Korean Air to Group 1 Partner???

Old Sep 16, 2017, 12:40 pm
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Korean Air to Group 1 Partner???

Anyone have any news or ideas on when Korean will be "promoted" to a Group 1 partner? Flying them today is basically a waste, but an upgrade would make them far more attractive to Asia.
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Old Sep 16, 2017, 1:08 pm
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Originally Posted by map724
Flying them today is basically a waste
Do you mean they won't transport you to your destination?!?!?

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Old Sep 16, 2017, 1:17 pm
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Originally Posted by map724
Anyone have any news or ideas on when Korean will be "promoted" to a Group 1 partner? Flying them today is basically a waste, but an upgrade would make them far more attractive to Asia.
As would being awarded MQMs!
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Old Sep 16, 2017, 1:21 pm
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The agreement they signed this summer is still awaiting government(s) approval. Not sure if that will speed up Group 1.
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Old Sep 16, 2017, 3:37 pm
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Originally Posted by map724
Anyone have any news or ideas on when Korean will be "promoted" to a Group 1 partner? Flying them today is basically a waste, but an upgrade would make them far more attractive to Asia.
Are you worried about MQM earnings or tying to use a GUC to upgrade on a KE operated flight? I'm confused.
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Old Sep 18, 2017, 2:42 pm
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MQM. I could care less about GUCs.
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Old Sep 18, 2017, 3:02 pm
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Originally Posted by RRDD
The agreement they signed this summer is still awaiting government(s) approval. Not sure if that will speed up Group 1.
DL doesn't need government approval to move KE to Group 1.@:-)
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Old Sep 18, 2017, 3:39 pm
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This would be huge for me.
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Old Sep 18, 2017, 3:52 pm
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Hypothetical question:

If they moved KE to group 1 would that jeopardize MU being bumped or would they still have two group 1 Asian partners? I realize both AF/KL are group 1 and they're both European carriers, but I just thought that was because they were the same operating group?
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Old Sep 18, 2017, 3:55 pm
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Originally Posted by FSUnole03
Hypothetical question:

If they moved KE to group 1 would that jeopardize MU being bumped or would they still have two group 1 Asian partners? I realize both AF/KL are group 1 and they're both European carriers, but I just thought that was because they were the same operating group?
One has nothing to do with other. Besides DL owns part of MU and has a board member. MU isn't going anywhere.
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Old Sep 18, 2017, 4:14 pm
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I also agree that MU is not going away. More likely CZ and CI move even further down the food chain. At least "implicitly" via KE moving up where they stay in place.
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Old Sep 18, 2017, 4:17 pm
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Aren't the Virgins effectively group 1? That would make at least two group 1 partners in Europe: VS and AF/KLM.
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Old Sep 18, 2017, 4:27 pm
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Originally Posted by FSUnole03
Hypothetical question:

If they moved KE to group 1 would that jeopardize MU being bumped or would they still have two group 1 Asian partners? I realize both AF/KL are group 1 and they're both European carriers, but I just thought that was because they were the same operating group?
AZ is also group 1, so there's clearly not any sort of soft rule against having multiple group 1 partners in a given region.
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Old Sep 18, 2017, 5:35 pm
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Originally Posted by map724
Anyone have any news or ideas on when Korean will be "promoted" to a Group 1 partner? Flying them today is basically a waste, but an upgrade would make them far more attractive to Asia.
Nobody knows.

I can say with a great deal of confidence that within the next year, KE might move to group 1.
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Old Sep 18, 2017, 5:52 pm
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Originally Posted by kjnangre
Nobody knows.

I can say with a great deal of confidence that within the next year, KE might move to group 1.

Great deal of confidence and "might" in the same sentence?

I agree but made me chuckle the way u worded that
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