Star Alliance

[Iflyem]

Seems to me that US will be thrown out of Star Alliance even before we are officially started in that program.
Why on earth would anyone want US at this stage of the game? Are we giving the other members any value added? What do you guys think?

 

[Fly]

I know of a certain pilot that should be thrilled with this idea. 😉

 

[Squonk]

The Star Alliance is a done deal. We officially become members on May 5th, 2004. Training is almost completed. We were invited by the Star Alliance to apply for membership after a lengthy investigation by the Alliance. You don't ask them, they ask you.

B)

 

[oldiebutgoody]

Seems to me that US will be thrown out of Star Alliance even before we are officially started in that program.
Why on earth would anyone want US at this stage of the game? Are we giving the other members any value added? What do you guys think?

Well, it seems to me that UAIR fits very well into the STAR alliance. Remember, some of the major members are UAL and Air Canada. Maybe they should just change to name to "the financially troubled" Star alliance.

 

[iflyjetz]

UAIR's route structure fills a gaping hole in the death * alliance. The death * alliance needs UAIR's extensive east coast route structure.
I will be flying on UAIR early next month to CUN, since there is no other * alliance service to CUN from the US. I booked the flight on UAL's website and will earn UAL FF miles for the trip.

 

[FLYAWAY]

Another B.S. thread. Your optimisim is stagering. Why do you waste the key strokes?

 

[JayBrian]

If I recall correctly US adds about 70 unique destinations to the Star Alliance network, bringing the total up to about 770 destinations.



Jay

 

[CLTBWIDAYSYR]

I have a friend who works for Star in FRA. Spoke to him today about this. Seems the biggest problem is that US is too bogged down in its own turmoil to try and work out the details of officially being a member. Star would LOVE to have US in the network right now, but there is one last BIG hurdle. Drum roll please....it's called S-A-B-R-E. Sabre wants the other Star carriers to pay them when a flight is booked on a code share (Star Carrier) flight. The other members are balking at this. Why would Thai, SAS, Singapore or ANA want to pay Sabre? Add to this that we are the only carrier in Star who use the horrific operating system anyway, and you've got yourselves a cluster f ck. We can all thank Mr. Wolf for giving it to us again. Don't t look for US to be a part of Star untill this is resolved.

 

[matika]

One of the main reasons they want U is the extensive list of Caribbean destinations.

 

[madders]

Actually Star ALliance is looking into developing there own computer software called Starnet so soon SABRE will only soon be a memory

 

[jimntx]

Actually Star ALliance is looking into developing there own computer software called Starnet so soon SABRE will only soon be a memory

Take it from someone who spent over 20 years in the computer field...
If they are just now "looking into" a new reservations system, it will be years before the new system is up and running. Reservations systems are some of the most complicated computer applications ever written. That's why so many stick with SABRE. The time and cost of replacing it far outweighs the cost of continuing to modify/patch it.

And, that's just the programming. You haven't addressed getting the user airlines to agree on what features to include and how each feature will operate. And, the most time consuming thing--getting all of them to agree on how to pay for it.

 

[USFlyer]

Actually Star ALliance is looking into developing there own computer software called Starnet so soon SABRE will only soon be a memory

Actually, UA-LH-AC are looking at developing a common platform that would allow for streamlined reservations, check-in, etc. For example, consider the UA-US codeshare: Wouldn't it be great if either airline could check-in a passenger for a codeshare flight (instead of sending passengers between ticket counters when they don't realize they are on a codeshare flight)? My understanding is this new common platform would allow for this and much more. However, only UA-LH-AC plan to use it come 2008 (I think), so it will be a L O N G time before other carriers use it.

 

[Light Years]

Take it from someone who spent over 20 years in the computer field...
If they are just now "looking into" a new reservations system, it will be years before the new system is up and running. Reservations systems are some of the most complicated computer applications ever written. That's why so many stick with SABRE. The time and cost of replacing it far outweighs the cost of continuing to modify/patch it.

And, that's just the programming. You haven't addressed getting the user airlines to agree on what features to include and how each feature will operate. And, the most time consuming thing--getting all of them to agree on how to pay for it.

This is correct... I just recently read an article about the proposed single res system for Star Alliance carriers. Its indeed just a "twinkle in the eye" at the moment and would take years to develop (not to mention deploy!)

It really would streamline everything and when and if they do there will be enormous benefits.

By that time, who knows what the Alliance will consist of. Star is less than a decade old (I think?) and its already lost a few members and gained a few.