SQ ending partnership with Delta!!??
#16
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: Delta DM, SPG Plat, Hyatt Diamond, MTA Rust, Hertz Five Star something or other
Posts: 2,858
#18
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: DFW
Programs: OWE AA EXP;*A TK Gold; Marriott LTT; Hyatt Globalist; IHG Plat; National VIP
Posts: 3,087
#19
Moderator: Mileage Run, InterContinental Hotels
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 5,891
Wow. That sucks!
Even though in all fairness, SQ C/F ex-US awards were on their way out anyway; they are already pretty hard to get, and will soon become extinct (unless the 380 and 77W blocking policy changes). Wonder how UA/US/CO will handle SQ premium awards...
Even though in all fairness, SQ C/F ex-US awards were on their way out anyway; they are already pretty hard to get, and will soon become extinct (unless the 380 and 77W blocking policy changes). Wonder how UA/US/CO will handle SQ premium awards...
#21
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: PDX
Programs: DL Platinum & MM, Marriott Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 636
+1
I've been dreading this announcement ever since my first SQ F flight two and a half years ago. The partnership never made much sense to me given the 2 separate alliances, and now I guess they (or at least SQ) see it that way too.
Hopefully our bookings on SQ will continue to May 2010 with travel allowed until May 2011. Availability out of LAX has been pretty good, and one would hope bookings on the 77W at least would be allowed once the 747 is completely retired.
I doubt I'll ever hit 100K MQM, so the recent CO changes don't matter to me, but this is a different story. SkyTeam has nothing of SQ's caliber, even if we were allowed F bookings on AF or KL.
I've been dreading this announcement ever since my first SQ F flight two and a half years ago. The partnership never made much sense to me given the 2 separate alliances, and now I guess they (or at least SQ) see it that way too.
Hopefully our bookings on SQ will continue to May 2010 with travel allowed until May 2011. Availability out of LAX has been pretty good, and one would hope bookings on the 77W at least would be allowed once the 747 is completely retired.
I doubt I'll ever hit 100K MQM, so the recent CO changes don't matter to me, but this is a different story. SkyTeam has nothing of SQ's caliber, even if we were allowed F bookings on AF or KL.
#22
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: MSN/HOU
Programs: DL Silver (0.239 MM), DL SkyClub Life, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,107
#23
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Venice, Italy
Programs: FlyingBlue Platinum, Miles&More Senator, bmi Diamond Club Silver, Marriott Gold Elite, SPG
Posts: 702
Can name quite a few:
Emirates, Qatar, Etihad, Gulf, Malaysian, Virgin, Icelandair, Copa, TACA, Aerolineas Argentinas, Avianca, Mexicana, Philippines, Rossiya, Royal Air Maroc, Tunisair, El Al, MEA.. and lots of much smaller carriers...
Emirates, Qatar, Etihad, Gulf, Malaysian, Virgin, Icelandair, Copa, TACA, Aerolineas Argentinas, Avianca, Mexicana, Philippines, Rossiya, Royal Air Maroc, Tunisair, El Al, MEA.. and lots of much smaller carriers...
#24
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: HNL
Programs: DL PM/1MM, BW DE (lifetime), HH DE, Marriott PE (lifetime), National Emerald Executive
Posts: 7,195
Exactly, there's lots of fairly big regional airlines with expanding global reach, ripe for joining ST (or *A or OW).
For example, Alaska Air has strong and close partnerships with both Delta and AA. Sooner or later it should make up it's mind and join one alliance, though honestly for it having it both ways likely makes more sense: more feeder traffic, more award choices for MileagePlus members, so likely for it to join ST or OW it'd need some sort of a compensation for lost traffic & revenues by severing the other ties (as JAL was offered to move from OW to ST).
Then look at various worldwide strong regional airlines. Air Baltic (BT) for example. More than 60% of traffic out of RIX is BT. The fastest (and only) growing airport in the EU by far. Exclusive carrier of Finnish, Danish and now also German governments (though connections in RIX), more coverage in Northern Europe than any other airline (e.g. more cities in Finland than any other airline, though not sure if that is excluding Finnair), and one of the best and strongest coverages of Central Asia from Europe, together with very strong EU coverage and decent Middle East/Northern Africa coverage. Now partner with lots of airlines, http://www.airbaltic.com/public/partners.html , for both codeshare & interline. But, would ultimately benefit by ST or *A or OW feeder traffic for its extensive routes to Central Asia from Europe and vice versa, just like CSA did with ST.
Really there's a number of good potential partners like that, but honestly many of them are now having it both ways by partnering with anyone who makes sense, so partnering with a big alliance also meaning to sever some of the other ties may result in a loss, at least short-term.
For example, Alaska Air has strong and close partnerships with both Delta and AA. Sooner or later it should make up it's mind and join one alliance, though honestly for it having it both ways likely makes more sense: more feeder traffic, more award choices for MileagePlus members, so likely for it to join ST or OW it'd need some sort of a compensation for lost traffic & revenues by severing the other ties (as JAL was offered to move from OW to ST).
Then look at various worldwide strong regional airlines. Air Baltic (BT) for example. More than 60% of traffic out of RIX is BT. The fastest (and only) growing airport in the EU by far. Exclusive carrier of Finnish, Danish and now also German governments (though connections in RIX), more coverage in Northern Europe than any other airline (e.g. more cities in Finland than any other airline, though not sure if that is excluding Finnair), and one of the best and strongest coverages of Central Asia from Europe, together with very strong EU coverage and decent Middle East/Northern Africa coverage. Now partner with lots of airlines, http://www.airbaltic.com/public/partners.html , for both codeshare & interline. But, would ultimately benefit by ST or *A or OW feeder traffic for its extensive routes to Central Asia from Europe and vice versa, just like CSA did with ST.
Really there's a number of good potential partners like that, but honestly many of them are now having it both ways by partnering with anyone who makes sense, so partnering with a big alliance also meaning to sever some of the other ties may result in a loss, at least short-term.
#25
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Silver, AA, WN, DL
Posts: 4,081
I'm bummed to hear the news... though part of me thinks I wouldn't have ever agreed to pay the $400+ in taxes in fees that SQ charged for DL mileage redemption in J. Last award flight I chose could've been on SQ, but I rather pay $100 in taxes and fees and sit in J on a ST member vs. SQ J.
#26
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: UA Silver, BA Gold, DL Gold
Posts: 9,779
The EU ban on Garuda was lifted in July, and they have also received permission to fly to the US, though they don't have immediate plans to fly to the US. In the thread on the SkyTeam board about this, someone that has flown the new Garuda J swore that it was actually quite good, with flat beds.
All in all, this is disappointing news, but not necessarily the end of the world.
#27
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: ATL
Programs: DL SkyMiles PM/2MM, AA Plat, IC Diam. Amb., Peninsula regular, amanjunkie
Posts: 5,844
Very sad news indeed. I've been dreading this announcement for a long time, as the legacy SQ-DL pairing made little sense in an age of alliances. Being partnered with DL/NW, UA, US, and CO was just too much.
My flight next week on a Megatop might be among my last.
This partnership has been good to me for many years, and it's been a key value proposition for SkyMiles in my book. Since 2003, I've redeemed six SQ J and eight SQ F awards between the US and SE Asia, with one F still to fly this month and one J next April. Sure, the fuel surcharge passthrough has sucked, but still, 140,000 SkyMiles for SQ F has been a good deal.
KE is nearly as good as SQ, IMO. But the blackout dates and lack of F awards really bite. Here's hoping MH stays in the SkyMiles fold, availability at low award levels is good, and FIRST awards become available. (The last is a hope in vain, I know, but still....)
My flight next week on a Megatop might be among my last.
This partnership has been good to me for many years, and it's been a key value proposition for SkyMiles in my book. Since 2003, I've redeemed six SQ J and eight SQ F awards between the US and SE Asia, with one F still to fly this month and one J next April. Sure, the fuel surcharge passthrough has sucked, but still, 140,000 SkyMiles for SQ F has been a good deal.
KE is nearly as good as SQ, IMO. But the blackout dates and lack of F awards really bite. Here's hoping MH stays in the SkyMiles fold, availability at low award levels is good, and FIRST awards become available. (The last is a hope in vain, I know, but still....)
#28
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: New York City
Programs: AA EXP, DL DM, SPG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,125
#29
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Hopefully on a plane...
Posts: 6,580
Copa is tied to CO & *A
Mexicana is a member of Oneworld