Hmm...

perhaps Air Canada should join oneworld, as Canadian is letting the side down?

Thanks for correcting my number count, Merry. I flew Singapore only once in the Pacific and it was one of the best airline experiences I have ever had (even though I was in coach!)

Singapore plus British Plus American equals
one formable alliance to Star Alliance.

Does Emeretes has some partner linkup with one of the majors (not a FULL alliance.) I think United?

And it's interesting that Cincinatti was runnerup for best International airport. So
Beckles, Delta won something, indirectly,
by being the major carrier at CinCinatti.

I'm more anxious to see who the winners of the Freddies are (to be announced next week.)
And if my write in award will get handed out!
CATMAN

Emirates has a marketing codeshare agreement with UA for only three flight between Dubai and London HEATHROW (not the gatwick ones) UA4300-4302.

I had lunch with the marketing director of Emirates in Bombay, India and asked him the same question about the lack of a FF program. His answer: "All our flights are full, we don't need a FF program." This is true since I tried to book a BOM-DXB on Emirates and could not get on any of their 4 daily flights (777's & A-320's) while Air India and Air France were wide open. He also said that they have a big overbooking problem and have to move their passengers to other carriers more often than they like.

Auditor:

Asia winners are:

1) Singapore (2) Cathay (3) Thai

Pacific winner are:

1) Quantas (2) Ansett (3) Air NZ


BlondeBomber:

"OneWorld stacked up quite well". Come on get real. They got nearly twice as many awards as Star Alliance.

Let us look at the world as it is, not as it may be if Singapore join Star Alliance, or I shall be forced to add Iberia and JAL into OneWorld calculations!

Why are OneWorld having "start up problems", What problems?? Everything is going to schedule. When OneWorld was announced it was made clear that integration of services would take some time.

In my opinion there is only one thing wrong with OneWorld, they have the wrong Canadian carrier. Air Canada is by far the superior to Canadian Air.
MF

Now that's something we can both agree on Merry. Actually the points structure for long haul rewards (i.e. Africa from N. America) is much more favorable on Oneworld (sigh) but I do prefer Air Canada to Canadian. Oh well gives us something to argue about!

I sure hope this gives the US carriers something to think about. As we've discussed, many european and national carriers serve a different market and/or operate by different rules, but I'd LOVE to see US carriers take this as a challenge to improve.

Its the same logic that causes me to vote AGAINST my choice of airline and hotel in the freddies: If they lose, maybe they'll try harder next year!

Now what was that controversy over Singapore Airlines joining Star Alliance? Wish I would have made a bet with Merry--looks like SIA is for definitely, almost sure, absolutely positively, maybe going to join the * Alliance.

www.travel-asia.com/dailies/airline.htm

"SIA chief executive Cheong Choong Kong said his company was committed to the expansion of Ansett's domestic and international operations. . . .
Cheong told the media conference he expected SIA to join the Star Alliance of international airlines this year."


[This message has been edited by BlondeBomber (edited 03-25-99).]

.... and I'm glad I didn't!

Can I be a really sore looser and say StarAlliance needs a quality airline more than OneWorld - or will I be attacked by a gaggle of newbies for such a comment? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

One a brighter note I hear Emirates is snuggeling up to OW a bit more.


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Nick

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif
Now this is what I was trying to do
http://members.home.net/deercroft/canflag2.gif

[This message has been edited by BlondeBomber (edited 03-25-99).]

I look forward to flying SQ when they goin the proud... the mighty... the STAR ALLIANCE!


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http://www.brodietech.com/rbrodie/images/lionl.gif QuietLion http://www.brodietech.com/rbrodie/images/lionr.gif


[This message has been edited by QuietLion (edited 03-25-99).]

QuietLion: Sorry - I didn't know this thread was comical. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

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Nick

Back to all seriousness. It would be great if Emirates would join one of the alliances--but, as I think has been mentioned before, why do they need to. They are still making money aren't they? Are they afraid they will eventually get left behind in the dust by the alliance stampede?

On second thought, it's probably good to have a few renegades out there that don't have ff programs etc. and just do what they are supposed to do well. Raises the bar for all the others to aspire to.

BB: Emirates have already introduced code-share and marketing agreements with BA on their Manchester routes - so they obviously see a need.

My understanding is that they are currently talking about the Heathrow/Gatwick routes as the next step.

BA Exec members can already redeem on most Emirates flights.


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Nick

BlondBomber: How did you get the Cdn flag on the board?

http://members.home.net/deercroft/canflag2.gif

but w/o spaces

(read the bit about UBB code under FAQ). The flag was courtesy of one of the free animation sites and I have now put it on my web page so I can link it into the UBB code here. Not bad for an old f*rt eh!

[This message has been edited by BlondeBomber (edited 03-25-99).]