Who next for the alliance!?
Oct 22, 2012, 2:33 pm
#16
Join Date: Nov 2009
Programs: UA Mileage Plus: Premier Silver
Posts: 340
Let's get Royal Air Maroc, Oman Air, Uzbekistan, Transaero and Jet Airways (India). Also let ASKY join for coverage in West Africa and TAAG in Angola. The biggest prize of course is Virgin - Australia and UK. If US buys AA then Virgin America could join Star. The only other worthwhile carrier after all of this could be Lion of Indonesia - but it would be better if SQ relented and let Silk Air join.
Let air India join oneworld - their service is the same as QFs.
Let air India join oneworld - their service is the same as QFs.
Oct 24, 2012, 12:26 pm
#17
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: MEM
Programs: Delta:PM, US Airways:CP, HH:DM, MR:DM, Avis:First, Hertz: President's Circle
Posts: 237
[Crystal Ball]
If Any airline in India would make it to *A, it will be AI, not 9W first. 9W may join, but it won't be until AI joins as a prelim member first.
[/Crystal Ball]
If Any airline in India would make it to *A, it will be AI, not 9W first. 9W may join, but it won't be until AI joins as a prelim member first.
[/Crystal Ball]
Oct 24, 2012, 3:35 pm
#18
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: England
Programs: Executive Club Silver
Posts: 711
The 9w/AI issue is so sticky and confusing so we will just have to wait and see what happens.
Star have lost ground in numerous places including Britain(BD) and Spain(JK) and soon probably Brazil(JJ) and maybe even less market share in America(US) but with UA around it is hardly a big issue. By LH/AC anti-gulf policy QR is joining OW despite having strong links to Star.
Not all bad though, Avianca-Taca is a good second best in South America and EVA has a tidy network.
UTair look pretty decent, they have a strong Russian domestic network despite being based in VKO. Transaero appear to be more of a charter/vacation airline. Doesn't UTair also have a Ukrainian subsidy? That could strengthen Eastern Europe.
I agree that Gulf Air or Oman air could be good additions. They have reasonable regional networks, alliances usually look for airlines with a good domestic/regional network, they also wouldn't be a threat or step on too many toes.
Star have lost ground in numerous places including Britain(BD) and Spain(JK) and soon probably Brazil(JJ) and maybe even less market share in America(US) but with UA around it is hardly a big issue. By LH/AC anti-gulf policy QR is joining OW despite having strong links to Star.
Not all bad though, Avianca-Taca is a good second best in South America and EVA has a tidy network.
UTair look pretty decent, they have a strong Russian domestic network despite being based in VKO. Transaero appear to be more of a charter/vacation airline. Doesn't UTair also have a Ukrainian subsidy? That could strengthen Eastern Europe.
I agree that Gulf Air or Oman air could be good additions. They have reasonable regional networks, alliances usually look for airlines with a good domestic/regional network, they also wouldn't be a threat or step on too many toes.
Oct 24, 2012, 3:39 pm
#19
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: BGM/ PHL
Programs: US (Silver, *A Silver), AA, Starbucks (Gold)
Posts: 2,242
I'd love to have El Al in Star... although that might hurt our chances of ever seeing one of the Gulf carriers.
Last edited by thomwithanh; Oct 24, 2012 at 3:56 pm
Oct 24, 2012, 8:16 pm
#20
Join Date: Nov 2009
Programs: UA Mileage Plus: Premier Silver
Posts: 340
UTair does have a Ukranian wing, but from what I understand, it's pretty small. In addition, it operates out of the smaller airport in Kiev, so there's no connectivity to be had with other alliance carriers.
Oct 24, 2012, 9:08 pm
#21
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Switzerland
Programs: Bonvoy LT Gold, IHG Gold, BAEC Silver, TP Silver
Posts: 1,508
For me, I wish they would welcome one of the Middle Eastern airlines... Etihad and Qatar are gone, Emirates kinda gone with Qantas...
What's left? They usually offer very good rates between Europe and Asia...
What's left? They usually offer very good rates between Europe and Asia...
Oct 25, 2012, 7:37 am
#22
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: BGM/ PHL
Programs: US (Silver, *A Silver), AA, Starbucks (Gold)
Posts: 2,242
Somebody mentioned Oman Air and Gulf Air... personally I'd prefer Kuwait only because neither of the other two serve any destinations in the Americas.
Oct 26, 2012, 2:36 pm
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: DFW
Programs: AA 1M
Posts: 31,492
Kuwait Airways is an option - they serve JFK and a not so insignificant number of European destinations with a good network in the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Not sure how their service is though, and the fleet looks dated... lots of A300's and A310's.
Somebody mentioned Oman Air and Gulf Air... personally I'd prefer Kuwait only because neither of the other two serve any destinations in the Americas.
Somebody mentioned Oman Air and Gulf Air... personally I'd prefer Kuwait only because neither of the other two serve any destinations in the Americas.
Oct 26, 2012, 4:07 pm
#24
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
Well, Virgin Atlantic is in "fairly advanced talks" to join an alliance. They might be on the horizon, though I'm betting against *A for them.
Oct 26, 2012, 4:18 pm
#25
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: SEA/ORD/ADB
Programs: TK ELPL (*G), AS 100K (OWE), BA Gold (OWE), Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat
Posts: 7,764
Kuwait Airways is an option - they serve JFK and a not so insignificant number of European destinations with a good network in the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Not sure how their service is though, and the fleet looks dated... lots of A300's and A310's.
Somebody mentioned Oman Air and Gulf Air... personally I'd prefer Kuwait only because neither of the other two serve any destinations in the Americas.
Somebody mentioned Oman Air and Gulf Air... personally I'd prefer Kuwait only because neither of the other two serve any destinations in the Americas.
Oman Air and Gulf Air are much better, albeit smaller.
Oct 26, 2012, 4:43 pm
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: DFW
Programs: AA 1M
Posts: 31,492
This isn't going to happen. El Al offers nothing to any alliance - it merely creates problems. Each alliance already serves TLV from every direction.
Kuwait Airways is one of the worst carriers on the planet. Stay away.
Oman Air and Gulf Air are much better, albeit smaller.
Kuwait Airways is one of the worst carriers on the planet. Stay away.
Oman Air and Gulf Air are much better, albeit smaller.
Oct 26, 2012, 4:45 pm
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: DFW
Programs: AA 1M
Posts: 31,492
Well, Virgin Atlantic is in "fairly advanced talks" to join an alliance. They might be on the horizon, though I'm betting against *A for them.
Oct 26, 2012, 5:29 pm
#28
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: SEA/ORD/ADB
Programs: TK ELPL (*G), AS 100K (OWE), BA Gold (OWE), Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat
Posts: 7,764
Oct 26, 2012, 7:16 pm
#29
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: okaihau new zealand
Programs: UA, SQ, AC
Posts: 10
yes but...
I think it is a case of filling the holes in Star. Oman Air, Jet (india) Uzebekistan, Royal Air Maroc. I would have wanted Air Astana, but apparently they are close to a deal with Etihad (hence the shift from DXB to AUH) Oops, almost forgot Virgin UK and Virgin Australia.
If Star ever thinks of letting AI join, I'm moving to Skyteam.
If Star ever thinks of letting AI join, I'm moving to Skyteam.