Do you think our Platinum Card will enable us to use the United Red Carpet Lounge or that Continental will now pull out of the Platinum Card?

"As a valued Mileage Plus member, we wanted you to be among the first to hear that Continental and United today announced plans to cooperate globally, linking our networks and services worldwide to deliver new benefits to you. In addition, Continental plans to join United in the Star Alliance®, the most comprehensive airline alliance in the world.

Once implemented, this new partnership, will easily enable you to take advantage of the resources of both airlines to enhance your overall travel experience, and receive more value from your Mileage Plus membership.

First and foremost, this partnership will include new frequent flier reciprocity that will enable you to earn miles when flying on either airline and redeem awards on both carriers. Travel on either carrier will count toward earning elite status. Similarly, members of either airline's airport lounge program will have access to both Continental's Presidents Club network and United's Red Carpet Club® lounges.

Second, together with Continental, we will be able to offer you a more comprehensive domestic route network and together with our Star Alliance partners, greater choice of service throughout the entire world.

Starting in the U.S., you are going to see United and Continental develop extensive code-sharing that will facilitate travel whenever your itinerary involves both carriers. We will be able to provide you with a coordinated process for reservations/ticketing, check-in, flight connections and baggage transfer.

Internationally, Continental and United will establish joint ventures that will allow us to cooperate with each other and with other Star Alliance airlines throughout the world. These joint ventures will enable us to provide you with highly competitive flight schedules, fares and service to more destinations than we do today.

In short, once regulatory approval is obtained, this new partnership between United and

Continental will expand your choice of flights and destinations, and improve your ability to earn both miles and elite status in Mileage Plus. Together we will offer you more value whenever you fly. We expect to bring you the benefits of our cooperation starting some time in 2009, and until then, we will keep you informed about our progress.

We appreciate you and your business, and we look forward to seeing you on your next flight."

Wow, Andi,
So how does US Air fit into this equation? They are presently they were in partnership with United? That would be great if USAir were in it since I am halfway between Pittsburgh (USAir) and Cleveland (Continental). I would also clean up with mileage.
Lynn

Andi,

Your question was exactly mine when I received that email from United. Now that I'm no longer on the road every week, we're too cheap to buy a Red Carpet membership. However we don't shy from using Delta, Continental, etc. with the Platinum card.

Let's just hope they ADD United, not SUBTRACT Continental!

Betty

This is probably a net benefit for us. The Delta/NW merger had to mean changes for us Continental flyers.

One "rats!" kind of outcome? StarAlliance doesn't have the lounge reciprocity arrangement for Amex Platinum holders. Up until now, Continental, Delta, Northwest and American will let you and a guest into their lounge if you are flying on one of their flight numbers and present your platinum card and ID at check-in. Considering the airlines charge in the neighborhood of $40-50 for a day pass, that's been a wonderful perk.

Cheers, Anne

It's going to be a while, but if CO joins Star Alliance, you should have the same privileges as other Star Alliance members.

Just because CO is joining doesn't mean that US will be out.

I'm quite excited about this. I'm work for United in Cargo Sales ( at least this week. We find out next week who gets laid off,) and I'm hoping we can start booking business on CO planes. Right now, we can't.

The alliance could open up a lot of new opportunities for United in Europe, Lisbon being one place our office would like to see on the list.

Frances

It says it will take effect sometime in 2009. I just hope that it is after the end of March, because I will be flying Delta, xho now shares miles with CO, to Cairo and I would hate to lose those miles.
Lynn

I'm peeved at United removing Guatemala as a destination...more peeved since UA had bought the rights from PanAM when they went under (I have too many fond memories of flying PanAM 747's to Guatemala as a child)....so the CO joining star alliance announcement is a good thing, since using another US carrier to Guatemala from SFO is now down to AA and CO...DL and US do fly down there but it's too crazy for us west coasters to connect thru their hubs to go to Guate..

Our family is not crazy about flying TACA (another Star Alliance member) these days, the only other "semi direct" option we have from SFO...considering that my nanny's daughter was on that TACA 390 that crashed in Tegucigalpa...(we had just vistied with her two days before and her mom had a heavy premonition that something was going to happen :ohmy: )she made it out alive and only had some bruises/whiplash thankfully.

AL: I said "ouch" when I read your comment about TACA sooo happy it had OK ending - glad you are posting and I'll look for your "girls" on cover of a mag someday - XXOO Joanna