Well, we are talking about Y. There are not only a few legacy carriers that will give you nothing for free.

Any idea when we'll be able to redeem AA miles for awards on Air Berlin?

After they have joined oneworld which is expected to happen in the first half of 2012.

Interesting. I was on the phone with AA yesterday about award flights and she said the information she had was that award tickets would be available in the first quarter of 2011.

There was some talk from AA about launching some codeshares well before 2012. So redemptions are not necessarily tied to AB's OW entry date.

But that would be a question for the AA forum, not OW. If the award flights should come through OW than AB needs to join OW. If AA adds a new partner to their frequent flyer program than this is of course a different story.

According to another thread (AA status-based access to Admiral Club), carlosdca flew Air Berlin on an AA codeshare already.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...l#post15600749

I believe currently AB flights do not earn eqm. Although I have also been told any AA codeshare earns as if aa metal. So not 100% on this.

I think I have flown enough airlines of enough alliances to place my verdict:
- if I fly inside Germany (Eco), AB is slightly better than LH.
- if I fly short distance within Europe, AB is slightly better than LH (which is better than AF/KL).
- if I fly medium distance within Europe, AB is equal to LH.
- if I fly long distance in business, AB is far back in service and seating.

The problem with onboard warm food for business can be tackled easily, since it is already on board for additional payment.
The problem with business seating in Europe can be solved easily, as also ther airlines offer economy seating with a blocked middle seat.
The problem with missing lounges can easily be solves, since DUS and TXL (over gate 1) already have them.
An alliance, that can bear Iberia, can also bear Air Berlin.
What it get's in return is a tight network in Central Europe (the first time LH could not prevent this from happening, although it has cost AB all profits).
I am just wondering how the Palma-Hub (dislike the airport and the touristic clientel, but have lots of flights to Portugal and Spain on business via there) will suit IB.
After screwing up on LX this is the best option OW has in Central Europe. Since AB was trying for years to surpass LH in service, I always hoped they would go to OW, but it was more hope than based on reality.
As one of the few frequent BA customers from Germany I am glad the "better-than-average" have found together and LH inflight for me is average.

I am surprised nobody has mentioned AB has been considering new Business seats. I believe they were sidelined in 2007, iirc, but they could be up for reconsideration now with the oneworld join-up. This photo allegedly shows the possible new seat, and it will blow the socks off of some oneworld Business product seats if they go with it (but maybe prices will ascend proportionately?) (To me, it looks a lot like Cathay's current longhaul Business "coffin", which is up for replacement; I am one of those who can sit / sleep quite decently on the very similar seat.)

The good thing with AB is that you can actually book connecting flight on some routes and I think only Vueling also do this. Flybe operate flights for BA and I often book my flights on the BA website all be it, it wont let you reserve a seat even though I am entitled to do so under my OW status.

This is interesting. Let's see what happens. Has anyone seen any follow-up?

BTW, I believe that seat is more similar to what VS/AC/9W/NZ have rather than CX.

Surely that's a given with any airline that belongs in an alliance, right?!

any word on accruing AAdvantage miles for AB flights? i am flying to Berlin in May and would love to earn miles.

These seats are identical to Air Canada's Executive First product and closer resembles this than CX's really.