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The Star Alliance, launched on May 14, 1997, is the largest airline alliance in the world, with the following points of cooperation among its partner airlines:

  • Frequent flyer program integration allows airline miles to be earned and redeemed on all members of the Alliance at the same level
  • Premium customers of the alliance have access to all members' airport lounges.
  • Flight schedules are coordinated to permit almost seamless travel which may include several different carriers within the alliance, on a single ticket
  • Special fares for round-the-world and similar travel on alliance members offer discounts over booking individual itineraries
  • Customer service processes are harmonized in an effort to promote a consistent experience
  • Cooperation in development of a common information technology platform

This tight cooperation led to suspicions of anti-competitive behavior, and the alliance was investigated by the European Union as a virtual merger of its members. Indeed, some speculated that if government regulations were relaxed, the members would merge into a single corporation, although no evidence has yet materialized. Previous to Star Alliance, Northwest Airlines and KLM were operating together as the forerunners of the modern airline alliance system since 1993 - although there had been even earlier pairings and groupings of airlines for decades on a less formal level. The creation of the Star Alliance was a milestone in airline history due to its size and sparked the formation of rivals, notably oneworld and SkyTeam.

Star Alliance now runs 16930 daily flights to 842 airports in 152 countries with South African Airways and Swiss International Air Lines having joined at the beginning of April 2006. The figure also includes the new US Airways, which reached a merger deal with America West in May 2005. Its market share is 28%, including US Airways-America West Airlines, based on the RPK (revenue passenger kilometers).

The alliance developed the "regional" concept in 2004, which helps the alliance to penetrate individual markets through regional carriers, which requires sponsorship from existing members.

Star Alliance was voted best airline alliance in the 2005 World Airline Awards for the second time in three years.

Membership History

Members

Starting in 2004, Star Alliance has divided its member airlines into full members and regional members, who must be sponsored by a full member.

Full members (including regional subsidaries)

Air Canada+ * Air Canada Jazz Air New Zealand * Air Nelson Eagle Airways Freedom Air Mount Cook Airline All Nippon Airways * (also known by the abbreviation ANA) Air Nippon Air Japan Asiana Airlines * Austrian Airlines * Austrian Arrows bmi * bmibaby LOT Polish Airlines * Eurolot Centralwings Lufthansa+ * Air Dolomiti Condor Lufthansa CityLine Flag_of_Norway.svg Flag_of_Denmark.svg Scandinavian Airlines System+ * SAS Braathens Singapore Airlines * South African Airways * Spanair * Swiss International Air Lines * TAP Portugal * Thai Airways International+ * United Airlines+ * Ted US Airways * America West Airlines (Now US Airways) US Airways Express Piedmont Airlines PSA Airlines Varig *

Note+: Indicates founding members of the Star Alliance.

Regional members

Adria Airways * (sponsored by Lufthansa) Blue1 * (sponsored by SAS) Croatia Airlines * (sponsored by Lufthansa)

Former members

Ansett Australia — liquidated in 2001 Mexicana — left alliance in 2004 after deciding not to renew a codeshare alliance with United Airlines and opted to codeshare with Oneworld's American Airlines.

Future members

Full members
Air China, currently partnered with ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa, SAS, United Airlines, and Varig. Despite Oneworld's Cathay Pacific being its shareholder, the airline was officially invited to join the alliance on May 22, 2006, after an agreement with Lufthansa. Shanghai Airlines was invited to join Star Alliance on May 10.

Potential future members

=Full members
= Air India - already partnered with Asiana Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines and Thai Airways International. Indian will merge with Air India in 2006 AiRUnion - according to Russian newspaper Kommersant Star Alliance chose AiRUnion to be its partner in Russia once all AiRUnion airlines (KrasAir, Domodedovo Airlines, Omskavia, Samara Airlines and Sibaviatrans) have merged into a single airline. * Egypt Air - according to the homepage of the Arab Air Carriers Organization AACO the airline is in early talks with Lufthansa in order to promote their application. Egypt Air aims to become a member within the next 24 months. Ethiopian Airlines - has an ongoing partnership with South African Airways. The airline entered talks with Lufthansa about joining Star Alliance * Jet Airways - recently started cooperation with Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa and Thai, has an ongoing relationship with United Airlines. However, it also has relationships with oneworld carriers, which might lead them to that alliance. Star Alliance will in any case likely be forced to choose between Jet and Air India. PLUNA - 49% owned by Varig. Potential to become second South American airline in the alliance. Qatar Airways - cooperates with ANA, Asiana Airlines, bmi, Lufthansa, Thai Airways International and United Airlines S7 Airlines - Star Alliance is said to be in negotiations with S7 Airlines. However it's not clear whether AiRUnion or S7 Airlines will join the alliance * TACA - there is a rumor that the airline is looking to join the alliance. TACA has recently terminated its partnership with American Airlines in favour of teaming up with United Airlines. *

=Regional members
= Star Alliance is exploring more opportunities to recruit "regional" members:

Aegean Airlines (to be sponsored by Lufthansa) airBaltic (to be sponsored by SAS) Air One (to be sponsored by Lufthansa) - the airline is set to become a Star Alliance Regional member in the near future and plans to apply for full member status later on * Bahamasair - strong potential to become a regional member. Already has codeshare and frequent-flyer agreements with US Airways. Offers extensive flights throught the Bahamas archipelago, as well as direct flights to the United States, Cuba, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, and the Turks & Caicos islands. Caribbean Sun Airlines and sister airline Caribbean Star Airlines - hubs based in Puerto Rico and Antigua & Barbuda respectively, the airlines already have codeshare and frequent flyer agreements with US Airways and offers extensive service between the Eastern Caribbean, Guyana, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. Cayman Airways - Formerly had codeshare and frequent-flyer agreements with United Airlines. Offers direct flights to the United States, Cuba, and Jamaica. Estonian Air (to be sponsored by SAS) Luxair (to be sponsored by Lufthansa) - flights on which Luxair codeshares with Lufthansa can currently be flown on a Star Alliance round-the-world ticket or European Airpass. Silk Air (to be sponsored by Singapore Airlines) Skyways Express(to be sponsored by Scandinavian Airlines) Widerøe (to be sponsored by Scandinavian Airlines)

Premium Status

Star Alliance has two premium levels, Silver and Gold, based on a customer's tier status in a member carrier's frequent flyer program. Each of the member and regional airlines recognizes Star Silver/Gold status, with a few exceptions (mainly pertaining to airport lounge access). The statuses have no specific requirements of their own; membership is based solely on the frequent flyer programs of individual member airlines.

Star Alliance Silver

Star Alliance Silver status is awarded to customers who have reached the premium level of a member carrier's frequent flyer program.

Benefits of Star Alliance Silver membership:

  • Priority Reservations Waitlisting
  • Priority Airport Standby

Some carriers also offer the following to Silver members:

  • Priority Boarding
  • Priority Airport Check In
  • Priority Baggage Handling
  • Preferred Seating
  • Additional Checked Luggage Allowance
  • Airport Lounge Access

Membership tiers granting Star Alliance Silver:

Star Alliance Gold

Benefits of Star Alliance Gold membership:

  • Priority Reservations Waitlisting
  • Priority Airport Standby
  • Priority Boarding
  • Priority Airport Check In
  • Priority Baggage Handling
  • Additional Checked Luggage Allowance
  • Airport Lounge Access

Some airlines also offer the following to Gold members:

  • Preferred Seating (Exit seat or even on a special section on the plane on some carriers which provide more leg room)
  • Guaranteed Seating on Fully Booked Flight (Subject to the Booking Class Code and notice period)
  • Complimentary Upgrade (In the form of voucher/certificate or automatic upgrade upon check in)

Membership tiers granting Star Alliance Gold:

Currently the lowest qualification criteria for a Star Alliance Gold status is 35,000 status miles earned during calendar year with Air Canada's Aeroplan program awarding a status valid for one year from March of the next year.

Alternatively 50,000 qualification miles during a calendar year in Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus program awards a status with two years of validity.

Destinations

See Star Alliance destinations

See also

External links

Star Alliance

Star Alliance | Star Alliance | Star Alliance (αεροπορική συμμαχία) | Star Alliance | Star Alliance | 스타 얼라이언스 | Star Alliance | Star Alliance | スターアライアンス | Star Alliance | Star Alliance | Star Alliance | Star Alliance | Star Alliance | Star Alliance | 星空聯盟

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Star Alliance".

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