Thai Smile falsely advertising they're *A?
 

Traveled to Cambodia last week, Thai Smile for the leg from BKK-REP & return. Noted leaving REP a large sign behind check-in counters saying they were Star Alliance. This was odd, as I'd been told by Thai (TG), their parent operator, that it was a separate company, no *A benefits.

Looking at Thai Smile's website, I find no mention of Star Alliance at all. No mention on United's website or the Star Alliance website of Thai Smile either. Unfortunately, I didn't take a photo of the sign.

Has anything recently changed? Seemed a strange thing to advertise in the lobby. When I saw the signage I did have them input my MP number, not that it makes any difference. Thanks-

I wonder if it was an older sign? They used to be a domestic/regional arm of TG. It's been a few years now since I tried to use them, but during that time I was extended *A benefits. I recall a while back some talk of them being spun off and no one was sure what would happen with *A benefits once that happened. The few domestic routes I have flown in Thailand recently are now operated by widebody TG domestic aircraft, so unsure what Thai Smile is actually doing these days firsthand.

Definitely not *A. Don't expect the points to post or any benefits when flying.

They didn't, and there weren't. When buying the ticket (on Thai Smile's website), it didn't even give an option to put in an MP number. For kicks, on my return flight, I did have them add it to my reservation. They had no problem doing so (although who knows, maybe they just typed a few random keystrokes into a note field).

Really do wish I'd taken a photo. Just for fun.

Thai Smile is no longer part of *A after they received their own operating certificate and started using WE code in 2014, similar to LH's Eurowings. Very frustrating as that took quite a lot of destinations off *A network.