Recently both EU and US regulators approved anti-trust immunity for American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia on the important trans-Atlantic routes with minimal conditions.  Oneworld was the last of the 3 main airline alliances to get approval to co-operate closely on flights between USA and Europe.  This means finally members of British Airways Executive Club and American AAdvantage will (in the near future) be able to earn and redeem on each other’s flights which has been a source of irritation for many frequent flyers for years.

Today, Oneworld announced Air Berlin will be joining the alliance (hat tip View from the Wing).  No firm date has yet been given but normally it takes 12-18 months for an airline to complete entry into an alliance (Air India joining Star Alliance being a notable exception to this rule of thumb).  Air Berlin is considered by some to be an odd choice – they aren’t quite full service nor low cost, and remind me a little of Australia’s Virgin Blue.  I’ll be watching how well they integrate into the alliance with interest.

FTer og alerted me to Oneworld alliance’s change in the baggage allowances for around the world (RTW) and circle fare products.  Up until now they use the piece allowance (because they include North America) which provided for 2 bags in economy/coach and 3 bags in business or first class.  The new rule is 2 bags of checked baggage of up to 23kgs each.

This is yet another example where the pursuit of simplicity (in this case no messing about with different limits set by various airlines) means less is provided.  Other examples in the past few years include the restriction to 16 segments, and removal of city co-terminals.

Last week I looked at how far and wide you can travel on Star Alliance flights, and now I do the same for the Oneworld alliance.

The airline alliances connect many places all around the world. Last year I mapped which countries are reached by each alliance. Since then the global reach has been added to by new alliance members and by new destinations for existing alliance airlines.

Another way of looking at it is shown by Passport Stamp maps showing the countries served by Oneworld (below).   

See also the global reach of Sky Team.

Oneworld

Russian based airlines S7 Airlines is expected to join Oneworld in 2010.  Indian airline Kingfisher is to join in 2011.

Sky Team

In June 2010 Vietnam Airlines and TAROM are expected to join Sky Team.

Star Alliance

Air India has been slated to join Star Alliance for years. No reliable word on their entry date yet.

TAM in South America is due to join Star Alliance mid 2010.  Aegean Airlines was also expected to join mid 2010, but recent announcements of possible merger with Olympic Airlines cast doubt on this.

For the past few months I’ve been watching the Japan Airlines slow-moving financial drama from afar. Not only is the airline in need of significant short term financial support and a major overhaul to cut costs but they have also been flirting with an offer of assistance with Delta. This would have seen Japan Airlines leave the Oneworld alliance and switch to Sky Team.

Needless to say this would have left Oneworld with a big hole in Asia with intra-Asian flights limited to Cathay Pacific and Dragonair, ie almost exclusively all via Hong Kong.

Today, Japan Airlines confirmed it will stick with Oneworld. This is very good news.

However, those booked with Japan Airlines on future flights (this includes me) are not necessarily unaffected. Expect a culling of some unprofitable routes and probably service cutbacks also.