Per press release from oneworld
US Airways will join oneworld(R) with effect from March 31, 2014, following completion today of its merger with alliance founding member American Airlines. All its regional affiliates, operating under the US Airways Express brand, will also transition to oneworld at the same time.
So we can expect the ‘end of March’ departure from Star Alliance to happen, I’d think, on March 30. That would be the last day to use US Airways miles to issue tickets for travel on Star Alliance airlines.
Existing award reservations are fine, of course, and can be made through the end of schedule on that date (meaning in the US Airways context for travel 330 days into the future). Although any changes to travel won’t be possible on Star Alliance airlines after that date — changes will need to be made onto US Airways and its oneworld partners.
Similarly, in all likelihood you’ll only be able to credit flights on Star Alliance airlines to a US Airways Dividend Miles account up until March 30, and credit flights on US Airways to other Star Alliance frequent flyer accounts up until that day.
Then beginning March 31 you’ll be able to credit US Airways flights to oneworld airline frequent flyer programs, credit flights on oneworld airlines to US Airways, and use US Airways miles to fly oneworld carriers on award tickets.
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You don’t need to ‘think’. The Mar 30th date is in American’s press release.
I’m going to have to pay attention to this closely. I’m an AA Platinum member and I need to book an 8 person family trip from PHL to LAS in April 2014. US airways flies directly so it’s a good choice. I’d like to take advantage of the perks of buying the tickets on the same reservation. I also have the US airways credit card, so it’d be interesting to see what the best deal is (using the companion certificate, etc.). I hope it’s easier than it sounds right now.
Nate:
This seems pretty simple to me. Wait until 1/7/2014 when your AA status reflects on US. Then book your tickets with US.
Originally, there was information that US Airways would exit Star Alliance in the beginning of March, and join oneWorld at the end. The press release doesn’t appear to have any information about the Star Alliance exit date. So, it sounds like it’s still possible that there will be a period of several weeks during March when you will only be able to credit US Airways miles to US Airways (or, I guess, American, since sharing should have started by then).
Pardon me if this is a rookie question, but does this mean we will be able to use Avios to book short non-stops on USAirways out of PHL? If so, that would be great for PHL folks with many Avios.
From US Airways website:
We’ll be exiting Star Alliance on March 30, 2014. You’ll be able to earn and redeem miles on Star Alliance carriers until that date. Any existing reservations for travel on a codeshare flight with a Star Alliance partner after March 30, 2014 are safe, however, you’ll be rebooked with a new flight number from the carrier operating the flight and you’ll no longer earn miles or receive Star Alliance Gold or Silver benefits.
@Lucky – what happens if there is a schedule change on a US air flight booked using united post one world entrance?
I have a flight booked CLT-RIO in June
@PHL Man: Yes, unless the new AA gets rid of PHL as a hub.
Any thoughts if/when crediting EQMs to Alaska on a US operated flight might be possible? All the talk so far focuses on alliance and not non-alliance partners…
@Baqa – not for awhile, even an American Airlines codeshare operated by US Airways will be a problem. Probably not until the airlines actually begin operating as one, though of course it is possible that they will introduce a US Airways-Alaska partnership before then.
Hopefully US Air Lifetime club members comming in to the
Admirals Club membership will not be treated as second class members denying recriprocal club access like America West members were who were promised same privideleges as annual mmebers when we bought our LT memberships from HP. At least I can assume we will not be treated like Ambassadors Club members who lost their membership after two or three years.