What are the fundamental differences between the two dominant alliances? Here's what I came up with:

1. No bonus miles for status on Star Alliance flights with a MP account. Not so on 1W.

2. Star has more members, but you have to decide for yourself if the increased number of members makes a difference. If all your flying is just to the main parts of the continents, it probably doesn't.

3. OneWorld offers an award RTW program, at least with AA miles. Not so on UA.

How is treatment by other airlines as a Star Gold vs. OneWorld Emerald or Sapphire?

BJ

As far as I can see...

1. That's for MP. But for LH, when you fly in F you get a 275% bonus ie 375% total. And they all count for status!!!.

2. At least Star is not falling apart... Has everyone heard the recent rumours?

3. That's quite possibly one of the few improvements which Star could make to make it even better. Among with the ability to upgrade using miles on other carriers, like Asia Miles...

I found very good treatment (in terms of actual benefits) being Star Gold, but it's on ANA where service is already "up there" with CX or SQ IMO.

Check out the oneworld and star alliance comparison charts on their respective threads and you can see the differences:

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BlondeBomber's Star Alliance Gold Comparison Chart 2000: http://members.home.net/deercroft/starall00.html

Dorian's Star Alliance RTW Price Chart: http://www.informationlab.com/rtw.htm

as a StarAlliance-frequent-flier (UA-Mileage Plus and LLH miles&more) I hope that other Alliances are (or will be come) stronger and stronger.

'my' favorite Alliance needs strong competition to maintain/improve members benefits. Weak/weakening competition would fast result in lower benefits of StarAlliance ff-membership too.

I love and profit from competition!

Well said, Rudi, though I'm a oneworld fan myself. Strong competition makes for strong alliances benefitting happy customers!

FewMiles..

Star has the partners right now. And the reciprocal benefits. Lounge use is a BIG thing for me.

Last month I flew on Mexicana to Mexico. Showed my (UA) Gold * card and we both got upgrades.

Boarding pass, gate check reader machine, and even in flight FA Manifest clearly showed "Star Gold" next to name, which is a nice touch on airlines you have zero status with ordinarily.

This weekend I flew to New Zealand for a weekend driving around the South Island, on Air NZ. We both got upgraded both ways based on my Star Gold card. (Both got given a bottle of superb NZ red wine from purser on disembarking as well - she would have liked it to be the Piper Heidsieck bubbly she said, but we had drunk out her supply!) Have never flown EITHER airline before and in both cases we were on REAL discounted el cheapo coach tickets. I'm flying Varig in December, on quite a few flights, so fingers crossed!!

All these miles count toward my UA 1K status, in fact the NZ miles guaranteed it, which is an extra bonus.

Yes I do agree however, that a "getting their act together" One World will keep the Star * honest.


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~ Glen ~

[This message has been edited by ozstamps (edited 10-23-2000).]

Yes two strong alliances is good for competition. I like OZ's piece about upgrades on ther carriers - that is the sign of a strong Alliance.

Or even better, take exemple on Sky Team (they've GOT to have something after all):

Status mileage bonus on all carriers!