One of the announcements that has me scratching my head is the launch of the oneworld connect programme – and Fiji Airways joining it.
Fuji Airways Airbus A330 – Image, Fiji Airways/oneworld
So what is oneworld connect?
It’s a feed-in for the main oneworld alliance, To join, carriers need three oneworld airlines to sponsor them, and one of those sponsors to guide them through the integration process.
What is it going to offer customers? There will be some basic benefits spread over the entire alliance (for example, priority check in and priority boarding), and for those frequent flyers whose airline sponsored the joining airline – additional benefits (such as mileage accumulation, status points, lounges).
Or in a lovely table that oneworld supplied:
Fiji Airways was sponsored by the four original oneworld airlines – American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Qantas – with Qantas guiding it through the membership process.
Any member will have to integrate into the oneworld explorer round-the-world ticketing process, and required to maintain IATA IOSA safety certification.
No date has been set of ascension of Fuji Airways into the oneword alliance.
In explaining the idea behind oneworld connect, oneworld Governing Board Chairman Pekka Vauramo, CEO of Finnair, said:
“With most of the world’s biggest airlines already signed up, global airline alliances have reached maturity, In the future, oneworld will target as full members large airlines that have a significant presence in the alliance’s prime target market, providing connections between the world’s leading business centres. Meantime, oneworld connect enables us to bring together more airlines to complement the alliance’s global leaders, so customers can earn rewards and feel recognised while travelling even further.”
oneworld CEO Rob Gurney also stated:
“oneworld’s current network of more than 1,000 destinations in 150 plus territories offers far-reaching global coverage, but there are still some regions where we would like to strengthen our presence further. With fewer potential new candidates available to recruit based on our established membership criteria, oneworldconnect enables us to link up with other airlines whose networks are relevant to a subset of our members, who cannot meet oneworld’s full membership requirements at this stage or who are not interested in full membership at present.
Fiji Airways CEO Andre Viljoen is happy – stating
“Fiji Airways is thrilled and honoured to be the first oneworld connect partner globally. We are delighted to link Fiji, and the South Pacific to the world’s premier airline alliance and deepening our relationships in particular with Qantas, American Airlines, British Airways and Cathay Pacific. This important step for our airline enables us to offer more services and benefits to our own customers along with the others in the oneworld family, to achieve a greater presence for our airline internationally and to build on the in-bound tourism that is so vital to our home nation and our region.”
With the launch of many joint ventures, it’s another way for oneworld to try to add further value to its network. The airlines that are in alliances seem to be “happy” where they are – and those who aren’t overly happy are building the JV’s on networks (such as the great transatlantic joint ventures that go beyond alliance and into revenue sharing… again, along alliance lines but going deeper than an alliance)
However, with benefits not being universal across the oneworld family – this is going to interesting how it plays out in the medium term. Whilst the four sponsors are big ones (including a regionally big one), selecting a frequent flyer programme will become more critical than ever to get the best experience.
oneworld is in discussions with other carriers interested in participating in the programme, from various parts of the world including the Americas, Asia-Pacific and Europe. How that will play out, will also be interesting. Will they be regionally powered, or a random collection?
It’s interesting… but in the end – could be confusing for the customer rather than enabling them if this isn’t managed right…
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Ever hear of spellcheck? Priory? Fuji?
I have. Alas, Spell check does not handle context particularly well. When you’ve done a full day doing desk support, meetings and design work and your brain is slighty fuddled, write 700 words plus and see how many mistakes you make.
Now imagine you’re dyslexic at the same time.
Now image I have to deal with a comment like the one you made (which to be honest on the whine list is low. I’ve got far better fish to fry).
Alas, I have a WordPress instance, a copy of Word and use the tools I have. Alas, some days it comes out a little wrong.
It’s called being human, rather than being perfect.
it’s nearly a copy-n-paste job from how star alliance setup their connecting partner system. They do cover tons of very hard to reach islands in that part of the ocean :
https://www.fijiairways.com/media/826460/route_map_16aug2017.pdf
and looking at that existing route map, joining as a oneworld connecting partner (with NRT slated to begin next month according to wiki), the more promising long-haul destinations they could consider might be PVG, YVR, and SCL (which will be at the edge of A332 performance)