Qantas gets a new partner as Brazil's TAM Airlines joins Oneworld
By David Flynn, March 8 2013
Qantas is set to gain another partner for shared flights and frequent flyer reward points as Brazil’s TAM Airlines joins the Oneworld alliance.
TAM's Chilean sibling LAN is already part of the Oneworld family, which also includes British Airways, Cathay Pacific, American Airlines, MAS, Finnair and JAL, with Gulf carrier Qatar next on the list.
The two South American airlines merged last year but TAM remained part of Oneworld competitor Star Alliance (which counts Singapore Airlines, Air New Zealand, United and Lufthansa among its members).
However, TAM overnight announced it will leave Star Alliance for Oneworld, with the switch expected to take place in the second quarter of 2014.
The move will boost the network of flights and point-earning options available to Qantas travellers throughout South America.
An additional sweetener is the opportunity to trade your points on a jaunt in of the world's best first class cabins: TAM's "living room in the sky" suite, with everything from a wide couch and personal closet to a Nespresso machine!
Photos: TAM's slick new Boeing 777 first class
However, until TAM officially joins Oneworld next year trips on the airline won’t count towards your Qantas Frequent Flyer tally.
Travellers should check your LAN flight's operating airline – a LAN booking with an LA number but on a TAM plane means you may not earn the Qantas points you expected.
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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 - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Jul 2011
Total posts 1374
Great news for oneworld
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
11 Dec 2011
Total posts 11
Can't wait for the reviews of its travelling classes & best seats!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 May 2011
Total posts 732
Finally a date to the already anticipated move of TAM to OW. The OW alliance has become very strong the past year with MH joining, QR on the cards, LATAM officially becoming OW and of course the addittion soon of US Airways (ince the merger with AA has been completed). The only blank spot would be the African continent, I hope they can find a partner there as well.
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