a look into the future: it seems to me that oneworld and staralliance (and maybe one more) will be the only airline networks surviving the competition on the long run, centered around 2 or 3 major carriers.

What do you think either alliance needs to do in the future, or where have they misstepped in the past. Here's my take as a start:

staralliance:
Thai + Singapore don't mix. Air China is on the horizon, will further drag down the quality of the alliance. Who will join next? seems week in the US with only UAL+AC, or is it enough. how big will the alliance become? where's the line between complementing/competing?

oneworld: weak in south america (argentina/brazil), south african should be in already - why not jal? star alliance has ana. very weak in central/eastern europe: we don't always want to fly through heathrow, do we. klm+ba would be the deal of the century. northamerica: continental would be a great addition.



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onestarallianceworld

As for Star in Asia, they are very strong. Yes Thai and Singapore compete, but think what it would be like (what it was like) with a strong Asian economy. When the Asian economy turns around, the Star Alliance will reap huge profits.

I don't see the Star Alliance as weak or poor in quality at all. It's the strongest in the world now and UA covers the U.S. very nicely.

As for Oneworld, you don't have to fly through Heathrow to get to Eastern Europe. You can fly through DUB, MAD, or HEL instead. Oneworld really needs another Asian carrier and JAL would be good, but they don't want to join. I'd like to see Aerolineas Argentinas join Oneworld.

Why does JAL not join???

Aerolineas Argentinas - agreed, would be a great addition. Are they on the waiting list?

Thai is in a difficult position. They have announced their disappointment with the alliance earlier this year. Their only alternative without SG is CX in oneworld, or a small club, like SkyTeam?

TAM is already an AA partner. Wouldn't they make a great balance with LanChile to cover the rest of SA??

Not a huge fan of Skyteam, but would say that it will definately exist as well especially with the impending additions of Alitalia and either Thai or Malaysian.

I'm hedging anyway by having top tier on all three!!

there seems to be a general mistrust on airlines in china.
the international swervice for air china and china eastern, CA & MU. are not bad at all (
-- i had flown with them almost hundred times, both int he front and at the back. and i can testify that they are better than aa/ua.
although there isstill a significant gap between them and CX/SQ/KA/BR.

i like BR a lot, i hope they can join OW. and i expect OZ to be as good. rumours had that MH may join OW, but it would take quite some time.
Emirate, one of the most admired airline, is the most pursued lady in this game (all alliances are trying to get them into their capms)

Star Alliance also needs something for Africa and the Middle East.

Also, their connection times are not the best in the world. I have a trip coming up from N. American to Asia. Connection times are horrendous.

*A has the Middle East and Africa covered pretty well by LH, does it not?

What connection times are you having a problem with? The west coast of the US is pretty well covered at all times.