SkyTeam and Eurostar are launching a partnership, which will make the train operator SkyTeam’s first non-airline partner. While I like the concept behind this, I’m tempering my expectations when it comes to the execution, and actual consumer benefit.
In this post:
Details of the SkyTeam & Eurostar partnership
SkyTeam and Eurostar have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU), intended to pave the way for integrated intermodal journeys via air and rail for millions of customers. The expectation is that the partnership will launch in the first half of 2025, though details remain limited as of now.
With Eurostar being SkyTeam’s first non-airline partner, the idea is that customers will be able to travel on itineraries that combine long and medium haul flights with rail journeys in a single reservation, while enjoying SkyTeam benefits.
Eurostar’s network offers possibilities for multi-city journeys between the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany. Customers will be able to fly into SkyTeam’s main hubs, and then take advantage of multi-city travel. KLM and Eurostar already have a long-standing partnership, which has led to a strategic reduction of flights between Amsterdam and Brussels. The idea is to continue with that on a bigger scale.
It’s worth noting that SkyTeam isn’t the first alliance to introduce something like this. In 2022, Star Alliance added Deutsche Bahn as its first intermodal member.
Here’s how SkyTeam CEO Patric Roux describes this development:
“Working with Eurostar as our first non-airline partner underscores SkyTeam’s commitment to delivering a more integrated and responsible travel experience by incorporating intermodal travel. One of the world’s most-loved train operators, with a reputation for customer service, Eurostar is a natural fit for SkyTeam. I look forward to developing our partnership and offering customers greater choice in how they travel across SkyTeam’s global network.”
Meanwhile here’s what Eurostar CEO Gwendoline Cazenave had to say:
“Offering travellers the choice to see Europe in the most sustainable and convenient way by rail is a key component of Eurostar’s vision for growth. We are creating a future where travellers can connect between Eurostar trains, domestic railways and long haul flying, opening up our services to new markets across the globe. Today is a major step forward towards this mission and we look forward to working with SkyTeam to develop the customer proposition so more travellers can experience Eurostar’s unique service.”
Why I’m not getting too excited yet
In theory I’m a huge fan of airlines trying to make connections to other forms of transportation more seamless. After all, many airports are congested, and there are some markets where it’s just incredibly wasteful to fly planes, rather than linking up with other forms of transportation.
In recent years we’ve seen airlines announce all kinds of partnerships with train operators, to offer a more seamless journey for travelers, by selling air and rail tickets. It seems that the alliances getting in on that is just an extension of what individual airlines have already been doing for years.
We’ll see how SkyTeam’s execution of this is, but in general I’ve been quite underwhelmed by the ways in which these kinds of partnerships have been executed. For that matter, if an alliance is going to add a train operator as an intermodal partner, it sure would be cool if that were done with no strings attached, with opportunities to earn and redeem points, and take advantage of elite benefits, even when not traveling in conjunction with a flight.
I’m curious to see what this partnership is like when it’s launched in 2025, though I have a hard time imagining that it’ll be a game changer. Still, I appreciate the idea behind this, and hope we see more progress on this front. After all, something is better than nothing.
Bottom line
SkyTeam and Eurostar are expected to launch a partnership in 2025, which will make the train operator the airline alliance’s first intermodal partner. The idea is to more easily facilitate connections between air and rail. KLM has had a partnership with Eurostar for years, so this is an extension of that.
I’m curious to learn more details, though I’m definitely managing my expectations, and doubt we’ll see anything revolutionary.
What do you make of the SkyTeam and Eurostar partnership?
This is kind of new and kind of not new. Thalys and Eurostar merged last year and took the Eurostar name. Thalys and AF/KL already had extensive codesharing arrangements with Thalys. What will be interesting is if this arrangement extends to the few London bound trains that pass through CDG or if CDG-london services are expanded.
It is somewhat limited by the continuing post-brexit immigration clusterF and the lack of sterile transfer to the train.
I'm sure there's some sort of incentive or just a political/feel good stunt with the current "green" movement being radically in love with trains as a save the earth thing.
Train travel over shorter distances is better than air travel. It’s not a “radical, save the earth thing,” it’s just a fact.
Train travel over shorter distances is better than air travel. It’s not a “radical, save the earth thing,” it’s just a fact.
@James: indeed, especially in that region! I live in Brussels, a flight to Amsterdam takes about an hour while by high speed train it takes about 1h30 and conventional train 2h. The train takes you from downdown to downtown, you don’t have to be at the station 1-2h early and frequencies are very high. On top of that, Eurostar offers great service in first class, much better than what you get from KLM on the...
@James: indeed, especially in that region! I live in Brussels, a flight to Amsterdam takes about an hour while by high speed train it takes about 1h30 and conventional train 2h. The train takes you from downdown to downtown, you don’t have to be at the station 1-2h early and frequencies are very high. On top of that, Eurostar offers great service in first class, much better than what you get from KLM on the same route.
The same also applies to Brussels-Paris, Brussels-London and plenty of other routes in Europe.
I love flying but sometimes you can’t beat the convenience and speed of train travel!
I'm actually very much in favor of this. And given that especially KL has years of experience with train connections on specific routes (both operated by EuroStar and Thalys, which KL also partnered with), I actually consider trying this. That's also because I have quite ok experiences with ICE and Lufty, by the way.
I've been on a few extreme short haul flights to and from AMS, and sometimes the taxiing there takes more time...
I'm actually very much in favor of this. And given that especially KL has years of experience with train connections on specific routes (both operated by EuroStar and Thalys, which KL also partnered with), I actually consider trying this. That's also because I have quite ok experiences with ICE and Lufty, by the way.
I've been on a few extreme short haul flights to and from AMS, and sometimes the taxiing there takes more time than the actual flying. Especially when they still had domestic flights in The Netherlands some years ago (been on the one to MST just because I could) and also for example the short hop to BRU . I usually spent more time taxiing at AMS than in the air on those flights...
The train station at AMS is located in the basement of the airport, it's very efficient, just a 2 minute walk from most baggage claims and the actual rail time to the center of Brussels is shorter than having to board a plane, taxiing at AMS, even more taxiing at AMS, the actual flying and getting from Zaventem to the center. The low lands offer quite a unique landscape, so that's quite a nice bonus.
And when it comes to Paris and CDG: anything to avoid AF and CDG would do. I've just had a few too many disappointments with 'the frogs' due to strikes, general indifference, disorganized chaos and bad attitude over there that I'd happily take a train from London, Brussels or Amsterdam in order to avoid that airline and airport. Great that I can earn and redeem points on my ST memberships other than FlyingBlue as a bonus in the near future!
To add, Air France has not had a strike for years. KLM on the other hand has had quite a few strikes and Amsterdam is a disaster with weather disruptions almost every week, rude indifferent Dutch staff, if you can find any and their awful food.
Why does Eurostar’s logo look like one of the Chicago stars?
This could be away for someone to get miles if they travel often between London and Lille or Paris.
If one could avoid high UK air taxes by taking the train from London to Paris then from CDG to the US, this is a possibility.
That's an interesting idea, I'm sure AF would love to be able to lease some LHR slots to Virgin, or even one of the cash-rich Middle Eastern carriers. Not sure whether HMRC would be happy with that - currently connections are priced on the basis of the final destination so, at least when redeeming awards, it typically makes more sense to buy a Y flight to CDG/MAD/BRU/FRA and start the trip there as opposed to paying the silly premium cabin tax on UK tickets.
Since ES operates to gare du nord there is no benefit using it for connections via CDG. AF also only operates upto 6 flights daily to Paris ex LHR so unlikely to give up any slots.
Getting from Gare du Nord to CDG is a pain though.
Makes more sense to the LH/DB tie up where you can relatively seamlessly change from plane to train at an airport.
Good point, I was thinking that they would need to run the train to CDG for it to work. Come to think of it, however, there might be a way to coordinate schedules, platforms, and passport checks, for connections to the TGV at Lille Europe- but it wouldn't be easy.
It may not work for direct airport-train connections, but I still see this as a great way to plan an overall trip to Europe. I could land in Paris, spend a couple of days in Paris, use Eurostar to visit other destinations and maybe return home from one of those destinations back to the states. Get miles for it as well (if, like Ben said, there are no idiotic strings attached).
Looks good with Eurostar saying they were considering stopping Amsterdam.
You said you were sceptical however ES competes with AF KL, therefore they will instead cooperate as partners.
AF already partners with SNCF so it could be they also join SkyTeam.
At least there’s a decent rail network unlike the laughable US network.
This is an intriguing collab. I would definitely love to see more of these partnerships happened in the future involving other railways around the world (disclosure: I'm a railgeek).
Is it really Skyteam's first non airline partner? Because in October 2018 you wrote that Hertz was Skyteam's first non-air affiliate.
At first I thought this was the most timely blog I've ever read as I am planning on purchasing Eurostar tickets this evening for early January. Now I'm curious to see if I'll be able to request mileage from it after the trip.
It's very unlikely to be implemented by January.