And the last time I checked flights from european companies that are served in Brazil............ (no more comments)

Brazil is a booming economy with thousands os people travelling around the world. It was already difficult to find award tickets having Lufhtansa, Swiss, Tam, Tap, Singapore (Barcelona), Tam itself, Turkish and Air China (Madrid) when ones want to go to Europe. How about just having Iberia and British Airways? Not to mention that LH offered Frankfurt and Munich daily from Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, and TAP flies to 6 or 7 cities throughout Brazil.

The main problem was always the transatlantic seats offered. And now the availability will be way less than before.
The only good part will be for flying to USA with American Airline, which flies to/from a lot of brazilian cities without the need of conexion.
Oh.. and we also lost Air Canada.... :/

OK these two and US Airways which will follow as the result of American/US Airways is a definite boost to OW - but *A who has so far been considered the kick--s alliance is losing a little traction.

As someone who flies JJ much due to regular flights to Brasil and who has pooled his miles into *A via United, TAM joining OW is really an unknown but potentially huge blow. First, won't get the 3 bags per person now that I'll be flying a different alliance once in Brasil though I guess that won't be such a big deal. Second, saved so much money booking through JJ when flying UA metal. Third, miles won't get me to my final destinations now. This news appears to be a big disappointment...

It's all in how you look at it. If you are dedicated UA flyer, I can see your point. I, OTOH, am a dedicated AA flyer so this just thrills me. I will get miles on my intra Brazil travel which will be great. I think the bigger issue is the effect on Brazilian travelers who will have more of an adjustment to make. As a flyer, I hope there will be adequate premium inventory available for award redemption Brazil-Europe but from the company's perspective I hope they can sell a lot of that inventory too. With only two major national airlines now, I wonder how much Brazilian carriers will devote to their loyalty programs.

While I'm sure that some Brazilians may be upset at losing direct Star Alliance flights to Frankfurt, Munich, Lisbon, Zurich etc., Oneworld offers the single most important destination for BUSINESS travelers: London.

While I travel much more for leisure than business, there is just much more opportunity to have cooperation between airlines that fly to global powerhouse cities.

Sure from a mileage accrual/redemption, award availability, fuel surcharge and airline variation perspective, it may not be positive, but LATAM is trying to be a profitable business, so I can't blame them for it.

Europe (London) and the powerhouse of South America (Sao Paulo) together just makes sense. Add to that the powerhouse cities of (New York, LA and Chicago) in the US and then (Hong Kong and Tokyo) in Asia, it seems only fitting that LATAM join Oneworld. While I admit that Oneworld needs to focus on the up-and-coming powerhouse cities in China, having direct flights to secondary cities just doesn't cut it. And frankly Star Alliance's cities in Europe (and many in the US) are unfortunately, secondary.

TAP might follow if IAG (unlikely) or Qatar (more chances) decide to take it over. Even if I think at the end they'll be acquired by a star member (Avianca), there's the possibility for them to change in favor of OW.
I'd personally be very enthusiast as OW frequent flyer, anyway I recognize for * it would be another big loss

Actually there's a a JJ/TAM daily flight from S�o Paulo to Heathrow in their new 77W.

It sure makes sense what you say, but speaking about destination for BUSINESS travelers you have to think what countries Brazil have stronger business ties to begin with. China is the main one nowadays.US is the very second best. Not sure about England. Nevertheless I still think that SA was better for business people down here.

I cannot believe people here would rather have Hong Kong airlines over CX

lets replace the larger and better airline in the alliance with a minuscule badly managed one!!!!!- totally logical

agreed- while Oneworld is smaller in secondary cities- they dominate the big powerful financial cities and the other alliances well- don't!!

* choose to rely on connection through their overcrowded and dysfunctional european hubs to reach other destinations. You may thank Lufthansa for their asinine insistence on the subject, that made impossible getting LAN on board without triggering a huge antitrust probe on both sides of the ocean, something that both Chilean and Brazilian authorities basically have reckoned well on time. Don't really understand your remark about China business ties, a quick search shows * Chinese willing to travel with TAM have to transfer at MXP, and no direct flights are scheduled as of now.
Reality is the best option for TAM development was joining OW, period. */LH did nothing to develop your home market and in the end they had to find external members to avoid being rendered irrelevant on the whole South American market. I understand your frustration as a * diehard supporter, but really the blame on the situation is pretty clear for me, and it lies to LH policies.

Agree! ^^^

It looks like star is very unlucky with Brazilian market. first Varig now TAM. Wonder what will happen to Avianca Brazil once they joins star...

You can get an Air China flight to S�o Paulo. Not codeshare. I think the route is Peking - Madrid - S�o PAulo. So there you go.
The reality is that Lan bought TAM, and therefore is controlled by it. Since Lan has a major role in OW when it comes to South America, it was more than clear that this was the path TAM would end up in (but actually, Latam C.E.O. said earlier in 2010 that TAM being in Star Alliance was for the best interest of the company, but it was not acceptable).
I think you have a point in what you said, but at the same time you are not considering the majority of people that use the airline, which are brazilian people. And this is the point. It may be better some people, but it will be bad for many many others. I am not a diehard fan of any alliance. The thing is that SA was and still is the best option for us. Being business or leisure. And if you talk about overcrowded and dysfunctional european hubs, that's because you've neve been in any major brazilian airport. And I still cannot see how great Heathrow (and Barajas) airport are when comparing with the others. If only Heathrow was Changi, Incheon or even Schipol... but cleary isn't.
If one day OW starts having more companies operating here (right now only AA, IB, BA, Lan) then I will start rooting for it. Right now.. no thanks.

So we are desperately hoping for Avianca to buy TAP so we manage to get SA again in Brazil.

Chilean antitrust authority approved the merger at the condition LATAM won't be part of the same alliance of Avianca-TACA.
TAM announced to leave star last week but unofficially they had already signed their exit when they merged with LAN.
The point is: would you prefer TAM to be into oneworld or to stay unaligned, as these are the two options since LATAM was created?

you are validating my past assertion. No direct flight China to Brazil, if you want keep * as your alliance. Don't think it goes to Madrid, as it is a OW hub. This also represent once more the mess that * has become, thanks to the adherence to LH interests.

some suspect that TAM accession to * was in reality done to push LAN towards the acquisition, given that it happened few months after the entry in *. So it may well be that TAM recognized well in advance that getting in * was not in their best interest, otherwise they would have tried to get in bed with TAP or extend their relationship with US members of *. Cueto has said many things during these years, but he never strayed from the relationship he has with OW.

the point is that * neglected developing SA market, and when LAN bought TAM they were more or less taken with pants down. Through the years LAN has built a strong network in the continent, well connected with US (through AA) and with Europe (through IB). Codeshares are in the work with the asian members of OW, and thats pretty much closes the case. TAM would have been blind had they choose to became LH water porter in the continent.

i think you've never been too much in FRA, or even ZRH. FRA was once a good airport. Only the stubbornness of LH making it a hub for all * flights has made it a zoo. Same could be said for CDG, while the secondary airports such as AMS, ZRH and LIS are not well suited for connections (i talk by experience, having done my lot of transfers and connection through all of them). I agree partially in regard to LHR, since * is currently hosted in Terminal 1 and 2, but given they are gonna be torn down and rebuilt this should improve over time. Anyway he real gem of LHR is T5, that at the moment is the best airport terminal in Europe, and is where both BA and IB are based

in my opinion, having failed once to get their hands to TAP, Avianca have put themselves in a corner. Portuguese will treat another offer from them with suspicion, while giving time to more suitors to come. LH is definitely out of the situation, lest they want be caught in antitrust proceedings, that leaves ST and OW as possible suitors. I can see a lot of synergies for example between IB and TAP, but even QR or again LAN could consider an acquisition or share purchase. On ST side, bar AF/KL for the same reasons as LH, EY or perhaps DL may inject some capital. I do not see TAP remaining in * for long.
The point of this reply is to confute your assumption about * being the best option for Brazil. It was never and will become increasingly the worst option. ST is also ramping their options for SA and at the end they will become the second best option behind OW, once they secure GOL as a member. * was clearly in damage control mode after the Chilean court sentence, but now is clear they will never be able to mount a significant challenge to OW and ST. You will have to thank the incredible shortsightedness of LH for having never attempted to make * the best option for your travels.