It has been a while since Qatar Airways’ CEO, Akbar Al-Baker, has made a public empty threat. Though that streak ended this week, as Al-Baker has threatened to have Qatar Airways leave the oneworld alliance.
Continue reading: Qatar Airways Threatens To Leave Oneworld (But Won’t)
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
How likely is it that their investment into IAG, in the long term, leads to IAG and Qatar leaving Oneworld and starting their own JV?
@ HK -- It seems highly unlikely given how close the joint venture is between American and British Airways on transatlantic flights. It's arguably the most important JV for both airlines, so the conflict of interest that BA has between American and Qatar will continue to exist.
Who is IAG's greater friend in Oneworld? AA or QR? Where does CX stand? Is QF an enemy? What about LA and JAL?
@ VT-CIE -- Operationally they no doubt have a much closer relationship with American than with Qatar. But there is something to be said for Qatar owning a stake in IAG, so...
Lucky (or anyone), what about this part of my question?
'Where does CX stand? Is QF an enemy? What about LA and JAL? And AY?'
Is al-Baker vacationing in someplace where it is cold and he needs to keep warm? Because he's blowing off some steam from the sounds of it.
Bazinga.
@VT-CIE
for CX, BA has a jv with them and QR has the stake. AA's partnership with CX isn't close, unlike with BA or JL. Even they were both oneworld founding members, I feel like those two hate each other or something (heck, AAdvantage doesn't even give miles for CX economy flights that are not in Y/B/H class, which I haven't seen any blogger point out yet so...)
@VT-CIE - Regarding CX, the relationship looks to be short-lived. CX used to operate one of the two frequencies between DOH and HKG and formed a strategic partnership with QF. But they discontinued the flight (not sure about the partnership). I think they are just working within the alliance now.
Frienemies is probably the best way to describe alliance partners in general outside of those with a JV.
@CR: Did you mean 'form a strategic partnership with QR'? You wrote QF. I have never known CX and QF to be friends.
One of the few reasons I stick with AAdvantage: Qatar Airways. Their J product and service are just so so good! Premium fares are often reasonable. I just love flying with them. I have not flown AA domestically this year (except connecting to international). Why would anyone pay $5000 on AA when they have the option to fly much superior products offered by QR/JL/CX for less than $2000 sometimes? I just don’t get it. Someone please tell me.
Another reason for Qatar to stay....being part of One World drives business to them that would otherwise go to EY or EK. There are definitely North American based South Asians who book on Qatar between North America and South Asia so they can credit to AA to help with domestic travel (miles and status). Without One World membership, this group would just book based purely on price...
Has anyone noticed that there is no premium cabin availability for the foreseeable future using AA miles on some other one world carriers. RJ, QR, EK. I have been searching for something and have come up empty.
VT-CIE says:
October 9, 2018 at 10:35 am
@CR: Did you mean ‘form a strategic partnership with QR’? You wrote QF. I have never known CX and QF to be friends.
Yes, sorry, that's right. I got the codes messed up.
@CR - you weren't far off the truth with your statement.
This is admittedly at least partially in response to Virgin Australia's tie up with Hainan Airlines and their various stable mates though.
Generally, the comments by al Baker on Qantas "blocking" them are nonsense. Qantas do not own airports or set policy as it impacts QR.
Alliances are indeed history and in all three groups there are a lot of false friends. For example LH is also offering connections with CX (via HKG) and QF (via SIN or BKK) to go to Australia instead of privileging SQ and TG ... And they are often cheaper...
As a United Airlines flyer I totally disagree with your assertion that alliances are “so ten years ago”. Apart from (IMHO) star alliance is the best, and it is 20 years old, alliance members of UA keep me united to them. I understand what you are saying but if alliances are dead I would find myself trying out independent carriers like Norwegian or Emirates. But I feel Star has me covered, so I don’t.
“Alliances are not as important as they used to be” - thats exactly why qatar can and will leave oneworld. This is not why they will stay with oneworld.
@ VJ -- Except alliances have been heavily deemphasized since the airline even joined oneworld. This has been going on for years. And let's remember Al-Baker has been threatening this for years.
Qatar is my favorite airline but American is my primary airline for most of my travel. Being Exec Plat with AA makes me very loyal to oneworld. As such, I spend about $12k a year just with Qatar. As much as I love them, if they were to leave oneworld I would have to take that spend to another airline. So I hope they see the sales pipeline they get, especially with premium class business travel, by being in oneworld.
I am Exec platinum on AA. And flew 4 flights on QR in business this year from USA to Asia. If QR leaves one world, I will have to leave QR. I love their service and they are my #1 choice everything else being equal. But I won't fly them if they leave the alliance or offer very attractive fares
@Lucky or anyone — Firstly, pardon my ignorance. How do alliances actually work? What values do they bring to member? When an airline join an alliance, do they automatically get access to the routes served by other members ( i.e. MH getting access to BA’s European network or QF getting access to AA’s domestic network) or do they still need to enter into a formal agreement with each member for the privelege (i.e LH/AC with CX or QF with EK)? If it’s the latter, then the only benefit is for the customers (mile accumulation, status recognition, baggage allowance etc.) while it’s still business as usual for the airlines, is that so? Then if an airline goes into a working agreement with enough member of an alliance, is it technically a member as well considering it enjoys the same benefits?
@ Joe -- Hopefully this post answers many of your questions:
https://onemileatatime.com/interline-codeshare-alliances-joint-ventures/
You ask some other great questions about the inner workings of alliances, and I'll try to address those in a post.
i am newly signed up with aadvantage but am surprised to hear about this qatar leaving stuff.lots of us including those in australia and new zealand find this way to europe if you are heading to a place other than london,paris,rome,munich,istanbul to name but a few more convenient than flying to any of the places i have mentioned with an asian carrier and connecting to say a lufthansa,air france,ba,turkish airlines or alitalia onwards to the out of the way places and the schedules a lot easier given you can fit in a last full day of work get home get showered ready and off to the airport before your trip.