Star Alliance 101 | An Introduction to *A
May 7, 2009, 7:55 pm
#1
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Star Alliance 101 | An Introduction to *A
For those new to Star Alliance, here is some information that may be useful.
What is Star Alliance?
Star Alliance is one of 3 major airline groupings (the other being Oneworld and Sky Team). The airlines cooperate with each other in several areas - operational, frequent flyer programs, fares (where allowed). Examples include
- arranging flight schedules to permit sensible connections
- using the same terminal at various airports
- ability to earn redeemable and status miles on each others flights, as well as redeem and to some extent upgrade
- codesharing flights
- aligning IT platforms
Star Alliance Member Airlines
Full Members
As of 8 May 2009 the full members of Star Alliance are
Regional Members
Regional members of Star Alliance are treated the same as full member airlines. All Star Alliance policies, benefits, products, etc apply equally to regional member airlines. Differences are internalised to Star Alliance.
As of 8 May 2009 the regional members of Star Alliance are
Observer Members
Observer members of Star Alliance are the airlines which have been invited to join and have accepted. The entry date of Star Alliance members may or may not be known. All Star Alliance policies, benefits, products, etc do not apply to observer member airlines. However some Star Alliance airlines may already have moved to partially integrate, eg through accrual and/or redemption in their FFP, use of common terminals, etc.
As of 8 May 2009 the observer members of Star Alliance are
Abbreviations and Acronyms
What is Star Alliance?
Star Alliance is one of 3 major airline groupings (the other being Oneworld and Sky Team). The airlines cooperate with each other in several areas - operational, frequent flyer programs, fares (where allowed). Examples include
- arranging flight schedules to permit sensible connections
- using the same terminal at various airports
- ability to earn redeemable and status miles on each others flights, as well as redeem and to some extent upgrade
- codesharing flights
- aligning IT platforms
Star Alliance Member Airlines
Full Members
As of 8 May 2009 the full members of Star Alliance are
Code:
AC Air Canada - based in Toronto, Canada CA Air China - based in Beijing, Canada NZ Air New Zealand - based in Auckland, New Zealand NH ANA - based in Tokyo, Japan OZ Asiana - based in Seoul, South Korea OS Austrian - based in Vienna, Austria BD bmi - based in London, UK MS EgyptAir - based in Cairo, Egypt LO LOT - based in Warsaw, Poland LH Lufthansa - based in Frankfurt, Germany SK SAS - based in Copenhagen, Denmark FM Shanghai - based in Shanghai, China SQ Singapore - based in Singapore, Singapore SA South African - based in Johannesburg, South Africa JK Spanair - based in Madrid, Spain LX Swiss - based in Zurich, Switzerland TP TAP - based in Lisbon, Portugal TG Thai - based in Bangkok, Thailand TK Turkish - based in Istanbul, Turkey UA United - based in Chicago, USA US US Airways - based in Phoenix, USA
Regional members of Star Alliance are treated the same as full member airlines. All Star Alliance policies, benefits, products, etc apply equally to regional member airlines. Differences are internalised to Star Alliance.
As of 8 May 2009 the regional members of Star Alliance are
Code:
JP Adria - based in Ljubljana, Slovenia KF Blue1 - based in Helsinki, Finland OU Croatia - based in Zagreb, Croatia
Observer members of Star Alliance are the airlines which have been invited to join and have accepted. The entry date of Star Alliance members may or may not be known. All Star Alliance policies, benefits, products, etc do not apply to observer member airlines. However some Star Alliance airlines may already have moved to partially integrate, eg through accrual and/or redemption in their FFP, use of common terminals, etc.
As of 8 May 2009 the observer members of Star Alliance are
Code:
AI Air India - based in Mumbai, India - expected entry 2010 SN Brussels - based in Brussels, Belgium - expected entry 2009 CO Continental - based in Houston, USA - expected entry 25 October 2009 (tbc) JJ TAM - based in Sao Paulo - expected entry 2009 or 2010
Abbreviations and Acronyms
Code:
*A Star Alliance *G Star Alliance Gold status *S Star Alliance Silver status AC Air Canada - airline code AP Aeroplan - FFP of Air Canada AP Airpoints - FFP of Air New Zealand AI Air India - airline code BD bmi - airline code C Business class CA Air China - airline code CO Continental - airline code DC Diamond Club - FFP of bmi EB Eurobonus - FFP of SAS, blue1 F First class FM Shanghai - airline code IFL - International First Lounge - lounge of United JK Spanair - airline code JJ TAM - airline code JP Adria - airline code KC Koru Club - lounge and paid club of Air New Zealand KF Blue1 - airline code KF Kris Flyer - FFP of Singapore LH Lufthansa - airline code LO LOT - airline code LX Swiss - airline code M&M Miles & More - FFP of Austrian, Lufthansa, LOT, Swiss, Adria, Croatia MI Silk Air - airline code MLL Maple Leaf Lounge - lounge of Air Canada MP Mileage Plus - FFP of United MS EgyptAir - airline code NH ANA - airline code NZ Air New Zealand - airline code OS Austrian - airline code OU Croatia - airline code OZ Asiana - airline code PC Presidents Club - lounge & paid club of Continental RCC Red Carpet Club - lounge of United ROP Royal Orchid Plus - FFP of Thai SA South African - airline code SK SAS - airline code SKL Silver Kris Lounge - lounge of Singapore SN Brussels - airline code SQ Singapore - airline code TG Thai - airline code TK Turkish - airline code TP TAP - airline code UA United - airline code US US Airways - airline code Y Economy / coach class Y+ Economy plus or premium economy class
Last edited by Kiwi Flyer; May 10, 2009 at 5:14 pm
May 7, 2009, 7:57 pm
#3
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Where Can I Fly on *A?
Star Alliance is strong in Europe, Asia (eastern and southern) and USA. It is weak in South America (until TAM joins), Australia, Africa and the Middle East.
*A Hubs
List is from *A reference guide May 2009
Austria - Vienna (VIE)
Canada - Toronto (YYZ), Montreal (YUL), Vancouver (YVR), Calgary (YYC)
China - Beijing (PEK), Chengdu (CTU), Shanghai (PVG)
Croatia - Zagreb (ZAG)
Denmark - Copenhagen (CPH)
Egypt - Cairo (CAI)
Finland - Helsinki (HEL)
Germany - Frankfurt (FRA), Munich (MUC)
Japan - Tokyo (NRT & HND), Osaka (KIX & ITM), Nagoya (NGO)
New Zealand - Auckland (AKL)
Norway - Oslo (OSL)
Poland - Warsaw (WAW)
Portugal - Lisbon (LIS), Porto (OPO)
Singapore - Singapore (SIN)
Slovenia - Ljubljana (LJU)
South Africa - Johannesburg (JNB)
South Korea - Seoul (ICN & GMP)
Spain - Madrid (MAD), Barcelona (BCN)
Sweden - Stockholm (ARN)
Switzerland - Zurich (ZRH), Basel (BSL), Geneva (GVA)
Thailand - Bangkok (BKK & DMK), Chiang Mai (CNX), Hat Yai (HDY), Phuket (HKT)
Turkey - Istanbul (IST), Ankara (ESB)
UK - London (LHR), Manchester (MAN)
USA - Charlotte (CLT), Chicago (ORD), Denver (DEN), Las Vegas (LAS), Los Angeles (LAX), Philadelphia (PHL), Phoenix (PHX), San Francisco (SFO), Washington DC (IAD)
Future Hubs
Belgium - Brussels (BRU)
Brazil - Sao Paulo (GRU)
India - Mumbai (BOM), Delhi (DEL), Kolkata (CCU), Chennai (MAA)
USA - Newark (EWR), Houston (HOU & IAH), Cleveland (CLE), Guam (GUM)[/color]
Route Summary
As of 8 May 2009
Few = 2-3 airports served
Some = 4-9 airports served
Lots = 10+ airports served
Star Alliance is strong in Europe, Asia (eastern and southern) and USA. It is weak in South America (until TAM joins), Australia, Africa and the Middle East.
*A Hubs
List is from *A reference guide May 2009
Austria - Vienna (VIE)
Canada - Toronto (YYZ), Montreal (YUL), Vancouver (YVR), Calgary (YYC)
China - Beijing (PEK), Chengdu (CTU), Shanghai (PVG)
Croatia - Zagreb (ZAG)
Denmark - Copenhagen (CPH)
Egypt - Cairo (CAI)
Finland - Helsinki (HEL)
Germany - Frankfurt (FRA), Munich (MUC)
Japan - Tokyo (NRT & HND), Osaka (KIX & ITM), Nagoya (NGO)
New Zealand - Auckland (AKL)
Norway - Oslo (OSL)
Poland - Warsaw (WAW)
Portugal - Lisbon (LIS), Porto (OPO)
Singapore - Singapore (SIN)
Slovenia - Ljubljana (LJU)
South Africa - Johannesburg (JNB)
South Korea - Seoul (ICN & GMP)
Spain - Madrid (MAD), Barcelona (BCN)
Sweden - Stockholm (ARN)
Switzerland - Zurich (ZRH), Basel (BSL), Geneva (GVA)
Thailand - Bangkok (BKK & DMK), Chiang Mai (CNX), Hat Yai (HDY), Phuket (HKT)
Turkey - Istanbul (IST), Ankara (ESB)
UK - London (LHR), Manchester (MAN)
USA - Charlotte (CLT), Chicago (ORD), Denver (DEN), Las Vegas (LAS), Los Angeles (LAX), Philadelphia (PHL), Phoenix (PHX), San Francisco (SFO), Washington DC (IAD)
Future Hubs
Belgium - Brussels (BRU)
Brazil - Sao Paulo (GRU)
India - Mumbai (BOM), Delhi (DEL), Kolkata (CCU), Chennai (MAA)
USA - Newark (EWR), Houston (HOU & IAH), Cleveland (CLE), Guam (GUM)[/color]
Route Summary
As of 8 May 2009
Few = 2-3 airports served
Some = 4-9 airports served
Lots = 10+ airports served
Code:
NthAm CenAm SthAm Europe Africa MEast SAsia SEAsia NAsia Other
AC Lots Lots Some Some N TLV N N Some SYD
CA Some N N Lots N DXB Few Some Lots Australia
NZ Some N N LHR N N N N Some SPacific
NH Some N N Few N N BOM Few Lots -
OZ Some N N Some N N DEL Lots Lots CAsia
OS Few N N Lots Few Some DEL BKK Few Cauc.,TSE
BD N N N Lots Some Some N N N Cauc.,CAsia
MS Few N N Lots Lots Lots BOM Few Some ALA
LO Some N N Lots N TLV N N N -
LH Lots N Few Lots Lots Lots Some Some Lots Cauc.,CAsia
SK Few N N Lots SSH DXB N BKK Few SFJ
FM N N N N N N N Some Lots -
SQ Some N N Lots Few Some Lots Lots Lots Aust.,NZ
SA Few N Few Few Lots N BOM N HKG PER
JK N N N Lots Some N N N N -
LX Some N GRU Lots Some Some Few BKK Few -
TP EWR N Some Lots Some N N N N -
TG LAX N N Lots N Few Lots Lots Lots Aust.,NZ
TK Few N GRU Lots Lots Lots Few Few Some Cauc.,CAsia
UA Lots Some Few Lots N Few N Few Some Australia
US Lots Lots N Lots N TLV N N N -
JP N N N Lots N N N N N -
KF N N N Lots N N N N N -
OU N N N Lots N N N N N -
Future *A airlines
AI Some N N Few NBO Some Lots SIN Some -
SN N N N Lots Lots TLV N N N -
CO Lots Lots Some Lots N TLV Few N Some M'nesia
JJ Few N Lots Some N N N N N -
Last edited by Kiwi Flyer; May 9, 2009 at 5:06 pm
May 7, 2009, 8:06 pm
#4
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*A Frequent Flyer Programs
There is no single *A frequent flyer program. Most airlines have their own FFP, although some airlines with common ownership or especially close links share a FFP (eg Miles & More is the FFP of Lufthansa, Austrian, LOT, Swiss, Adria, and Croatia). Each program sets out it's own terms and conditions, and they all operate slightly different to each other. There are, however, some common aspects.
Things in common across all *A FFPs
Earn redeemable miles on qualifying fares for all flights that are both operated and marketed by a *A airline.
Earn status miles on qualifying fares for all flights that are both operated and marketed by a *A airline.
Have *S and *G status levels, with minimum common benefits. Some FFPs have additional benefits for their elite members.
*A Status
Star Alliance FFPs have a minimum of 3 levels of status - basic, *A silver (*S) and *A gold (*G). Some programs have more than one *G status.
*S or *G status should show on the boarding pass automatically for passengers with status who have their FFP number linked to the flight booking. How the status is displayed on the boarding pass varies by airline but typically XX*G or XX*S where XX is the airline code of the frequent flyer program.
*G status standard benefits are
*S status standard benefits are
There is no single *A frequent flyer program. Most airlines have their own FFP, although some airlines with common ownership or especially close links share a FFP (eg Miles & More is the FFP of Lufthansa, Austrian, LOT, Swiss, Adria, and Croatia). Each program sets out it's own terms and conditions, and they all operate slightly different to each other. There are, however, some common aspects.
Things in common across all *A FFPs
Earn redeemable miles on qualifying fares for all flights that are both operated and marketed by a *A airline.
Earn status miles on qualifying fares for all flights that are both operated and marketed by a *A airline.
Have *S and *G status levels, with minimum common benefits. Some FFPs have additional benefits for their elite members.
*A Status
Star Alliance FFPs have a minimum of 3 levels of status - basic, *A silver (*S) and *A gold (*G). Some programs have more than one *G status.
*S or *G status should show on the boarding pass automatically for passengers with status who have their FFP number linked to the flight booking. How the status is displayed on the boarding pass varies by airline but typically XX*G or XX*S where XX is the airline code of the frequent flyer program.
*G status standard benefits are
- priority reservation waiting list
- priority airport standby
- priority check-in
- additional baggage allowance - 1 piece under piece concept (is not additive with business or first class additional allowance) or 20kgs under weight concept (is additive with business or first class additional allowance)
- priority baggage handling
- *G lounge access - access + 1 guest to designated *G lounges with same day *A flight from the same airport (except for UA & US *G on domestic US flights)
- priority boarding
*S status standard benefits are
- priority reservation waiting list
- priority airport standby
Last edited by Kiwi Flyer; May 10, 2009 at 6:53 pm
May 7, 2009, 8:52 pm
#11
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May 7, 2009, 10:29 pm
#12
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To keep this thread clean, I recommend sending Private Messages to Kiwi Flyer at least until it's fleshed out (assuming he's amenable to that).
May 7, 2009, 11:01 pm
#13
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I would PM him, but this may be a discussion point.
I strongly disagree that * is weak in (E)MEA. Between TK, MS, and SA, I'd venture the region is covered at least as well as by either of the other alliances.
I strongly disagree that * is weak in (E)MEA. Between TK, MS, and SA, I'd venture the region is covered at least as well as by either of the other alliances.
May 7, 2009, 11:15 pm
#14
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While *A has some reach in both middle east and africa (see alliance maps), there are not too many flights within middle east or most of africa (a portion of northern and southern africa excepted).
May 8, 2009, 8:20 am
#15
Join Date: Sep 2005
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Can I ask how you selected those hubs? Just as an example, why would DUS not be a hub, but GVA or even BSL would be one?