CO to join Star

[whlinder]

http://custom.marketwatch.com/custom/tdame...4-F2885D4DA48A}

Looks like they will try to join in the UA/LH anti-trust exemption.

Where does this leave US in the alliance?

 

[UPNAWAY]

http://custom.marketwatch.com/custom/tdame...4-F2885D4DA48A}

Looks like they will try to join in the UA/LH anti-trust exemption.

Where does this leave US in the alliance?

The Story in the Houston Chronical says that CAL will be domesticaly partnered with UAL & US.

 

[Bobbie]

This is wonderful news. I'm waiting for a "US Airways to leave Star Alliance" press release.

It was high time United found a legitimate partner in Star. Since the AWA merger, US has been a deficient partner to them. They just got the codeshares on the web site, what, 5 months ago?

In your face, US.

 

[Bobbie]

The Story in the Houston Chronical says that CAL will be domesticaly partnered with UAL & US.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5846440.html

That's not really true. The Continental Press Release makes ZERO mention of US aside from in the "About Star Alliance" section. This is about United replacing US as their partner. And it's about time. The Chronicle is making a baseless assumption that US will remain

US and Star Alliance are HISTORY.

 

[LCC_#1]

US Airways isn't going anywhere as far as Star is concern. LH just started bringing in the A340-600 to CLT. Why? They see the CLT hub as a great hub for them to connect their passengers into the US and the demand is there.

A far as incompetent, that road runs both ways.

 

[UPNAWAY]

Oh yea?

With today's announcement of Continental Airlines’ plan to join the Star Alliance network and partner with United Airlines, our longstanding codeshare relationship with United remains intact, as does our status as a Star Alliance member carrier. In recent days, we have reaffirmed our codeshare with United and our continued participation in the alliance.



Here are some questions we anticipate you might have, and, of course, their answers:



Q. Does this change our codeshare relationship with UA?

A. No. As part of the process to invite CO into Star Alliance, we reaffirmed our relationship with UA and our position in Star Alliance. The US-UA codeshare program will remain one of the largest codeshare programs in the industry.



Q. Isn’t Star Alliance already the largest global airline alliance? Why do we need another North American member?

A. Each member of the alliance brings unique value. The CO route network brings new destinations and additional service in important markets that have limited service by current Star Alliance member carriers. CO customers will gain access to additional services not available to them today, including airport lounge and frequent flyer benefits.



Q. Will US reduce flying as a result of United’s new relationship with CO?

A. No, today’s announcement will have no impact on the level of US operations. Codeshare programs, frequent flyer cooperation and other aspects of an airline alliance help to increase the number of passengers US Airways carries.



Q. Will US and CO enter into a codeshare agreement?

A. We haven’t had discussions yet on a possible codeshare or potential bilateral relationship with CO.

 

[Bobbie]

that's smoke and mirrors. It's OVER. I'll believe it when it comes out of Wolfgang Mayrhuber's mouth.

 

[FrugalFlyerv2.0]

Q. Isn’t Star Alliance already the largest global airline alliance? Why do we need another North American member?

A. Each member of the alliance brings unique value. The CO route network brings new destinations and additional service in important markets that have limited service by current Star Alliance member carriers. CO customers will gain access to additional services not available to them today, including airport lounge and frequent flyer benefits.

Q: What unique value does US bring to the * alliance table that cannot be replaced and improved by CO?
A: ???

IMHO, odds are low that US would leave * alliance right now. But if push comes to shove and DOT does not approve the CO- * alliance codeshare, odds of US being asked to leave in favor of CO should be pretty good. Although I don't see why the DOT would not approve it since CO was able to codeshare with NW/DL/AF/KL.

 

[InternationalShannon]

This is wonderful news. I'm waiting for a "US Airways to leave Star Alliance" press release.

It was high time United found a legitimate partner in Star. Since the AWA merger, US has been a deficient partner to them. They just got the codeshares on the web site, what, 5 months ago?

In your face, US.

I love the love around here. Hey, look a bird!!! *finger wave*

 

[Bobbie]

You can wave your finger all you want at me. I'm not the one supporting a substandard airline that put themselves in the position they're in.

I'd describe my mood right now as jubilant. This entire situation makes US look like the lowest-grade carrier in Star Alliance....and that's because they are LOW GRADE.

 

[InternationalShannon]

You can wave your finger all you want at me. I'm not the one supporting a substandard airline that put themselves in the position they're in.

I'd describe my mood right now as jubilant. This entire situation makes US look like the lowest-grade carrier in Star Alliance....and that's because they are LOW GRADE.

There were a handful of people that put this airline where it is today, not the lot of employees

 

[whlinder]

As part of this announcement there is probably a plan in place for US to take over UA in some new iteration of "project minnow" or whatever and then US/CO will have a partnership and anti-trust immunity.

Surely.

The question is how valuable are CLT/PHL and the shuttle to *A? I'm quite certain that CO's EWR and IAH hubs are considered more valuable, but CLT accesses the south better than any other hub in the "new" alliance and PHL obviously has excellent O&D traffic levels.

 

[AIRBORN1]

Honestly folks it sounds like a whole lot of hedging of bets.

LH needs domestic feed. Where they get it from I don't think they care.

UA is "at risk" of failing.

US is "at risk" also

CO isn't "at risk"

If either US or UA wets the bed and goes under, LH and Star still have their bases covered nicely.

If US Fails CO picks up the slack. Same as if UA fails, CO is there.

What about JETBLUE.. They are now in the star alliance .... You can now book on JB and LH .. This gets interesting..
I think USAIR is out.

 

[YVINTERN]

and LH has heavy presence in the US to where CO flies...LH flies a 737-700 All Biz Class IAH-FRA

 

[Bobbie]

and LH has heavy presence in the US to where CO flies...LH flies a 737-700 All Biz Class IAH-FRA

IIRC, the lone transatlantic 737 in Houston, operated by PrivatAir, is KLM to Amsterdam, not Lufthansa to Frankfurt.

Lufthansa is operating 747-400's and A340-600's on the IAH-FRA routes