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AA's Brazilian partner TAM to join Star Alliance

 
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Old Feb 21, 2005, 3:04 pm
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Exclamation AA's Brazilian partner TAM to join Star Alliance (FALSE RUMOR)

According to the "Boechat" column (page A6) in Brazilian newspaper Jornal do Brasil today, TAM Brazilian Airlines will formalize its intent to join the Star Alliance at a ceremony in Lisbon on March 14, it's 60th anniversary date.

What this will mean to the current partnership with AA is not immediately clear from the note.


NEWPAPER HAS CORRECTED ERROR ON 2/22 .SEE MY UPDATE IN LATER POST.

Last edited by AAEXP; Feb 22, 2005 at 3:49 am Reason: To reflect newspaper correction
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Old Feb 21, 2005, 3:07 pm
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Originally Posted by AAEXP
According to the "Boechat" column (page A6) in Brazilian newspaper Jornal do Brasil today, TAM Brazilian Airlines will formalize its intent to join the Star Alliance at a ceremony in Lisbon on March 14, it's 60th anniversary date.

What this will mean to the current partnership with AA is not immediately clear from the note.
Interesting move .... direct competition with fellow *A member Varig?
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Old Feb 21, 2005, 3:08 pm
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Originally Posted by AAEXP
According to the "Boechat" column (page A6) in Brazilian newspaper Jornal do Brasil today, TAM Brazilian Airlines will formalize its intent to join the Star Alliance at a ceremony in Lisbon on March 14, it's 60th anniversary date.

What this will mean to the current partnership with AA is not immediately clear from the note.
What's surprising is that it's taken so long. Varig, the other Brazilian airline, is the Star Alliance's only S. American partner. Both airlines were already in deep debt, and the gov't has been trying to combine the 2 for a while now.
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Old Feb 21, 2005, 3:32 pm
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This makes no sense at all. TAM recently announced their intent to not partner up with airlines. In fact, they have ended all codeshare agreements with airlines except American, including one with Varig that ended yesterday, to do so.
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Old Feb 21, 2005, 3:36 pm
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TAM Brazil does not participate

To clarify, not all TAM carriers participate in the AAdvantage program. TAM Linhas Aereas, TAM del Mercosur and TAM Paraguay are participants, but TAM Brazil is not.
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Old Feb 21, 2005, 3:44 pm
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Originally Posted by MAH4546
This makes no sense at all. TAM recently announced their intent to not partner up with airlines. In fact, they have ended all codeshare agreements with airlines except American, including one with Varig that ended yesterday, to do so.
TAM is now the healthy one, while Varig is about to be nationalized. The only reason Varig has survived this long is the whole "national pride" factor by which a country doesn't like to give up on its "flag carrier".

The funny thing is that it was Varig who opposed the merger back in 2003, and it's now TAM that's trying to keep the merger from happening.
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Old Feb 21, 2005, 4:00 pm
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I really hope the OP is wrong on this one. I would love to see TAM in OW.
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Old Feb 21, 2005, 4:16 pm
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Originally Posted by YourAAdvantageVoice
To clarify, not all TAM carriers participate in the AAdvantage program. TAM Linhas Aereas, TAM del Mercosur and TAM Paraguay are participants, but TAM Brazil is not.
What is "TAM Brazil" as opposed to "TAM Lineas Aereas"?
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Old Feb 21, 2005, 4:19 pm
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Originally Posted by Plato90s
TAM is now the healthy one, while Varig is about to be nationalized. The only reason Varig has survived this long is the whole "national pride" factor by which a country doesn't like to give up on its "flag carrier".

The funny thing is that it was Varig who opposed the merger back in 2003, and it's now TAM that's trying to keep the merger from happening.
Just FYI, Varig was and is as opposed to the now defunct merger as TAM. I do not think we can blame TAM alone on this one.
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Old Feb 21, 2005, 4:25 pm
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If this happens, it will be a very surprising move by TAM. Why would you join *A when:
1) Varig is already there
2) you have existing codeshare agreements with AA
3) the new route to SCL that just innaugurated a few months back gives more access to LAN's routes, a OW partner
4) TAM's routes to Europe from S. America gives good options with BA, IB 5) Miami, which is a top destination for Brazilians isn't served by UA anymore.

It just doesn't make any sense. I'd love to see TAM on OW too.
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Old Feb 21, 2005, 4:43 pm
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Originally Posted by YourAAdvantageVoice
To clarify, not all TAM carriers participate in the AAdvantage program. TAM Linhas Aereas, TAM del Mercosur and TAM Paraguay are participants, but TAM Brazil is not.
"Earning AAdvantage Miles
Earn a minimum of 400 AAdvantage® miles each time you purchase and fly on a published eligible fare ticket on TAM, TAM Regional, TAM Meridional and TAM Mercosur. Total mileage is determined based on the actual distance between your city of original departure and your final destination, regardless of connections required. Cooperative service flights operated by carriers other than TAM or American Airlines may not be eligible for mileage accrual. "
- aa.com
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Old Feb 21, 2005, 4:57 pm
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TAM First

I would hate to see the TAM-AA relationship disolve. TAM's premium service is superb. They have just opened a new lounge in GRU. Great spot to spend time between flights. There is even live music three nights a week.
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Old Feb 21, 2005, 5:34 pm
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Originally Posted by Plato90s
What's surprising is that it's taken so long. Varig, the other Brazilian airline, is the Star Alliance's only S. American partner. Both airlines were already in deep debt, and the gov't has been trying to combine the 2 for a while now.
Actually, LAN (used to be called Lan -- Linea Aerea Nacional -- Chile, but now since they also operate from Peru and Ecuador, it's just LAN) is also a Star Alliance partner, so it's not correct to say that Varig is the Star Alliance's only South American partner.
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Old Feb 21, 2005, 5:39 pm
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Originally Posted by odelag
Actually, LAN (used to be called Lan -- Linea Aerea Nacional -- Chile, but now since they also operate from Peru and Ecuador, it's just LAN) is also a Star Alliance partner, so it's not correct to say that Varig is the Star Alliance's only South American partner.
HUh?

LAN = OW
VARIG = *A
TAM = none
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Old Feb 21, 2005, 6:49 pm
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Originally Posted by AAEXP
What is "TAM Brazil" as opposed to "TAM Lineas Aereas"?
Sort of like how there's LAN Chile, LAN Peru, etc....
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