World's first low-cost airline alliance

[Dave Noble]

Ireland's Aer Lingus said it planned to form a strategic alliance with U.S. airline JetBlue, which it said would be the world's first tie-up between two international low-cost carriers.

Full story at World's first low-cost airline alliance - Travel - smh.com.au


Dave

 

[Tooner]

That's interesting as I came across this little gem in the QFF Program news today:

Aer Lingus will leave oneworld on 1 April 2007. We expect to establish a Qantas Frequent Flyer link with the airline after their departure from oneworld and will announce details shortly.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

That's interesting as I came across this little gem in the QFF Program news today:

No unexpected. Aer Lingus is leaving One World because it doesn't want the costs associated of changing systems when JL joins (with little expected benefit in form of extra passengers). But Aer Lingus still needs partners and so has set up agreements with most (all?) existing One World airlines.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

I have posted about this on my blog.

 

[Tooner]

I have posted about this on my blog.

Nice work Kiwi, and thanks for the link.

It makes perfect sense to me, particularly given the Aer Lingus which joined OW is very different today.

I've never quite got my head around the movement of points between alliance members, but surely it would be easier for the airlines if they took the Air NZ or Virgin Blue approach.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Nice work Kiwi, and thanks for the link.

It makes perfect sense to me, particularly given the Aer Lingus which joined OW is very different today.

I've never quite got my head around the movement of points between alliance members, but surely it would be easier for the airlines if they took the Air NZ or Virgin Blue approach.

Dunno about NZ or DJ being easier - they both have complexities. However does more closely match rewarding revenue/profitability and charging for awards based on availability so financially better for airline than miles-based schemes. I could see in a few years NZ going a step further to explicitly based on $.

 

[Tooner]

And depending on what happens in the next few months maybe QF will do an Aer Lingus....

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

And depending on what happens in the next few months maybe QF will do an Aer Lingus....

That I very much doubt. Very different situation. Aer Lingus competing with likes of Ryanair and few frills. QF (at least on prime international routes) needs to be full service and gets lots of benefits from being in a strong alliance.