Josh T 0 Report post Posted December 23, 2010 But, MH and KL have been together for 12 years. If this relationship favours MH entry into ST, it would have happened when MH showed their interest back 5-6 years ago. However, I'm still hoping MH will join ST or any other alliances (VS wants to set up fourth global alliance). Now, wouldn't that be interesting if MH ended up being a founding member of another global alliance?! The already have a close relationship with Virgin Blue and their FF programme where you can earn status credits from either. I wouldn't be too shocked if there ends up being another global alliance that includes Malaysia Airlines, the Virgin Group (Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Blue, V Australia and Virgin America) and Etihad as the founding memebers... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KK Lee 5 Report post Posted December 23, 2010 Now, wouldn't that be interesting if MH ended up being a founding member of another global alliance?! The already have a close relationship with Virgin Blue and their FF programme where you can earn status credits from either. I wouldn't be too shocked if there ends up being another global alliance that includes Malaysia Airlines, the Virgin Group (Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Blue, V Australia and Virgin America) and Etihad as the founding memebers... Unless Singapore 49% stake in Virgin Atlantic, RB investment in D7, and relationship between TF and RB doesn’t count. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Johan Z 0 Report post Posted December 23, 2010 SQ would not very happy if VS create a global alliance with MH, I guess. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JuliusWong 0 Report post Posted December 23, 2010 From what I've read form another forum, AR plan to acquire ex-QR A346 is out of the window. However, they do plan to take more A343 in and A333 or A332, I can't remember. I do recall under IJ time, he said MH doesn't find being in an alliance beneficial as it requires you to cut ties with some existing code share partners and going into bed with new ones. At that time, MH just didn't have the time to do that as it was busy 'plugging the hole on the sinking boat'. To expand in it network, MH signed gazillion amount of code sharing deals with numerous airlines throughout the Earth. Grab a copy of MH's Going Places, you will know what I mean. The situation might have changed now as most big FSC of SEA are now in alliance. MH may really need to buckle up for another roller coaster ride. Hopefully FY will supplement MH network and not cannabalising into MH's own bread and butter route. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wilson Kook 0 Report post Posted December 23, 2010 Now, wouldn't that be interesting if MH ended up being a founding member of another global alliance?! The already have a close relationship with Virgin Blue and their FF programme where you can earn status credits from either. I wouldn't be too shocked if there ends up being another global alliance that includes Malaysia Airlines, the Virgin Group (Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Blue, V Australia and Virgin America) and Etihad as the founding memebers... Don't forgot Emirates and Qatar Airways as well. 2 bid Middle-Eastern players Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Josh T 0 Report post Posted December 23, 2010 Don't forgot Emirates and Qatar Airways as well. 2 bid Middle-Eastern players The only reaon why I singled out Etihad is that they've got a huge partnership with Virgin Blue/V Australia now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wilson Kook 0 Report post Posted December 24, 2010 The only reaon why I singled out Etihad is that they've got a huge partnership with Virgin Blue/V Australia now. ahh i see. pardon me for my ignorance. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Josh T 0 Report post Posted December 24, 2010 ahh i see. pardon me for my ignorance. You have been pardoned! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
michgyver 0 Report post Posted December 24, 2010 The only reaon why I singled out Etihad is that they've got a huge partnership with Virgin Blue/V Australia now. read airliner mag that Etihad will be joining Star Alliance. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Josh T 0 Report post Posted December 24, 2010 Could Star Alliance be looking at wooing Virgin Blue into their fold? They used to have Ansett (RIP) and now they have no access into Australia and the Oceania region except through Air New Zealand and the Asian carriers. Ultimately, I still see MH being a better fit into SkyTeam than any other alliance out there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Raymund Yeoh 1 Report post Posted December 25, 2010 Could Star Alliance be looking at wooing Virgin Blue into their fold? They used to have Ansett (RIP) and now they have no access into Australia and the Oceania region except through Air New Zealand and the Asian carriers. Ultimately, I still see MH being a better fit into SkyTeam than any other alliance out there. Personally I dont think so...as this has been discussed somewhere in this forum.....In SEA, we now have Garuda( going to join) n Vietnam Airlines in Skyteam....if MH joins, it will be too many cooks will spoil the soup....however if they do join, im glad.....as I can start reusing my Enrich which has been in storage for years..... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pieter C. 5 Report post Posted December 25, 2010 Ultimately, I still see MH being a better fit into SkyTeam than any other alliance out there. Spoke to a colleague today (yes, had to work on Christmas-day ), and he told me, MH will go back to KL handling @ AMS next year and they (MH) will become Associate Member of Skyteam in 2011; with the recent JV signing between MH and KL, it's obvious who will be the 'sponsor' for them within ST... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Raymund Yeoh 1 Report post Posted December 26, 2010 Spoke to a colleague today (yes, had to work on Christmas-day ), and he told me, MH will go back to KL handling @ AMS next year and they (MH) will become Associate Member of Skyteam in 2011; with the recent JV signing between MH and KL, it's obvious who will be the 'sponsor' for them within ST... Hi Pieter, what is the diff between full member and Associate Member ?...... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
suadrif 0 Report post Posted December 26, 2010 (edited) Copy from ST website... The SkyTeam Associate Program caters to carriers in strategic regions who are interested in becoming affiliated with SkyTeam and its alliance benefits. Passengers traveling with an Associate carrier receive the same benefits offered to passengers traveling with the 11 current SkyTeam member airlines, including frequent flyer programs and improved access to airport lounges. Associate member such as TAROM and Kenya Airways has adopted Flying Blue as their FFP. Will MH adopt Flying Blue or they will stay with their Enrich? Edited December 26, 2010 by suadrif Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Josh T 0 Report post Posted December 26, 2010 Associate member such as TAROM and Kenya Airways has adopted Flying Blue as their FFP. Will MH adopt Flying Blue or they will stay with their Enrich? Why would they have to adopt Flying Blue when they already yave their own FF programme (Enrich) which they can use in reciprocation? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Josh T 0 Report post Posted December 26, 2010 Actually, this has got me thinking about Virgin Blue and whether they'd be considering a global alliance. They already have reciprocal FF arrangements (earning, redeeming and status) with MH as well as lounge useage for international Virgin passengers in SYD and MEL. They've also just finalised an arrangement with Delta. Delta is in SkyTeam and MH looks like it could be joining in the not too distant future... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mohd Suhaimi Fariz 2 Report post Posted December 27, 2010 Copy from ST website... The SkyTeam Associate Program caters to carriers in strategic regions who are interested in becoming affiliated with SkyTeam and its alliance benefits. Passengers traveling with an Associate carrier receive the same benefits offered to passengers traveling with the 11 current SkyTeam member airlines, including frequent flyer programs and improved access to airport lounges. Associate member such as TAROM and Kenya Airways has adopted Flying Blue as their FFP. Will MH adopt Flying Blue or they will stay with their Enrich? IMHO TAROM & Kenya Airways don't have a strong frequent flyer program, which is why they've easily adopted KLM's frequent flyer program as their own. MH's Enrich is a different story. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Izanee 0 Report post Posted December 27, 2010 (edited) Pieter, good news for MH finally. Finally, KL have managed to help pull MH out of the muddy water! Apart from the JV with KLM, i think one of the earlier signs was that MH moved to Terminal 4 in Heathrow - this is where most of the skyteam carriers operate from. Edited December 27, 2010 by Izanee Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Josh T 0 Report post Posted December 27, 2010 MH already have code-share and hub&spoke arrangements with both KLM and Alitalia in Europe. They also have Delta as their Enrich partner. However, I don't think MH have any code-share or flight agreements with AF. Is this right? MH's website states that AF is a partner of Enrich but I have never been able to earn Enrich miles when I fly AF. Does anybody have an explanation for that??? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KK Lee 5 Report post Posted December 28, 2010 Copy from ST website... The SkyTeam Associate Program caters to carriers in strategic regions who are interested in becoming affiliated with SkyTeam and its alliance benefits. Passengers traveling with an Associate carrier receive the same benefits offered to passengers traveling with the 11 current SkyTeam member airlines, including frequent flyer programs and improved access to airport lounges. Will ST gold and platinum FFP cardholders permit to use Enrich lounge at KUL? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Josh T 0 Report post Posted December 28, 2010 (edited) Will ST gold and platinum FFP cardholders permit to use Enrich lounge at KUL? Unfortunately, yes... The Golden Lounges will become more crowded if MH joins SkyTeam...unless there are some restrictions. It's like SQ's lounges in StarAlliance. If I had a choice between an SQ lounge an a UA lounge, I know what 99% of passengers would choose. MH's lounge in LHR T4 will become much more crowded because people would prefer that lounge to other SkyTeam members' lounges. I've heard that some of AF's lounges are pretty bad... The Golden lounge in KUL will also become more crowded. You'll have China Airlines, Garuda, KLM and China Southern passengers using that lounge... <_> Edited December 28, 2010 by Josh T Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pieter C. 5 Report post Posted December 29, 2010 The Golden lounge in KUL will also become more crowded. You'll have China Airlines, Garuda, KLM and China Southern passengers using that lounge... <_> Do not forget Vietnam Airlines; they're also part of ST and operate into KUL... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Josh T 0 Report post Posted December 29, 2010 Do not forget Vietnam Airlines; they're also part of ST and operate into KUL... Good lord...I forgot about them! I know the Golden Lounge in KUL is big but it won't be anywhere near as pleasant to be in if MH joins SkyTeam... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KK Lee 5 Report post Posted December 30, 2010 MH deem Golden lounge superior than others. Unequal ‘privilege’ was a reason cited for MH not joining alliance On one hand, the CEO declared recently joining alliance is not benefiting MH but on the other hand, MH is becoming an associated member of ST Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Josh T 0 Report post Posted December 30, 2010 MH deem Golden lounge superior than others. Unequal ‘privilege’ was a reason cited for MH not joining alliance On one hand, the CEO declared recently joining alliance is not benefiting MH but on the other hand, MH is becoming an associated member of ST Let me tell you that MH Golden Lounges are far superior to a lot of lounges I've been to and these include flagship lounges such as Austrian's lounge in VIE, BA's Galleries lounge in LHR T5, all UA Red Carpet Club lounges (they're the worst!). I've heard that QF's First Class lounge is one of the best and so is TG's First Class lounge in BKK. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
