V-Flyer

From next March Air NewZealand is dropping its Auckland-HKG-LHR route and entering what is calls a strategic alliance with CX who, as a OW member ought to be a major competitor.
Customers with HKG-LHR bookings after March are 'likely' to be re-booked on CX.
As AZ and VS are supposedly partners surely they should be re-booked with VS.

Perhaps this an other example of the shake ups taking place in the world of alliances. Perhaps in the initial 'gold rush' to form alliances airlines went with whoever their competitor was not with and now it is time to stand back and re-think.
a *A and OW carier co-operating was unthinkable a few years ago. Now think of Quantas and Ethiad, Qatar and MAS joining OW, AZ and CX - could it be that the big 2.5 alliances have got so bloated they mean little and there is likely to be a crop of mini 'boutique' alliances ?
or am I just desperate to amuse my self in this hotel room ?

On the contrary, I'd argue alliances are getting smarter and stronger. There's always been carriers having agreements outside of their alliance if they were in one.

Must admit that I've heard of some interesting things that people do to stay amused in hotel rooms, but speculating over alliances... Well at least it won't keep your neighbours awake

JCBR wrote: could it be that the big 2.5 alliances have got so bloated they mean little and there is likely to be a crop of mini 'boutique' alliances ?

Interesting post, especially this quoted bit.

The big draw of the major alliances is the extent to which their members' networks complement each other. But one of the disadvantages of the alliances is that there is relatively little consistency of product level in them -- in each of the big three you have very good airlines as well as very uninspiring ones.

The possibility of what you call boutique alliances is that they could counter this inconsistency of standards, and you could end up with smaller, bespoke arrangements that actually deliver consistent levels of service. (I like the idea of a little Virgin alliance along these lines.)

What I don't understand is to what extent these are new alliances at all, or to what extent they are just individual agreements signed by the various airlines. But you are right -- they certainly make the existing alliances look a bit redundant.

Huh, 'boutique' alliances.... what a thought

I will try and stay at a more interesting hotel next time !!

JCBR wrote:I will try and stay at a more interesting hotel next time !!

Likewise.