OneWorld

Tag Archives for OneWorld.

SriLankan creates a dump Serendiva Lounge for oneworld elites!

a woman standing at a reception desk

SriLankan Airlines has created a separate lounge for their own and oneworld elite members, which is reviewed in this post. It turns out, it is the country cousin of the Serendib Lounge, which has better facilities, location and everything good about it from the looks of it.

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oneworld enhances benefits for Sapphire & Emerald tier travellers

One of the benefits of travelling with an airline which is the member of an alliance is the fact that your benefits as an elite member span across airlines. Till so far, as a oneworld Sapphire member, you had access to the following benefits: Now, priority handling of baggage was not a guaranteed benefit for oneworld Emeralds, but most carriers would offer it anyways to Emeralds. With effect from December 1, 2014, this changes as a notified benefit to be offered to Emeralds as well as Sapphire members: Most oneworld member airlines already aim to deliver as a priority checked baggage for their own top-level frequent flyers, along with other passengers flying in First or Business Class. Now, this benefit…

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SriLankan is inducted into oneworld

It’s official. After a marred effort to have Kingfisher Airlines as a part of the oneworld alliance in 2012, the alliance finally got its first member from the Indian subcontinent today in Sri Lankan airlines. Here is a picture of the A330 in oneworld livery unveiled today, at the Hambantota Airport in Sri Lanka: [Picture courtesy: Mavis Toh on Twitter] The first scheduled flight for SriLankan’s as part of oneworld will be UL318 departing from Colombo to the Kuala Lumpur hub Malaysia Airlines at 7.45 am on May 1, 2014. SriLankan’s website states that members of oneworld airlines’ loyalty programmes will receive double the normal mileage awards/points when flying on SriLankan during the “welcome”period of May 15 to June 30,…

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Air India offered oneworld invitation by Qatar Airways?

This is just a news report at this moment, but it looks like Air India has grown tired of insisting upon Star Alliance to let them into their group, and is now using other tactics to try and get them to make up their mind. Air India’s application to join Star Alliance was put on hold at the last moment in July 2011. As per this news publication, Qatar Airways is ready to sponsor the entry of Air India into oneworld. What beats me, is that they aren’t even a full member themselves yet (will be inducted on October 30), but they’re going around promising airlines their support for membership. A senior Air India official said that Qatar had approached…

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Qatar Airways to be part of oneworld from October 30

The oneworld alliance has just put out an announcement on their website, which indicates that Qatar Airways will become a full member of the alliance with effect from October 30, 3013. The announcement reads: Qatar Airways will become a full member of oneworld® with effect from Wednesday 30 October 2013, adding one of the world’s fastest growing and most highly rated airlines to the world’s leading quality airline alliance. One of just seven carriers worldwide rated five-star by the Skytrax airline quality agency and the organisation’s Airline of the Year 2011 and 2012 and runner-up 2013, Qatar Airways is the only one of the “Gulf Big Three” carriers slated to join any of the global airline alliances.   It received clearance…

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I’m back, my bag is not! British Airways … aaargh!

First & foremost, let me take the opportunity to wish you all a very happy, healthy and successful 2013. Now, over to business. Like I mentioned here, I was out trying to make sure I wrap up 2012 on Executive Platinum status on American Airlines. Here was my entire routing, and I started to find my way back on December 30, only to land into Mumbai a shade after midnight on January 1 with the stiff upper-lipped British Airways. Going to the cold zone for a week, I thought it was prudent to check-in a bag, with some clothes for various circumstances (snow included!). The bag held up pretty well with my pace till it was time for to come…

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Malaysia Airlines to join oneworld on Feb 1, 2013

Malaysia Airlines, which is a member elect of the oneworld alliance, will be inducted as a full-member of the alliance with effect from February 1, 2013. The airline was invited to be a part of the alliance in June 2011, with Qantas being their sponsor into the alliance. As per a news release on the oneworld website, Malaysia Airlines will become a full member of oneworld® with effect from Friday 1 February 2013, adding one of commercial aviation’s most frequent award winners to the world’s leading quality airline alliance. The national airline of Malaysia received clearance to board oneworld after successfully completing a thorough review of its readiness conducted by Qantas, which is sponsoring its entry into the alliance, with…

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A Thai Vacay: Clipper Lounge First Class, Mumbai

a store front with glass doors

Introduction Check-in: British Airways Galleries Lounge, Mumbai Check-in: Clipper Lounge First Class, Mumbai Airborne: Flight CX 750 (BOM-BKK), Cathay Pacific, Economy Millennium Hilton Hotel, Bangkok Around Bangkok Hilton Hotel, Pattaya Around Pattaya Radisson Suites, Bangkok Check-in: Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge, Bangkok Check-in: British Airways/Qantas First Class Lounge, Bangkok Check-in: Cathay Pacific First & Business Class Lounge, Bangkok Airborne: Flight CX 709 (BKK-BOM), Cathay Pacific, Economy Conclusion Update: New Lounge as of February 2014 is covered here. I must be over 40 trips old to the Clipper Lounge in Mumbai Airport’s International terminal, however, I’ve almost always used the business class section of the lounge all the time. Reason being, I’ve never flown First Class from Mumbai (there are hardly any first…

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Why I am loving AAdvantage all over again…

When American Airlines knocked out the ORD-DEL flight a short while after they entered Chapter 11 protection, I was slightly crossed with them. And I had good reason to be, I had just started to earn top-tier status with AAdvantage due to the OneWorld MegaDo, and was planning to make American Airlines my regular flight for travels to the USA, and switch to the oneworld network for going places outside my base at BOM. With this move, I was still going to be able to use the oneworld benefits, by taking a one stop flight via London on BA or Brussels on Jet Airways, but I was going to be unable to use my upgrade benefits fully, which are valid…

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