So what's happening with South African Airways' Star Alliance Membership?

Supposed to be due 2005 and now we're almost at the end of the year.
Anyone know anything?

This cannot happen too soon. I am holding out on making my arrangements for a 2/06 trip to NBO and JNB. Waiting primarily for UA MP EQM's.

Membership usually starts either at the end of March or the end of October, to coincide with the new summer/winter timetable periods followed by most airlines.

Membership by SAA is VERY unlikely before March 31, 2006. If you have a February trip planned I would assume that SAA will NOT be a member of *A when you travel.

The original press release said the codeshares would start Nov. 1 and they'd be a full member sometime first quarter 2006. It would seem they've missed the first date ...

It's been widely discussed most of this year that it's around about March 2006 (if everything stays on track) from most sources. Many past threads showing up on search, as per -
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=447758
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=428587
Earlier discussions advising there was a problem and delay to original expectiations -
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=399823
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=364136

SAA are dropping Delta Airlines as a partner on 1 April 2006.

Also they are adding Air New Zealand and TAP -- so it sounds like *A plans are definately in full swing!!

I wouldn't put my money on them joining before March/April 2006

Just noticed this press statement on SAA website in the news section.....
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"JOHANNESBURG. 6 October 2005. South African Airways (SAA) will, once joining Star Alliance, end its code share agreement with Cathay Pacific, its partner to the Far East. SAA CEO Khaya Ngqula informed Cathay of this intention at a meeting between the airlines in September.
"It is with extreme regret that we will no longer be able to continue this long and valued code share," said Ngqula.
The code share agreement has been in place since 1999 and will end in March 2006.
At this time, SAA will become a fully fledged member of the Star Alliance, while Cathay is a member of the Oneworld Alliance."
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If I'm reading it correctly it says SAA will join *A at the end of March 2006 - and that is direct from the SAA website.


http://ww3.flysaa.com/en/en_content_..._content.jhtml

Hmmm. Any idea why they couldn't just continue bilaterally?

cheers,

Henry

Probably has something to do with demands made by Thai, ANA, SQ and Asiana.

I don't think SQ, 'cause Krisflyer has a FFP affiliation with DL....

Yes, but DL is not on their home turf... they don't want any intra Asia travellers funneled to Cathay Pacific when they could be made to fly SQ instead.

If history is any indication (and it is), the SAA website doesn't mean a hill of beans vs. reality. Thanks for the update, though, cmcbugg - it's just that SAA, as a company and a website is SO wrong...

Will

FWIW, United has added SAA as an "Air Partner" on their website because of the codeshare flights between the US and SA. The flights are eligible to accrue mileage.

Here's the link to the site:
http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,51396,00.html

This page used to say that redemption would start when SAA joins the star alliance in the first quarter of 2006, now it just says 2006. At least it is a start.

Scott

The link also says:

'Elite benefits and recognition will begin when South African Airways joins Star Alliance in the first quarter of 2006.'

March 2006, is there any further confirmation for this SAA - Star Alliance joining date ?