Meaning of associate members
 

A UA agent once told me that the *A associate members do not have voting rights and that award tickets on them are not possible.Is this true and is there anything else to it? THanks.

I dont think that's right. AFAIK there are 3 categories of membership - full, regional and observer. Regional members are smaller airlines with limited network, however you can still earn and redeem on their flights. Observer members are airlines that have committed to join at a future date and thus won't have voting rights.

At current date regional members are Blue1, Adria Airways and Croatia Airlines. Observer member is South African.

My understanding is that the regional members (such as Blue 1), does not contribute $20 million annual due to the alliance, or only contriutes either at much reduced fee or pay per use. This is because they have small passengers as their core customers, so no need to access to all the functions and services created by the huge network.

This very day (april-10-2006) SAA South Afican Airways are now a full StarAlliance member. Welcome!