BAfan From United Kingdom, joined May 2008, 189 posts, RR: 0 Posted (2 years 9 months 2 weeks 5 days 9 hours ago) and read 4207 times:
So it's the question on many people's lips right now, will Aer Lingus rejoin the Oneworld Alliance after stating last month it was looking into joining one of the three alliances.
styles9002 From United States of America, joined May 2007, 524 posts, RR: 1 Reply 1, posted (2 years 9 months 2 weeks 5 days 6 hours ago) and read 4067 times:
Quoting BAfan (Thread starter): Surely Oneworld has the most to offer Aer Lingus?
Anything is possible, but as I have asked on the Irish threads several times, what does Aer Lingus offer to OneWorld or other alliance?
GSTBA From UK - England, joined Apr 2010, 399 posts, RR: 1 Reply 2, posted (2 years 9 months 2 weeks 5 days 6 hours ago) and read 3995 times:
Quoting BAfan (Thread starter): So it's the question on many people's lips right now, will Aer Lingus rejoin the Oneworld Alliance after stating last month it was looking into joining one of the three alliances.
Surely Oneworld has the most to offer Aer Lingus?
Its more a case of would OW even entertain a application from EI to re join. I very much doubt they would, when there are some other carriers not yet in a alliance that would offer OW far more than EI every could.
laxboeingman From United States of America, joined Mar 2008, 383 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (2 years 9 months 2 weeks 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 3980 times:
They can offer flights to Ireland, because I do not believe that other members offer flights, or at least not as many as Aer Lingus, except maybe for BA. I am not sure however if OneWorld is looking to expand they seem to be doing well as it is, and I am not sure if BA will want them, but it may be better for BA too, so they will not have to compete. I personally see then more as a Sky Team type of airline; this is because of their service, they would be able to code share with all of the Asian airlines as well as DL, there are also more airlines in Sky Team for more places, which would be of benefit to Aer Lingus.
ClassicLover From Ireland, joined Mar 2004, 4521 posts, RR: 26 Reply 5, posted (2 years 9 months 2 weeks 5 days 2 hours ago) and read 3791 times:
Quoting BAfan (Thread starter): So it's the question on many people's lips right now, will Aer Lingus rejoin the Oneworld Alliance after stating last month it was looking into joining one of the three alliances.
I was speaking to the Gold Circle people (Aer Lingus' Frequent Flyer programme) last week and I asked if they had heard anything yet. Apparently they hadn't - but I said I hoped they'd rejoin oneworld and the agent said he did too (that said, good customer service would be agreeing with the customer, so take that with a grain of salt!)
Quoting GSTBA (Reply 2): Its more a case of would OW even entertain a application from EI to re join. I very much doubt they would, when there are some other carriers not yet in a alliance that would offer OW far more than EI every could.
Well, I wouldn't discount it too much. Considering they only left in 2007, it's not exactly like they will have to beg and plead to be let back in. The Aer Lingus business plan seems to be positioning Aer Lingus as more of a boutique airline at this stage, a bit like RJ - so I could see oneworld being fine with that.
Quoting GSTBA (Reply 4): When AB was added to one world a couple of weeks ago, they said they would not be concentrating on adding members from outwith Europe.
This is true, but oneworld not concentrating and EI shopping around are different things. I hope they rejoin oneworld - they should never have left in 2007.
I do quite enjoy a spot of flying - more so when it's not in Economy!
shamrock350 From Ireland, joined Mar 2005, 6099 posts, RR: 15 Reply 8, posted (2 years 9 months 2 weeks 5 days ago) and read 3542 times:
Quoting laxboeingman (Reply 3): They can offer flights to Ireland, because I do not believe that other members offer flights, or at least not as many as Aer Lingus, except maybe for BA. I am not sure however if OneWorld is looking to expand they seem to be doing well as it is, and I am not sure if BA will want them, but it may be better for BA too, so they will not have to compete.
British Airways does not operate to Ireland, it actually has an extensive code share agreement with Aer Lingus on Irish routes and has done for many years now. A reasonable chunk of British Airways revenue comes from the Irish routes so if anything British Airways would want to keep Aer Lingus on side and if they were to join an alliance I think British Airways would want it to be OneWorld rather than Star or SkyTeam.
bobnwa From United States of America, joined Dec 2000, 5974 posts, RR: 9 Reply 9, posted (2 years 9 months 2 weeks 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 3081 times:
Quoting Reply 1): Anything is possible, but as I have asked on the Irish threads several times, what does Aer Lingus offer to OneWorld or other alliance?
Quoting laxboeingman (Reply 3): They can offer flights to Ireland, because I do not believe that other members offer flights, or at least not as many as Aer Lingus,
Well for starters, AA, DL,CO US all fly to Ireland from the US, and all are members of an alliance. Cannot see that Aer Lingus, would add anything to an alliance, that they not already have.
oneworld77 From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2008, 238 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (2 years 9 months 2 weeks 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 3002 times:
Quoting BAfan (Reply 6): It was Aer Lingus that made the decision based on it's changing business model to a low cost hybrid
That was only part of the issue, EI could not/would not fork out the £ and p (or Euro and cents!) to upgrade their archaic computer system to match that of the other OW carriers. IB began charging for catering and AA had already reduced it's inflight offering by then.
Quoting shamrock350 (Reply 8): A reasonable chunk of British Airways revenue comes from the Irish routes so if anything British Airways would want to keep Aer Lingus on side and if they were to join an alliance I think British Airways would want it to be OneWorld
Not sure about a reasonable chunk of BA's revenue, but certainly the majority of Irish connex pax use LHR and 80% use BA, with AF and LH coming distance 3rd and 2nd.
Quoting bobnwa (Reply 9): Cannot see that Aer Lingus, would add anything to an alliance, that they not already have.
Hmm, 2m to 3m pax?? Yes, so many airlines would turn their noses up at that!!!! EI hub of DUB can offer a niche transfer point when the new terminal opens as it offers CBP preclearance for the US. The only city (with SNN) that offers this facility. However, to truly cash in on this, EI needs to up their game.
OW offered financial assistance to EI to defray the costs of the new 'pooter system, however, EI declined and on that basis I'm not so sure OW would want them back. On the other hand, AF codeshares with both JL and QF and EI codeshared (and still does?) with KL when they were in OW.
No airline wants to be in the position SN and SR (and friends) were in when 'WINGS' alliance went ar*e over t*t!
oa260 From Ireland, joined Nov 2006, 24886 posts, RR: 60 Reply 12, posted (2 years 9 months 2 weeks 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 2776 times:
Quoting Reply 10): Not sure about a reasonable chunk of BA's revenue, but certainly the majority of Irish connex pax use LHR and 80% use BA, with AF and LH coming distance 3rd and 2nd.
According to the head of BA in Ireland his station was the only one in the British Isles that exceeded their targets and stressed how important the Irish market was to BA.
SR4ever From Luxembourg, joined Mar 2010, 765 posts, RR: 1 Reply 13, posted (2 years 9 months 2 weeks 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 2719 times:
Quoting GSTBA (Reply 4): When AB was added to one world a couple of weeks ago, they said they would not be concentrating on adding members from outwith Europe.
Anyway, after AB has joined OW, there won't be that many airlines left outside an alliance in Europe, apart than FR and U2 and small legacies from Eastern and Southeast Europe...
Quoting BAfan (Reply 6): It was Aer Lingus that made the decision based on it's changing business model to a low cost hybrid.
As far as I remember, EI found that OW membership induced more costs than benefits, and thence withdrew.
Quoting Delta777Jet (Reply 11): If they join an alliance it will be STAR ! They tie up with United and Codeshare ... so my bet is on STAR !
Quoting oa260 (Reply 12): Would be great for me as I use their shorthaul on a regular basis but I will believe it when I see it.
*A would indeed be a nice opportunity, but I am not sure whether EI could retain its current no-frills European product.
Perhaps I should postpone its choice until Ireland gets out of the GFC, as it would certainly have a better bargaining power.
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(that said, good customer service would be agreeing with the customer, so take that with a grain of salt!) 
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