There is a rumour on the street that BA is unhappy and considering moving closer to DL and AF. Canadian leaves the alliance 1 Jun and joins *A. AA has agreements with Qualiflyer. Is the OneWorld Alliance unravelling ?

STAR has certainly been more aggressive in promoting its identity to the public. Ads have appeared on international TV outlets, and in Canada, they fully sponsor a half-hour business report daily on CBC Newsworld. (Getting a little tired of that "aircraft painter" ad, and the new one about the FFer who leaves his bag at the curb after getting into a cab from a flawless trip through the terminal is just awful!)

Oneworld has never quite got its act together on the marketing front, even though its core carriers had code share and prior marketing alliances prior to forming the entity. Did they not appoint a marketing director to work out of YVR to plan major campaigns and initiatives?

If the BA rumour is true, then it would certainly spell doom for oneworld as we know it since BA owns a substantial portion of Qantas, another key oneworld partner.

If BA leaves OW, Swissair and Sabena would most likely join.

Maybe they could call it "Another World" or "As the World Turns". Maybe it will be the longest running soap on Flyer Talk

I thought OW had a mkting. office in Vancouver?

Dorian

I remember reading a boast on the AA website that someone made an award for "best marketing" to Oneworld. Not sure by whom. Nothing else was recognized apparently. These "awards" are always interesting...

Dorian,

According to this article on CX's website OW FINALLY got their act together at the beginning of April.
http://www.cathaypacific.com/insidec..._20000331.html

Although I do like BA, you would be able to get to most destination that BA serves with another OneWorld Partner (Iberia/Finnair) and not have to lose miles! The exception may be Africa. BA services alot of the cities I fly to in Africa and this is where I may be hurt! However, I have not done complete research yet (pending actual notification instead of rumors) and will find a way to get to my destination and earn my AA miles, as always!

While everyone assumes BA may be leaving OW for Delta, consider this - BA goes non-exclusive. While much of the talk has alsways been around the topic of alliances, there have been no rules that you can't be involved in a multitude of allainces. A great example is Alaska Airlines. They have quasi-alliance relationships with both CO/NW as well as AA. But I do like the suggestion of "As the World Turns" ....

You have a good point, Randy. A non aligned airline that enjoys the synergies offered by being friends with all.

Randy, Airbus320:

Isn't that what SAS does? It is part of *A and is also partners with Qantas who is a memeber of 1W and earns miles there.

Didn't SQ do this for a while? Cooperating with both DL and AA?

I think SAA does this:
ANZ, BD, LH, SAS, TG (Star Alliance)
SR (Qualiflyer)
DL (no name)

Now BA is seemingly headed for a KLM deal!
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum15/HTML/000368.html