questions From Australia, joined Sep 2011, 309 posts, RR: 0 Posted (1 year 2 months 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 1986 times:
While reading all the speculation about AA merger partners I began to wonder to what degree are airlines locked into their respective alliance. Said another way, what determines ease of entry/exit and are some members in a better position to walk away than others, and why?
For example, some have speculated that AA and US could merge. If this were to happen, US would walk away from Star Alliance and join oneworld. CO did something similar by leaving Sky Team and joining Star Alliance.
1. To what degree do anti-trust immunity agreements lock airlines into an alliance for a longer period of time? For example, what if Delta wanted to leave Sky Team and join oneworld?
2. Is it easier for smaller airlines to jump from one alliance to another? For example, what if AY wanted to leave oneworld for Sky Team?
3. As the industry consolidates, not just within the US, what impact do alliances have on potential merger partners?
PLEASE NOTE:
This thread is about the ease and impact of airlines moving from one alliance to another. The examples above are for illustrative purposes only.
LOWS From Austria, joined Oct 2011, 984 posts, RR: 1 Reply 1, posted (1 year 2 months 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 1587 times:
Well, as I recall, there are significant financial disincentives for leaving an alliance (e.g. termination fees) not to mention the IT costs, marketing costs (AirXXX is now part of the Star Alliance, or whatever).
IT costs, such as integrating the airlines existing system with those of its new partners.
New routing options (e.g. from ATL-AMS-VIE to ATL-FRA-VIE)
New Codeshares and interlines
and the biggest one of all...
New FFP procedures, rules and reward levels
Those are just the ones I can think of off the top of my head.
jfk777 From United States of America, joined Aug 2006, 7347 posts, RR: 7 Reply 3, posted (1 year 2 months 4 days 15 hours ago) and read 1401 times:
Quoting questions (Thread starter): While reading all the speculation about AA merger partners I began to wonder to what degree are airlines locked into their respective alliance. Said another way, what determines ease of entry/exit and are some members in a better position to walk away than others, and why?
For example, some have speculated that AA and US could merge. If this were to happen, US would walk away from Star Alliance and join oneworld. CO did something similar by leaving Sky Team and joining Star Alliance.
Usairways is NOT part of the Star Atlantic JV with UA, LH, SAS and AC. US should ave it easy transferring to OW with AA. IF AA and US do merge there just is no way for them to stay in Star, three would really be a crowd. The real prize here is the Charlotte hub. The internatioal expansion possibilities to Latin America are limitless with AA existing JFK and MIA gateways. CLT to EZE, GRU, LIM and SCL along with US current GIG flights would be reality.
delta2ual From United States of America, joined Dec 2007, 575 posts, RR: 1 Reply 4, posted (1 year 2 months 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 994 times:
Quoting blink182 (Reply 2): I could be mistaken, but aren't there contractual exit and termination fees between airlines and their respective alliances?
I seem to recall reading or hearing that Star has the most restrictive contracts concerning leaving the alliance. Or maybe it was a-net heresay? LOL
From the world's largest airline-to the world's largest airline. Delta2ual
LOWS From Austria, joined Oct 2011, 984 posts, RR: 1 Reply 7, posted (1 year 2 months 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 948 times:
Quoting lhr380 (Reply 5): How come US is not part of the JV?
I think it had something to do with with the lack of volume of US flights TATL.
Quote: The transatlantic joint venture among US Airways’ Star partners United, Lufthansa and Air Canada “is something that hopefully over time we will be able to work our way into, which will just make things better”, Parker says. “But we are happy where we are right now, in a strong alliance that serves our customers and the airline really well.”
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