Jul 21, 2014, 8:26 am
Air India (AI) joined *A - UA M+ RDMs/EQMs, Redemptions{now on ua.com},Experinces,...
Jun 25, 2014, 10:43 am
#16
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On the other hand, I'd bet a lot of AI flyers can't wait to redeem on other *A carriers! Maybe that will alleviate some of the load. :-)
aacharya raises an interesting point about behind the scenes IT; do *A carriers have to agree to some minimal level of availability for partner redemptions? And will LH be "coaching" AI on IT changes/processes/etc?
aacharya raises an interesting point about behind the scenes IT; do *A carriers have to agree to some minimal level of availability for partner redemptions? And will LH be "coaching" AI on IT changes/processes/etc?
Jun 25, 2014, 11:38 am
#17
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The star alliance is really going down-hill. Air India's admission to *A has been in progress/rejected/delayed for years now. I am surprised they finally made it, *A must be awfully desperate. Jet Airways would have made a far better addition. UA had a partnership with them for like a week about 8 years ago. I think they sent out a press release and then the partnership was canned.
Sorry to say, but One World's airlines membership like Qatar, BA and Cathay are light-years ahead of *A
Sorry to say, but One World's airlines membership like Qatar, BA and Cathay are light-years ahead of *A
Jun 25, 2014, 11:44 am
#18
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The star alliance is really going down-hill. Air India's admission to *A has been in progress/rejected/delayed for years now. I am surprised they finally made it, *A must be awfully desperate. Jet Airways would have made a far better addition. UA had a partnership with them for like a week about 8 years ago. I think they sent out a press release and then the partnership was canned.
Sorry to say, but One World's airlines membership like Qatar, BA and Cathay are light-years ahead of *A
Sorry to say, but One World's airlines membership like Qatar, BA and Cathay are light-years ahead of *A
http://www.livemint.com/Companies/Vl...-Alliance.html
Jun 25, 2014, 11:48 am
#19
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My impression was that the government of India kind of forced *A to deal with AI and wouldn't entertain other options. The other alliances benefit from now having open season on Jet and any of the other up and comers. IIRC, Jet even applied to join *A a couple of years ago and the government basically said NO to alliances until AI gets an alliance.
http://www.livemint.com/Companies/Vl...-Alliance.html
http://www.livemint.com/Companies/Vl...-Alliance.html
Jun 25, 2014, 12:06 pm
#20
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What will this mean for United's relationship with Jet Airways? Hard to see them continuing with two airlines in one country.
Jun 25, 2014, 12:35 pm
#21
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jet airways has been going downhill for the past few years now & its an absolute pain to fly & deal with them now....there are tons of horror stories regarding their service & attitude as of late in the india based airlines forum....
Jun 25, 2014, 12:37 pm
#22
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How could the government of India force *A into anything? Sure, they were probably telling AI to go find an alliance, but what could they have possibly held over Star Alliance's head to force this to happen? Landing slots at Indian airports for other *A airlines? (serious question, BTW)
Jun 25, 2014, 12:38 pm
#23
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How could the government of India force *A into anything? Sure, they were probably telling AI to go find an alliance, but what could they have possibly held over Star Alliance's head to force this to happen? Landing slots at Indian airports for other *A airlines? (serious question, BTW)
This article discusses supposed "benefits" that LH was given as an inducement to help AI join Star.
http://boardingarea.wpengine.netdna-.../10/image6.png
Civil Aviation minister told media that Lufthansa, which is the founding member of Star Alliance, was given a lot of benefits to ensure that Air India joins the grouping.
“I believe a lot of facilities were given to the airline (Lufthansa) so that it would mentor Air India to join Star Alliance. They were given a lot of flights, it was made almost open skies for them. Now we are going to talk to Lufthansa to adhere to the plan we had,” Singh said.
“I believe a lot of facilities were given to the airline (Lufthansa) so that it would mentor Air India to join Star Alliance. They were given a lot of flights, it was made almost open skies for them. Now we are going to talk to Lufthansa to adhere to the plan we had,” Singh said.
http://upgrd.com/aerospace/spotlight...and-india.html
According to CAPA, the deployment of larger aircraft is Lufthansa's "main mechanism to expand in the growing India market." Currently, Lufthansa is facing two constraints within its Germany-India operations. Firstly, Germany and India are subject to bilateral agreements, which essentially limit the number of flights that a German airline can operate into India to 50 weekly frequencies (Lufthansa is currently utilizing 46 of those). Secondly, the Germany-India bilateral agreement specifically limits carriers from not operating aircraft larger than the 747 into Indian airports.
Jun 25, 2014, 12:38 pm
#24
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I've never flown AI. Is it anything like this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fOaW6A4j5E
Warning: NSFW language.
Warning: NSFW language.
Jun 25, 2014, 1:13 pm
#25
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Interesting lunchtime reading. Thanks, Keyser and abaheti.
The author of the UPGRD article is right when he makes the statement that the real benefit to the consumer is in AI's domestic route network (since nobody in their right mind would rather spend 15 hours on AI in any class than on any other *A carrier that can get them from North America to India). At least now we can earn miles on intra-India flights, which makes me fairly happy.
The author of the UPGRD article is right when he makes the statement that the real benefit to the consumer is in AI's domestic route network (since nobody in their right mind would rather spend 15 hours on AI in any class than on any other *A carrier that can get them from North America to India). At least now we can earn miles on intra-India flights, which makes me fairly happy.
Jun 25, 2014, 1:16 pm
#26
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Award payment rates (and, subsequently, access) are negotiated bilaterally. Each airline has to cut a deal with AI on what they're willing to pay for award seats. And then the operating carrier gets to decide how many seats to make available. If they don't want to put seats in to X/I/O then they don't have to.
Jun 25, 2014, 1:31 pm
#27
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The author of the UPGRD article is right when he makes the statement that the real benefit to the consumer is in AI's domestic route network (since nobody in their right mind would rather spend 15 hours on AI in any class than on any other *A carrier that can get them from North America to India).
Jun 25, 2014, 1:49 pm
#28
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Interesting. I've never flown AI longhaul, so I can't speak to it but have heard overwhelmingly bad things. I know they're updating their offerings, but I've even heard poor reviews of the new products. Perhaps there will be an opportunity to see for myself what they have to offer at some point soon.
Jun 25, 2014, 2:06 pm
#29
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The star alliance is really going down-hill. Air India's admission to *A has been in progress/rejected/delayed for years now. I am surprised they finally made it, *A must be awfully desperate. Jet Airways would have made a far better addition. UA had a partnership with them for like a week about 8 years ago. I think they sent out a press release and then the partnership was canned.
Sorry to say, but One World's airlines membership like Qatar, BA and Cathay are light-years ahead of *A
Sorry to say, but One World's airlines membership like Qatar, BA and Cathay are light-years ahead of *A
OW's entire east Asia is carried by CX (since JL is way past its golden age while MH is so tarnished after the incident), while star has a full roster of NH SQ OZ CA BR TG. Oneworld doesn't have a single airline hubbing in the 2 most populous countries on earth.
OW's largest hub in Europe (LHR) doesn't even offer terminal co-location ... I'm sure you'll enjoy those terminal transfers
The star alliance is really going down-hill. Air India's admission to *A has been in progress/rejected/delayed for years now. I am surprised they finally made it, *A must be awfully desperate. Jet Airways would have made a far better addition. UA had a partnership with them for like a week about 8 years ago. I think they sent out a press release and then the partnership was canned.
Sorry to say, but One World's airlines membership like Qatar, BA and Cathay are light-years ahead of *A
Sorry to say, but One World's airlines membership like Qatar, BA and Cathay are light-years ahead of *A
Last edited by J.Edward; Jun 25, 2014 at 4:30 pm Reason: merge
Jun 25, 2014, 2:47 pm
#30
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nice to know that we have more options to get actual miles flown credited to our account instead of ua's new rdm model being implemented march 2015. i have a trip to india next year and was planning on using ua but now heavily considering air india instead.