That Aer Lingus will leave OW is confirmed by a story in tomorrow's (25/8) Irish Times.

Not good news, but let's hope this departure, so soon after Swiss refused to join, will prompt OW to bring in another partner asap. I don't know enough about the financial or otherwise state of any candidate airline to suggest a name, but currently there is a gap between LHR-HKG... perhaps an airline based in the Middle East?

The Irish Times also has "breaking news" that EI business class is to end in 2005, but I can't get any further into the story without taking out a paid subscription.

Aer Lingus "likely to" leave Oneworld
http://www.businessworld.ie/livenews...ollingnews.htm

Aer Lingus planning to axe business class service
http://212.2.162.45/news/story.asp?j...x8&n=115337862

some other OW rumours oer on Newstand:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...ferrerid=20630

Well that appears to be the end of EI. Do not KNOCK them, they were very useful for DOUBLIN the amount of points in business class. The codeshare routes were a CORKER for us 1W flyers but now they will be on their own and will SHARENONE of their flights with us. For our friends in the Province, they used to give great cabin service with their BELL-FAST response.

I cannot think of any other airports in Northern Ireland or Eire to add to the above story without hitting the politically sensitive (London)Derry and I cannot spell Enniskillen (has it still got a CAA licence?). So that's all folks.

Here's hoping for SN Brussels signing up for life...(as I have to go to some hell holes in Africa again soon that BA doesn't serve and the only other option is Air Frog)

Spotwelder

For an airline with surly business class in outdated seats which dosen't let you use your CD player, I say good riddance!

I won't be shedding many tears, though I'd imagine that if you're one of the rare breed that's a Gold Circle Club member you'd feel a bit peeved.

Emirates seems like the logical choice as having all the potential to join the OW alliance, but can't see it happening.

Emirates want to create their own global alliance with a membership of one.

The most likely next member of OW is Japan Airlines (JAL), which would be an excellent fit imho.

PhilH

I checked in next to one of their 300 Emerald's once. He looked quite endangered.

Not a good year for OW - the started with the prospect of growing to 9. Instead we may well end with 7. Given that there is not all that much love lost between some of the other members (CX and BA/QF) it doesn't feel like one big happy family.

I very much doubt JAL will join - that rumour has been rumbling for as long as I have been on FT and nothing has ever happened. Indeed, iirc JAl are on record as saying the costs are too high and benefits too small. I don't really see where any more members are going to come from in the short term, thought I guess SN Brussels and Mexicana might come along in the longer term.

Topping this (moderator pls delete if duplicate info.)

Has anyone looked at EI's new pricing for transatlantic? JFK-SNN-DUB J for US$1100 one way (bookable as such); LAX-DUB $1500. When are they leaving OW? On the website their FF screens still show OW FF cards.

No announcement has yet been made that EI is leaving OW, but there are enough official leaks that it is likely to be 1Q2005. I suppose buying these tickets now is a bit of FF russian roulette.

Yes, if the presumption is that they will announce, quit, and all residual OW FF benefits will turn into pumpkins. But if ya gotta go in the meantime... the coach (really cheeep) transatlantic fares book into some code not listed on AA's website as earning miles/pts (or maybe AA hasn't updated the site yet) but the J fares are real, so 1.5 q-pts/mi, all that. I don't know if it's mileage run fodder just yet, but if you have to buy a J ticket it's hard to beat. Combined with EI's LCC pricing and decent schedules ex-DUB to the continent, they might be leapfrogging some of the competition in US-to-secondary markets in Europe.

I like it. I often find myself needing to do one ways to/from Europe and a $1100 J class fare would be great, even if coupled with LCC service for the onward flight from DUB. I would hope that one could still earn mileage on AA even if EI leaves Oneworld.