Star Alliance

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{{Infobox Airline alliance | alliance=Star Alliance | logo=StarAllianceLogo.png | size=300px | launch_date=May 14, 1997 | full_members=18 | sponsored_members=3 | future_members=0 | airports=842 | countries=152 | annual_passengers=425 | fleet=2800 | key_people=Jaan Albrecht (CEO) | website=http://www.staralliance.com | site_name=staralliance.com }} Launched on May 14, 1997, the Star Alliance was the first, and remains 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. The creation of the Star Alliance sparked the formation of rivals, notably Oneworld and SkyTeam.

Image:Mexicana A320-231 StarAlliance at MMMX.jpg

Star Alliance now runs 16930 daily flights to 846 destinations in 151 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.

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.

Contents

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Membership History

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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.

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Full members

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Regional members

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Former members

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Future members

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Full members

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Potential future members

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Full members
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Regional members

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

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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.

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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
  • Preferred Seating
  • Additional Checked Luggage Allowance
  • Airport Lounge Access

Membership tiers granting Star Alliance Silver:

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Star Alliance Gold

Star Alliance Gold status is awarded to customers who have reached the higher premium level of a member airline's frequent flyer program.Image:Sgold.jpg

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

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 Orchard Plus program awards a status with two years of validity.

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Destinations

See Star Alliance destinations

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See also

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External links

Members of the Star Alliance Image:Star alliance rechts.jpg
Air Canada • Air New Zealand • ANA • Asiana Airlines • Austrian Airlines • bmi • LOT Polish Airlines
Lufthansa • SAS Scandinavian Airlines • Singapore Airlines • South African Airways • Spanair • Swiss
TAP Portugal • Thai Airways • United Airlines • US Airways • Varig

Regional Members: Adria Airways • Blue1 • Croatia Airlines

Former members: Ansett Australia • Mexicana

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