SAA to join Star?
 

I talked with a travel agent (one I had just met, no long-term knowledge of credibility, etc.) who specializes in international consolidator travel, and he told me that he has heard that SAA is negotiating with Star. I could not find anything in the Internet and (more importantly!) on FT to cooborate this. Has anyone heard anything about this?

I have not heard anything about this, but SAA does codeshare with LH on their Germany-South Africa routes. I believe they are also partners with DL on the ATL-South Africa flights.

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"There are those who travel, and those who travel well."

Varig also codeshares and allows RG miles to be redeemed for SAA flights.

I'd say Star would have been talking with SA for quite some time. We know EK has knocked them back several times. SA is perhaps biding their time. I seem to recall an interview in Airways or some mag like that with some SAA honcho saying they weren't interested in alliances anytime soon and prefered to pick and choose. However this is the airline game so who knows?

I suspect CA (Air China) will be the next Star member... (although events in Mexico could get in the way)

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RichardMEL, UA 1K
A Star Alliance Member.

SAA has very strong postion in Southern African market. Many airlines have codeshare agreement and partnership with them.
By the way, QF has also codeshare with SAA.

But I do not think they need to join any alliance, so as EK and JL.

Don't forget CX. They also codeshare with SAA.

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SAA is just hanging between oneWorld, Star, Skyteam...