December 14, 2004
South African Airways (SAA) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to join the Star Alliance to improve its international network and benefit from the 15 member partnership's buying power, it said on Tuesday.

State-owned SAA said in a statement that the MOU was signed by its Chief Executive Khaya Ngqula in Bangkok on Monday.

SAA will benefit from the alliance's cross-marketing, code sharing agreements and reduced add-on fees for flights using the partners' networks.

"We fully commit to the integration into the Star Alliance within a year to ensure that our customers derive maximum benefits," Ngqula said.

General info
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The Star Alliance network strives to make this possible. By bringing together fifteen of the world's finest airlines we've created a unique and easier travelling experience. It offers all the flexibility you need and reduces hassle. We've even harmonised timetables to make your connections smoother. Whichever Star Alliance member airline you fly with, we've made sure your journey is as rewarding as it is relaxing. And we encourage our airlines to preserve and promote their own unique traditions and cultures.

We are Air Canada, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, bmi, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, SAS, Singapore Airlines, Spanair, Thai Airways International, United, US Airways and VARIG. Together, we give you what no one airline could:

Access to 772 airports in 133 countries
Access to over 575 lounges
The possibility of earning and redeeming frequent flyers miles or points on any member airline
World-wide recognition of status
Priority reservation, standby and boarding for Star Alliance Gold members
Priority baggage handling for Star Alliance Gold members, First and Business Class travellers *
The most flexible round the world fares

This is all well and good but if you still have to ride the flying torture chamber known as the air bus, who cares?

DC300

DC300 You hit the nail on the head. I am not going to sit on one of those flying cattle cars for 22 hours again. SAA sucks!!

Anyone know of a credit card that earns "Star Alliance" miles?

Kathi,

Does this mean that I can earn miles with SAA and also with my next trips on US Air and New Zealand Air that would apply to a free ticket back to Africa via SAA?

Kevin,
You would have to build up the air miles in one of the programs. You can't transfer miles from one to another.

There isn't a date yet when the programs will go ineffect with SAA.Sometime in 2005

Kevin, it is kind of hard to disagree with Kathi about this - she is after all the travel expert here... But, to my knowledge, any miles earned from any of the Star Alliance partner air carriers, can (given sufficient miles are available) be applied towards free tickets with any of the Star Alliance member carriers. I earned some miles on Singapore Airlines and spent them with Lufthansa. I think this is what you asked?? Not sure what Kathi was referring to??

- mike

P.S. Maybe Kathi was referring to miles earned on SAA BEFORE SAA becomes a Star Alliance member - not sure what happens to those?? I was only talking about miles earned with current alliance members.

I fly United and Air New Zealand all of the time. Miles earned on any Star Alliance airline can be used on any other Star Alliance member flights. Restrictions do apply.

"You would have to build up the air miles in one of the programs. You can't transfer miles from one to another."



What I meant was that all your miles would be on one program example:

US Air takes 80,000 miles for coach seat on a Star Alliance partner flight say Luthansa. You cannot not take 40,000 miles that you may have on US Air and then 40,000 from Singapore and combine the miles.

How does this affect SAA's relationship with Delta? Is that still in effect?

Another question. Will SAA change hubs from Delta to perhaps Washington or Baltimore?