Notably AC does offer elite bonuses, at 0/50/100%. Not as generous as NW (which has 50/100/125%), but they're still there.

That's really the same as ST -- benefits depend on the operating carrier. On NW-coded but CO-operated flights, you might also only earn 50%. Ironically, while AC sells lots of tickets with 25-50% accrual on its own program, booking those same flights (at the same price) on UA paper typically earns 100% accrual on the AC FFP.

ACTUALLY....just did some checking and if I am not mistaken, if Uzbekistan Airways does join Skyteam it would be the ONLY one that flies to Pakistan. They fly to Lahore, which isn't even the biggest city in Pakistan.

Seems like a pretty big hole, especially considering that Karachi, the largest city, is well served by various *A partners (SQ, TK, Thai...)

NW has an agreement with Malaysia which serves Pakistan, but what will happen post merger?

Is there any official reason why MH is NOT being considered by SkyTeam? Seems like a good counter to *A's SQ and Thai!

That is only for AC flights. The only elite bonus for partner flights is 25% (regardless of elite level) for LX, LH, BD, and ANA flights. With UA's program, you only get elite bonuses on LH TATL, due to the JV. The Euro carriers tend to offer lower bonuses (25%/50%) so the ST advantage would remain, there, but I believe only BD offers bonuses on partners. Paid F does, on some carriers, bring 300% miles in LH and BD's programs, so those that often fly paid F, this can be a boon.

With the notable exception of the 50% EQM thing on CO, ST operates largely on the basis of the ticketing carrier, not the operating carrier. And even in the CO instance, the RDM accrual is the same. In most *A programs (perhaps AC is different), the operating carrier is the determining factor. Check out this wording from the UA website:

Heck, I could live with the operating carrier rule, but no *A carrier actually provides a conversion chart. If you are buying anything less than Full-Y, you have pretty much no clue as to how much you are earning. For those few differences in the ST program (e.g. CO flights earn 50% EQMs) this is spelled out.

Ah, so they finally announce the replacement for CO:rolleyes:

No thank you to TAS. Was there workign with the airline back in 2000 and it's my least favorative place I've been out of 50+ international cities. I found the city full of corruption and someone always trying to rip you off. Cold, sterile former soviet repulbic was my experince.

The nice move would be to dump AZ (pathetic under any light) and go for Austrian, which has very nice coverage of the near East and former SU.

Austrian will go to the same alliance as whomever buys it. My understanding is that LH is the only carrier to make a bid. AF/KL expressed interest but didn't submit a bid. AZ is pathetic, though. About the only European mid-major of any value left might be SK. LH is considered the front-runner for them, as well.

Uzbekistan is DEFINITELY on my list. Hopefully this will make it slightly easier, incl. the domestic flights.

Why dump them?! Does it bother you?! It serves quite a lot of people, has decent fares and 100% mileage earning in all classes (at least for WP, FB, etc). If you don't like them, don't fly them (this holds for all/any airlines).

AZ looks to be dumping itself. Last Saturday or Sunday there was an ad in the FT listing 5-7 insolvency court dates (and names of judges) for AZ between mid-November and late January. A colleague just flew home Sunday night on Brussels because AZ staff in Rome could only tell her that they would be waiting until after the staff should-we-strike meeting Monday to decide whether they were flying Monday.

Real nice, AZ.

I'm still waiting for CI to join. Don't know what's taking so long.

Somebody said GOL (Brazilian airline) was potentially going to join... any truth to that rumour?

I do too. Uzbekistan is quite interesting.

Regrettably I cannot recall who told me the story of his AZ flight scheduled to MXP that landed without notice in LIN. Of course AZ staff would do nothing to help him and - of course - he missed his connection ex-MXP. Maybe the plane was diverted so the AZ staff in LIN could go back home in FCO.

If this were an isolated example of the level of service on AZ, that would be horrible enough.

... and yes I try to avoid them. I would much rather AZ fail and be replaced by an airline that would be half as crazy and twice as reliable. YMMV.

As I recall, AF/KL did not submit a binding offer. Anyways.... I agree that it will go to whomever buys it.

Isn't SK also partly owned by LH?

I note that the article optimistically states "Uzbekistan Airways joins SkyTeam" and then goes on to mention "The first stage in negotiations between Sky Team Alliance and Uzbekistan Airlines was held in Tashkent"--i.e. FIRST STAGE

I have friends who have flown Uzbekistan Airways and they claim the service is absolutely dismal. I would assume that an airline alliance such as Sky Team not only coordinates schedules but also sets minimal service standards. From what I have heard, although I admit I have no personal experience, I would view it an absolute miracle if Uzbekistan Airways joined SkyTeam this year and was effectively in a position to offer the level of service I would expect from a SkyTeam carrier/partner--i.e. comparable to NW/KL/DL/AF.