There are some airlines serving NZ for the first time in 2011, ahead of the rugby world cup (and also some airlines returning after years of absence).  Announcements to date include:

• China Airlines – from Taipei to Auckland via Brisbane starting January
• Low cost airline Jetstar Asia – from Singapore to Auckland starting March
• Skyteam member China Southern Airlines – from Guangzhou to Auckland via Melbourne starting March
• Low cost airline Air Asia X – from Kuala Lumpur to Christchurch starting April
• Star Alliance member United Airlines (Continental) – from Houston to Auckland starting November (maybe)

The trans-Tasman flights will, as usual, have 5th freedom rights meaning they can be bought standalone.  Typically there is good award availability on these “tag” flights, and fares in premium cabins are low as the airlines try to win customers off more well-known competition (Air New Zealand, Qantas/Jetstar, Emirates and Pacific Blue).

It’s official – Ethiopian Airlines has announced they will be joining Star Alliance.

This will significantly improve coverage of Africa by the alliance, which has been a problem area for all 3 alliances (less so for Sky Team which has Kenya Airways).  The intra-Africa network of Ethiopian is very complementary to the current members EgyptAir and South African Airways, which mainly cover countries at the north and south of the continent respectively. In addition there are longhaul flights from Washington, Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Bangkok.

WHile a lot can change in the next year or so until the actual entry date in the alliance, I have taken a quick look at their Sheba Miles frequent flyer program. 

Status is blue (3000 miles or 2 flights), Silver (25,000 miles or 20 flights) and Gold (50,000 miles or 40 flights). Status bonus 25% for Silver and 75% for Gold.  200% miles for business class.  Class of service and status bonuses appear to be excluded as elite qualifying miles.

There is a 5,000 mile referral bonus but according to the site it only posts when the new member qualifies for Blue status.   Please contact me if you want to refer me.  There is also currently a 1,000 mile sign-up bonus which posts instantly, but unlike Aegean this does not count as elite qualifying miles.

Edited to add – if you have flown Ethiopian Airlines there is also a survey with 2,000 bonus miles and a chance to win a free flight.

Changes to the airline alliances continue with confirmation that Shanghai Airlines will leave Star Alliance at 31 October 2010. 

The alliance status of some of the Chinese airlines has been up in the air for a while due to the complicated and evolving cross-ownerships in each other – Shanghai is in the process of being merged with China Eastern, which earlier this year announced an intention to join Sky Team.  China Eastern is itself partly owned by both Cathay Pacific (Oneworld) and Air China (Star Alliance). So it wasn’t a foregone conclusion that Shanghai Airlines would leave Star Alliance.

Travellers on Shanghai Airlines will now have a period of a year or two without alliance benefits but existing Star Alliance awards on Shanghai Airlines for travel after October will be honoured. Those flying on paid tickets on Shanghai Airlines from November will no longer be able to earn Star Alliance frequent flyer status miles.  Whether redeemable miles can continue to be earnt will depend on the frequent flyer program being credited to as some may continue to have Shanghai Airlines as a non-alliance partner and others may drop them.

With Aegean having joined Star Alliance just this week, there is now a super easy way to attain Star Alliance Gold status (ie the level with free lounge access and extra baggage allowances). 20,000 status miles for Aegean Miles & Bonus Gold status, which is Star Alliance Gold (4,000 for Blue status which is Star Alliance Silver).

Even easier, new members get 1,000 status miles (and 1,000 award miles) just for signing up!

The program is similar to Miles & More – 150% or 200% earning rates for business class, and 300% for first class. Flights on many (but not all) Star Alliance airlines also have minimum mileage earning.  Awards are a bit cheaper than Miles & More rates.  The program isn’t all good – international awards must be booked 14 days before departure.

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 Star Alliance (below).

See also the global reach of Oneworld and the global reach of Sky Team.

Today Brazilian airline TAM joins Star Alliance, restoring coverage of South America that was lost when Varig collapsed.

The “How to get to” series of posts will be updated in due course.

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.