standards, route network. Even AS hasn't joined Oneworld despite being closely tied to several OW airlines (not just AA).

TAM yes!!! it would make OW so much better in south america what do we have at the moment LA/LP which means every flight has to be out of or into SCL/LIM. It really limits travel on a RTW ticket EZE to GRU via SCL anyone??? :rolleyes: . And while they are plugging holes in the network how about finding someone for Africa.

It really limits travel on a RTW ticket EZE to GRU via SCL anyone?

Well there's always BA flying the EZE-GRU route (and I've used it on a RTW ticket before as well). That said, agreed that it would be nice to have another partner to connect the dots in the north of South America.

Tam is more attractive now than ever. They have recently announced Flights to LHR and JFK. With Varig on the verge of collapse, if OW could land Tam it would be a major coup and a real blow to *Alliance. If I'm Tam though, I wait and see if Varig goes under. If they do, I can play OW and * off of esach other to see who gives me the better deal.

And while they are plugging holes in the network how about finding someone for Africa.


Ethiopan seems to be a good fit for 1W. They are the only one of Africa's big three (maybe big 4 if you include Virgin Nigeria) that's not part of an alliance.

Tam does not even have an online booking process.

Tam does not even have an online booking process.
YES it does!
http://www.tam.com.br/b2c/jsp/default.jhtml

Well, TAM has codeshares with Air France as well, so it would be interesting to see which alliance they would lean toward.

TAM's e-ticketing isn't very advanced yet, but in terms of service, they would definitely be a good addition.

They don't fly to many international destinations yet (they still have yet to restart service to Swtizerland and Germany that was stopped after 9/11), but when/if Varig goes, I would think they will add more intl service.

Tam does not even have an online booking process.


You should really check your facts before posting.

You should really check your facts before posting.

Well I'm glad to be proved wrong. I have been looking at the foll website all this time:

http://www.tamairlines.com/

Does the link to the booking mentioned in an earlier post come from the above mentioned link? If not why are there two websites?

Well I'm glad to be proved wrong. I have been looking at the foll website all this time:

http://www.tamairlines.com/

Does the link to the booking mentioned in an earlier post come from the above mentioned link? If not why are there two websites?

From your link (at the bottom):

NOTICE: You have accessed a site designed to serve the needs of
passengers originating in North America.

If you look at the other site, it appears to only allow online booking within Brazil. I admit to not reading portuguese so maybe it does and I don't see it (?)

Apparently this costs many millions of dollars, making it unlikely for an LCC (like HA) to ever join any alliance.

I don't doubt the costs involved in joining an alliance, but when did HA become a LCC? Given that the vast majority of their operations are long stage length flgihts, I don't see how they can perform like a LCC.





This is ignoring the whole question of airline operations, safety standards, route network. Even AS hasn't joined Oneworld despite being closely tied to several OW airlines (not just AA).

I just thought AS liked being a codeshare-wh0re. Kinda like "Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free". ;)

Have there been any formal invitations for AS to join any alliance?