US Airways to Become Full Member of Star Alliance on May 4
Monday April 26, 9:10 am ET
Travellers to Benefit Through More Destinations, More Flights, More Lounges


FRANKFURT, Germany and ARLINGTON, Va., April 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Star Alliance(TM) today announced that US Airways will become a full member effective May 4, 2004, further enhancing US Airways' and Star Alliance's global reach and expanding the breadth of service available to customers.
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"US Airways will significantly strengthen our network and product offering especially into and out of the eastern U.S. seaboard and the Caribbean via its hubs in Philadelphia, Charlotte and Pittsburgh," said Jaan Albrecht, CEO of Star Alliance. "Additionally, experience has shown that US Airways and other member carriers will see an increase in traffic and revenue as more frequent fliers take advantage of the vast array of benefits the Star Alliance network has to offer."

"Joining Star Alliance is an important and historic milestone for US Airways and we could not be more excited about joining the world's leading alliance," Bruce R. Lakefield, president & chief executive officer of US Airways. "Our customers will enjoy unprecedented global access and frequent flier benefits, and our company will benefit from the additional revenue and cost saving opportunities that the alliance provides."

US Airways offers nearly 3,300 daily non-stop flights to 187 destinations in the U.S., Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, Canada and Mexico. Once it joins, the Star Alliance network will comprise 14,000 flights per day to 755 destinations in 132 countries across the globe, in addition to 575 airport lounges worldwide.

With US Airways as part of Star Alliance, its frequent fliers will now be able to accrue and redeem miles on any of the 15 member airlines and will be eligible to achieve Star Alliance Silver or Star Alliance Gold status. US Airways Dividend Miles Chairman's Preferred and Gold Preferred members automatically become Star Gold members, and Silver Preferred members will be recognized as Star Silver members.

Star Alliance Silver status entitles customers to priority reservation wait-list and priority standby at the airport. Star Alliance Gold status customers additionally enjoy access to each of the member airline lounges, dedicated check-in, priority baggage service, additional baggage allowances, and priority boarding.

As a member of Star Alliance, US Airways also will have the opportunity to participate in a wide range of cost saving initiatives, such as fuel purchasing and media procurement, with other member carriers.

Another important advantage to US Airways passengers, said Albrecht, is that Star Alliance member airlines provide coordinated schedules at conveniently located airports, which can dramatically reduce connection times at key hubs across the network.

Star Alliance was established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance to offer customers global reach and a smooth travel experience. The members are Air Canada, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, bmi, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Spanair, Thai Airways International, United, and VARIG Brazilian Airlines.

US Airways is the seventh-largest airline in the U.S., serving nearly 200 communities in the U.S., Canada, Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America. US Airways, US Airways Shuttle and the US Airways Express partner carriers operate over 3,200 flights per day.




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Source: US Airways; Star Alliance


Kathi

kathi@wldtravel.com

Kathi,

What might this mean with respect to flights for US travelers to Africa? How about our Canadian fellow hunters?

thanks...jim

Kathi, I had heard that SAA had joined the star alliance but I still don't see them listed on the website yet. Do you know anything about that?

Listed below is the orig post I had on AR.



South African Airways won't have definite information until after June when the board meets.

This also goes for the location of departure cities, in the U.S.

They would have to look into the the no gun law for Dulles with overnighting passengers.

New York's gun law allows 24 hours without a permit.



South African Airways Seeks To Join Star Alliance



Thursday March 4, 10:59 PM

South African Airways Seeks To Join Star Alliance

FRANKFURT (Dow Jones)--South African Airways (SAA.YY) said Thursday that it has applied to join the Star Alliance network of 15 airlines.



Star Alliance members not only share routes and frequent flier miles but have also recently banded together to save costs on new planes, fuel and an information technology platform.



SAA President and Chief Executive Andre Viljoen said entry into the alliance would strengthen the airline's global position and provide "substantial" additional revenue in dollars.



Airline alliances have been gaining importance of late as a way to gain the cost-saving benefits of a merger without the risks and regulatory hurdles.



German flag carrier Deutsche Lufthansa AG (LHA.XE), one of the founding members of Star Alliance along with UAL Corp.'s (UALAQ) United Airlines and Air Canada (ACNAQ), said Thursday that it is sponsoring SAA's application and will recommend that the airline be "speedily admitted."



Other Star Alliance members include Air New Zealand (AIR.NZ), ANA, Asiana Airlines (020560.KQ) Austrian Airlines (AUA.VI), bmi (BMID.YY), LOT Polish Airlines, Mexicana, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS.SK), Singapore Airlines (S55.SG), Spanair, Thai Airways International (THAI.TH) and Varig S/A (VAGV4.BR).



SAA said the network would give its customers access to 700 airports in 128 countries among other perks, such as access to more than 550 lounges and frequent-flier miles on any member airline.



SAA said once it joined the alliance, it would gradually do away with its independent partnerships with other airlines, such as Air France (3112.FR), Delta (DAL), Cathay Pacific (0293.HK), El Al (ELAL.TV), Qantas (QAN.AU) and Emirates Airlines (EA.YY).







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As soon as I receive additional information I will post it regarding miles

and co-share.



Kathi



kathi@wldtravel.com

Thanks Kathi, That's why I like this site, I get the advice of experts.

So is this a good thing or a bad thing for most of us?