Aeroflot is in! Or are they???
 

I was at the SVO2 Novotel yesterday for a few hours. While taking the elevator to the 3rd floor, someone got on at the second floor. As as I looked out the door, I see a huge professionally done banner welcoming Aeroflot into Sky Team. I got out, read the ad and press annoucements, and sure nuff, in Russian, they said that Feb. 06 is the go date. Really? I've been waiting for this for years now yet obviously Sky Team is saying nothing about it on their website and my 6 Aeroflot flights the next two weeks say nothing about possible miles being earned on any of the other ST partners. Might the so called "beginning" be the CSA code shares? There's long been AF code shares of course.

Just wondering if anyone else has heard anything about this as of late. Next time I'm at Novotel, which is sometime next weekend, I'm going to knock on a door in Aeroflot's admin offices on the second floor and ask a question or two. I'll report back what hear.

They are not in yet, but really close. My guess is as good as any, but it's still a month or so before SU is in

Wow, only a month or so? That's pretty soon. What's happening with the mini-members and China Southern?

It would be good to know. I'm about to book some flights to the US for late March, and whether I fly DL or SU depends largely on miles--DL is more $$$, but more useful miles and more of them [due to SkyTeam Elite status].

An interesting question once SU joins is whether one is better off with mid-tier elite on DL, NW, etc., or going for SU Gold (50,000 miles), which it appears would by SkyTeam Elite Plus (I'm already Silver Elite on NW, but rarely fly NW and could make Silver and possibly Gold on SU). The downside is only a 50% mileage bonus on SU, against 100% on DL/NW. Any thoughts from the board?

Where did you see that? From www.aeroflotbonus.ru:
"To qualify for Silver Level you need to earn 40000 Qualifying Miles or 40 flight segments during calendar year; to qualify for Gold Level you need to earn 80000 Qualifying Miles or 80 flight segments during calendar year."

I think you are quoting the old rules. New rules are effective from 1/1/2006.

See http://www.aeroflotbonus.ru/elit.aspx?ob_no=229,
http://eng.aeroflotbonus.ru/elit.aspx?ob_no=253

You need 25000 Qualifying Miles or 25 flight segments to qualify (per membership year) for Silver level* [...]

You need 50000 Qualifying Miles or 50 flight segments to qualify (per membership year) for Gold level* [...]

I stand corrected. Interesting - might this be the precursor to the launch of a Platinum level?!

Have you considered AZ's program?

I cannot find the link right now, but yesterday I saw on skytrax that SU got the "Worst airline award" for 2005. They also had it in 2004 and I can't tell before that :)

I haven't dealt with SU except for having a lot of their passenger in the Business class lounge in Male in January. They had lots of children and were NOISY! brrr..... made me reconsider wanting them in ST.

It wasn't on SkyTrax. Check out http://www.smarttravelasia.com/airlinepoll.htm

SU stopped flying to the Maldives a couple of years ago (and even then, these were charter flights). Must have been some other Russian airline

But they did win the skytrax Onboard Service Improvement Excellence, it even says they surpassed many of it competitors in europe.
Here is the link: http://www.airlinequality.com/2006/SkytraxAwds.htm

From tonight's Evening Standard

Skyteam alliance looks east with Aeroflot onboard

Aeroflot will join the Skyteam airline alliance beginning of April, enabling the Russian carrier to share passengers with [Skyteam members listed].

The deal is a gamble for the alliance, which has to weigh Aeroflot's unmipressive reputation against the advantages of extending its network and opening up the east European market.

According to French newspaper La Tribune, Aeroflot will only be allowed to code-share on routes where it is using modern Airbus and Boeing aircraft. (...)

First off, Aeroflot’s reputation is growing fast. Some of it is certainly justified.
Their business class on the 767s now has flat-beds (I think 100% of the 763s have it now, but I’m not sure, their LH-style, you can see em on Aeroflot.ru), and is very very competitive.
Their coach isn’t great, but where is coach pleasurable these days?

I think it’s too bad they won’t get a codeshare on some of their Tu-154s. I mean, yes their Tu-154s, but some of them could REALLY help the network out I’m sure

They have joine dSkyTeam so many times.. I think this time it’s for real – but I will wait until I see SkyTeam on their cards.
I imagine a 3rd tier (Plat) is en route. Do they still offer lounge access to Silvers? (That would make it a great deal IMHO, even the crowded SVO lounge is better than anything)

I am bummed I have 2 roundtrips on Aeroflot in March. It would have been nice to earn Skyteam miles.