Asiana will be leaving Star Alliance. These are the service providers I would like to join to replace it
Sometime in the next few years, Asiana Airlines will merge with Korean Air. It is a significant consolidation that will result in Korea’s second and largest airlines joining forces to become a single carrier – Korean Air.
Of course, longtime “enemy” Asiana Airlines is a member of Star Alliance, and Korean Air is a member of SkyTeam.
As Korean Air will be the only airline to come out of the merger, Star Alliance will be one airline. This will be a big win for SkyTeam with its single, superlative Korean Air, but a setback for Star Alliance.
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Being a Star Alliance flyer myself, I started thinking about who we could see replacing Asiana. The alliance already has a large presence in Asia with Air China, ANA and Singapore Airlines.
However, if the alliance adds a new carrier to replace Asiana, here are a few things I’d like to consider.
Some background
With Asiana’s departure, there will be 25 airlines remaining in the Star Alliance. This is still nearly double the number of airlines in competitors Oneworld and SkyTeam.
So while there is no guarantee that an alternative airline will join the Star Alliance, we can discuss some airlines that are not yet members of a major alliance and their joining. What the Star Alliance will mean for travelers.
Hawaiian Airlines
While some of the continental United States; City of Auckland, New Zealand; and Tokyo lines will compete head-to-head with existing Star Alliance members United Airlines, ANA and Air New Zealandif Hawaiian Airlines joining Star Alliance, the alliance will have more activities in the Asia-Pacific region.
More, United and Hawaiian had a partnership allow MileagePlus members to sword and redeem miles on domestic Hawaiian Airlines flights.
In addition to domestic service within Hawaii, Star Alliance members will enjoy more flights to destinations such as Australia, New Zealand, French Polynesia, American Samoa, Japan and south Korea by reaching Hawaii’s conveniently located hub of Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL).
It is likely that Hawaiian Pualani Gold members will enjoy Star Alliance Silver benefits, while Pualani Platinum members will enjoy Star Alliance Silver benefits. Star Alliance Gold.
That means Pualani Platinum members can use other Star Alliance lounges while traveling internationally. HNL already has two Star Alliance lounges – United Club and ANA Lounge.
Star Alliance Gold members will also get benefits such as priority boarding, additional baggage allowance, increased earnings/reward opportunities, and access to five Hawaii Premier Clubs located across the islands Hawaii.
Related: Take first flight tomorrow: Hawaiian Airlines (A321neo) in first class from Portland to Maui
Virgin Australia
Although it has lost its long-haul destinations and Boeing 777-300ER fleet during the pandemic, Virgin AustraliaStar Alliance membership will rock Qantas service provider Down below.
After all, Virgin Atlantic has Brisbane Airport (BNE), Sydney Airport (SYD), Melbourne Airport (MEL) and Perth Airport (PER) as hubs, and once they receive the Boeing jets New 737-8 and -10 MAX, new destinations within reach.
The Boeing 737-8 MAX’s announced flight range of 3,550 nautical miles (scheduled for delivery in February 2023) will open up new destinations in Southeast Asia as well as destinations like Mauritius and Chennai, India, from Perth. With a refueling stop at FijiSomoa or French Polynesia, Virgin Australia is accessible to Honolulu from the Eastern Australian hubs of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
Although Virgin Australia is not a member of the Star Alliance, it has partnerships with Star Alliance airlines such as Air Canada, United, Singapore Airlines and South African Airways.
Currently, Virgin Australia Velocity Gold and Platinum members have access to United Clubs, Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge and South African Airways lounges – all of which are Star Alliance Gold lounges.
Besides, Virgin Australia and United recently established a partnership allows codeshare flights with a connection in a single booking. More benefits of United for the upcoming Virgin Australia flyers.
If Virgin Australia joins Star Alliance, Star Alliance customers will see new domestic services across Australia, which is not currently served by the alliance.
Related: Best ways to use points and miles from US to Australia
Etihad
While both Turkish Airlines and Egyptair have an extensive network Middle Eastby joining Star Alliance, Abu Dhabi, based in United Arab Emirates Etihad will open the Star Alliance network to the airline’s 67 global destinations.
Based on Doha Qatar Airwaysan Etihad competitor, already a Oneworld member and Oneworld customers can book Q Suite use miles. If you manage to find the prize space, you can book a flight from the US to Doha’s Hamad International Airport (DOH) for just 70,000 A Mileage advantage.
Oh, how I want to see the same from MileagePlus New Arrival Etihad Business Class!
Etihad already has partnerships with six Star Alliance carriers and by using Aeroplan by Air Canada, you can book Etihad flights with a somewhat reasonable prize ratio.
If Etihad joins Star Alliance, US travelers en route to the Middle East, Africa and South Asia will have significantly more options.
Related: Etihad Guest miles continue to fly under the radar
Emirates
How Abu Dhabi is an airline based in Dubai Emirates.
Recent Airline establish a partnership with United and Air Canada. Although these partnerships only come with agreements between the parties For the time being, reciprocal mileage opportunities are likely to be announced in the coming months. In my opinion, Emirates membership in Star Alliance will simplify these partnerships, making it easier for customers to see their benefits based on their status level.
Emirates operates a huge fleet of 250 wide-body jets to more than 150 international destinations. I’m very interested in adding its 30+ business class lounges to it Star Alliance Gold lounge portfolio.
In the US alone, Emirates has lounges at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
In spite of old business class cabin, the addition of Emirates to Star Alliance will be a game changer. And it can also promote Turkish Airlines retrofit 2-3-2 Boeing 777-300ER is obsolete business class cabin with a newer cabin to stay competitive.
And like with Etihad, Star Alliance passengers will benefit from extensive connecting routes between East and West.
Related: In search of gold: A review of Emirates’ new premium economy cabin on the Airbus A380
Icelandair
Final, Icelandair is also a good candidate for Star Alliance.
Like Iceland’s A full-service carrier, it flies Boeing 737 MAX, Boeing 757 and Boeing 767 jets throughout the northern United States, Canada, and Western Europe – including lesser-known point-to-point routes such as National Airports Raleigh-Durham International (RDU), Minneapolis- St. Paul International Airport (MSP) and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) to Reykjavik’s Keflavik Airport (KEF).
Icelandair also has an extensive Europe-wide network allowing convenient one-stop journeys between the US and Europe. In addition, the flight time between Iceland and the United States is significantly shorter than the flight time to mainland Europe. So a stop in Iceland can be a welcome extended stay.
Reykjavik is already well served by the Star Alliance network, specifically with Air Canada, Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa, SAS and United flights. But Icelandair stops The rule will appeal to Star Alliance passengers on flights between the United States and Europe. Icelandair also now has a partnership with SAS.
All in all, Icelandair will be a leading contender for the Star Alliance and offer many convenient one-stop journeys through Iceland.
Related: How to get to Iceland by points and miles
Key point
Although Asiana will be leaving Star Alliance, there are no public plans to add another airline to the alliance. However, around the world, there are several main contenders for Star Alliance.
While it is unlikely that Etihad or Emirates can believe that joining the Star Alliance will be in their interest, all of the carriers listed already have at least one partnership with the Star carrier. Alliance.
So who knows? Maybe Asiana’s departure from Star Alliance will make it a little harder for the alliance’s airline headhunters to find some new energy in the alliance game.
