Taipei-based carrier EVA Airways will sign on the dotted line to join Star Alliance today.
An EVA Airways spokesman confirmed to Australian Business Traveller that the airline will formally announce its membership at a joint press conference to be held with Star Alliance in Taipei this morning, March 29.
However, EVA won't be counted as an active member of Star Alliance – with reciprocal point sharing through EVA's Evergreen Club, lounge access and other alliance perks – until the middle of next year.
"There's a lot of integration to be done in our systems, that all has to take place before we are a full member of Star Alliance, which we expect to happen in the second quarter of 2013" the spokesman told Australian Business Traveller.
EVA is Taiwan's second-largest carrier behind China Airlines, which recently joined SkyTeam. EVA counts Brisbane as its sole Australian port, with twice-weekly flights between Brisbane and Taipei.
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- Star Alliance: the basics for Australian frequent flyers
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David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Qantas
10 Sep 2011
Total posts 162
Will there be any impact on the Qantas Codeshare that Eva Airways runs on that route?
20 Jul 2011
Total posts 72
If only Qantas followed suit. Having had it proved to me how utterly useless it is to be a top QF frequent flyer when travelling with anyone except Qantas, I reckon Star is the way to go. Oneworld is utterly rubbish.
10 Mar 2011
Total posts 526
I don't agree... I am well looked after by other OneWorld carriers by being QF Platinum. I've been upgraded on CX on a few occasions as well as on BA and AA. I've also had preferential seating on all OW carriers I fly. Not sure why you wouldn't be experiencing the same but I've certainly never had any problems.
05 Jun 2011
Total posts 38
One cemented as a member, it may be worth EVA relaunching AKL so as to pick up Beijing traffic now that NZ has pulled out. I'd rather take Eva all the way than some crappy China Airlines domestic flight
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