New airlines for SkyTeam
 

http://www.boarding.no/art.asp?id=33453

Anyone want to go to Tashkent?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uzbekistan_Airways

Well, although new SkyTeam members are to be welcomed, this does not exactly compensate for the defection of CO.

The current SkyTeam scenario is really good for many WP members: genuine and unparalleled reciprocity with CO and KL, both of which are under threat. We also have limited reciprocity with DL and AF and even AS. And workable codeshares with others like CM.

Often I have three genuine choices for my itins: NW, CO, DL. While we may complain about the lack of reciprocal UG with DL, and the 50% EQM on low fare classes with CO, these are minor pecadillos compared with, say: StarNet filtering of awards at UA, or over at OW, the utter lack of basic FFP benefit for AA/BA flyers on converse TATL itins.

I doubt DL will maintain this level of integration. I wonder what happens especially to the NWKL JV, which is the bedrock of the alliance and, according to industry observers, an industry-leading contract.

Moving to CO will give the option of flying three domestic-based airlines after they join *A; CO, UA, and US, as well as good international partners. *A will be the only alliance with more than one US-based legacy.

Actually, Yes I do want to go.

Don't forget that a Gold or Plat will usually earn somewhere between 100% and 700% more miles for partner flights with ST, than you do in OW or *A, as you do not usually earn elite bonuses on partners in those alliances, and because partial credit fares are much more common (i.e. virtually all BA coach fares, and most intra-European SK fares earn 25% mileage). Even worse, in *A, is the maddening practice of having mileage accrual follow the operating carrier. Accordingly, when you book a codeshare, you have no idea how much your ticket will earn.

Why would you wonder about this? ST has already announced their intention, which is to (basically) expand the JV to one that includes DL, NW, AZ, AF, KL, and OK for all TATL flights, as well as (I think) the flights to Tahiti. My understanding is that this has already received regulatory approval. And I certainly don't see DL abandoning this, since both OW and *A are trying to go down the same path.

That would be a long flight on a 767ER JFK-TAS.

It says that they service JFK. I wonder if it is daily service.

Once a week (Sundays) and there is a stop in RIX in both directions.

What about Middle East Airlines? Skyteam lacks a Middle East carrier and ME has ties with AF.

Wow... Middle East Airlines would not be my first choice. Personally, I really wish we could snag Emirates or Royal Jordanian.

Syrian Arab, or Saudi are still free. I like the possibilities of the Syrian Arab 30$ return flights from DAM-LTK/ALP on the Yaks and Tupolevs. I would love to earn WP miles on those flights

I think that Uzbekistani airways is an obscure choice. they don't really have much service? seriously...how many people actually NEED to go to Tashkent besides people who live there? I would prefer that Skyteam have an Australian member.

emirates is a good choice as well.

The only airlines left that I really think add value to an alliance are the various Virgin products. It would give ST real alliance routes to SYD and MEL (when V Aus comes online), as well as additional European and US options.

Emirates, Qatar and Etihad are all supposed to be pretty good, and they're all based within about 300 miles of each other (ah, little filthy-rich oil countries :) so maybe each of the major alliances could snag one?

That's only 2 airlines.

MEA is joining as a SkyTeam associate member sponsored by Air France. They're in the process of a fleet expansion for this purpose.

Well Royal Jordanian is already in Oneworld and Emirates isn't interested in joining an airline alliance.

MEA is a good fit for SkyTeam because of their close partnership with Air France which is now in its tenth year.

Their drawback is that they're too small, but that will be changing over the next two years.