New Kid on the Star Alliance Block?

A brief rundown of what membership in the Star Alliance could mean for US Airways -

• For the flying public, a move towards Star Alliance on the part of US Airways will mean more options for accumulating/redeeming frequent flyer miles.
• As well, passengers loyal to US Airways will have more destinations opened to them considering the more than dozen partner airlines of Star Alliance.
• If joining Star Alliance occurs, business travelers will have access to even more airport lounges. Star Alliance promotes the idea of seamless travel - getting your boarding cards for connecting flights with any member airline, having your luggage checked through, and being able to take advantage of services that the other airlines may provide.

There are more aspects to joining a partnership of airlines, Star Alliance outlines some of the benefits of its own alliance. The current roster of airlines that form Star Alliance are -

• Air Canada
• Lufthansa
• United Airlines
• Thai Airways
• British Midland
• Air New Zealand
• Austrian Airlines
• Lauda Air
• Tyrolean Airlines
• Singapore Airlines
• Spanair
• Mexicana Airlines
• Scandinavian Airlines (SAS)
• Asiana Airlines
• All Nippon Airways
• Varig Brasil
• and perhaps US Airways in the not-so-distant future

As airlines try to remain financially solid during turbulent times in the airline industry, US Airways is moving towards the airline alliance route in order to do so.