If Swissair were to leave Qualflyer and to set up it's own programme, it would be the equivalent of telling all, say, members of BA's Executive Programme that BA is splitting up the frequent flyer programme. And members who fly on their franchaise airlines, GB Airways, Deutsch BA, etc won't have a frequent flyer anymore because the parent company is 'withdrawing' the club. Members who fly only on Deutsch BA would be short changed, don't you think?

But hey guys, I was only bringing up the subject of "WHAT IF" Swissair joins oneWorld. I guess we'll just have to see when the time actually comes.

james, I did post this, some days ago, under the news. May be it makes sense to repost it here - and I hope all the others, who did read it already will apologize (for once). Thank you.

Rudi Member posted 07-02-1999 08:44 AM
source: AEA Association of European Airlines and my personal judgment); you may notice that under "potential" some airlines are listed (talking) more than with one alliance.

Actual financial engagements of Swissair:
Crossair 69.01%
Delta Air Lines Inc. 4.6%
Singapore Airlines 0.62%
Sabena SA 49.5%
Volare SA 34%
Air Europe SpA 45%
Air Littoral 49%
Austrian Airlines 10%
Ukraine International Airline 5.6%
South African Airways 20% (plus an option for further 10%)
Cargolux 33.7%
LTU Group GmbH 49.9%

StarAlliance
************
Air Canada
Ansett Australia
Lufthansa
SAS Scandinavian Airlines
Thai Airways
United Airlines
Varig Brasil
designated: ANA All Nippon Airways
designated: Singapore Airlines
potential: Philippine Airlines
potential: Air Mexicana
potential: Air China
potential: LOT Polish Airlines
potential: CSA Czech Airlines
potential: British Midland
not impossible: Delta Air Lines

OneWorld
*********
American Airlines
British Airways
Canadian Airlines
Cathay Pacific
Finnair
Iberia
Qantas
potential: Japan Airlines
potential: Aerolinas Argentinas
potential: Emirates
potential: LAN Chile
potential: LOT Polish Airlines
potential: Deutsche BA
potential: Air Liberté
potential: Swissair
potential: Sabena

WINGS
*****
Northwest Airlines
Continental Airlines
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
Eurowings
Alitalia
KLM UK

Atlantic Excellence
*******************
Delta Air Lines
Swissair
Sabena
Austrian Airlines
Qualiflyer Group
potential: Air France
potential: South African Airways
potential: Malaysia Airlines
potential: Air China
potential: Air India

another DELTA "option"
**********************
Air France
Delta Air Lines
Continental Airlines
potential: several smaller airlines (may be out of the Qualiflyer-Group: first priority: Austrian).
in acutal talks: British Midland

Rudi -- very interesting, looks like we will have fun times ahead. Just a minor correction, Deutsche BA and Air Liberté are already part of oneworld as they are endorsed partners of BA. (Deutsche BA is even showing the oneworld logo on their web site, although Aire Liberté is not). Lan Chile has announced membership, to take effect sometime early 2000.

Celestar 340 makes a good point.
The real question is.....are the economics favorable enough for SR to join Oneworld with or without its existing partners?

------------------
speedbird001

Rudi and Celestar - thank you for your most recent posts and for putting the Qulaiflyer position in to context. I think I have grasped the problem now! Rudi's post in 'In the News' about the relationship between DL and SR is also very helpful for anyone who has not seen it.

It is certainly a very interesting situation.. and although it is often more fun speculating about these things I fear we must wait and see what actually happens now. It seems that DL and SR (and through them, qualiflyer) are the keys to a lot of what will happen in the remianing formation and crystallization of the alliances. Once the four basic alliances have formed and stabilized, it will be very interesting to see what happens to the remaining independents.

James