Malaysia Airlines to join Oneworld alliance

[Danger]

Malaysia Airlines to Launch A380 Service to London July 2012; Configuration Info | Airline Route

 

[Isochronous]

Maybe this is a bit far fetched, but one thing that has been running through my mind is - Qantas might be going to buy a stake in MAS.

With Tune Group getting a 20.5% stake, is that setting up for Qantas to buy 39.5% of the MAS and 40% to be retained by the Malaysian government. This is a common ownership scenario for airlines, so the foreigners don't have total ownership of the airline, but no one entity has a majority.

Then either Qantas could have MAS as their premium airline or if they setup a new airline it would be better received. And setting up an airline from scratch can take a lot of time, while buying into an existing one is much quicker. It makes sense in that Qantas and MAS pretty much fly the same types of planes.

MH as the QF Asia subsidiary would be an enormous masterstroke!

 

[v8Statesman]

MH as the QF Asia subsidiary would be an enormous masterstroke!

As long as the don't kill off the great fares that can be found on MH!

I'm almost sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for the joining. Big SC runs to be had on MH is fares stay the same.


Sent from my Telstra iPhone using the Australian Frequent Flyer application.

 

[Timba-Jet]

I am hoping (but not expecting) MH to be part of OW by June 2012 in time for my Asia/European summer holiday. Or at least QF enter into reciprocal FF benefits with MH ahead of full OW membership, similar to what AA have with Kingfisher.

Seems to be a race between AB, IT and MH.... place your bets.

 

[Jacques Vert]

I am hoping (but not expecting) MH to be part of OW by June 2012 in time for my Asia/European summer holiday. Or at least QF enter into reciprocal FF benefits with MH ahead of full OW membership, similar to what AA have with Kingfisher.

Seems to be a race between AB, IT and MH.... place your bets.

According to the Oneworld website: "Malaysia Airlines is expected to start flying as part of oneworld in late 2012 after being elected on board as a member designate of the alliance in June 2011."

So you should be hoping for a reciprocal or Codeshare...Good luck....JV

 

[casanovawa]

Didn't a link to an article on the previous page state that MH was a loss making airline??? (and i'm assuming that is even with the much vaunted low asian employee cost base?!?!?) Not exactly a master stoke buying into one of those unless you have some definite plans to turn it into a profit making airline in fairly short order... And it would cost more money i assume to move it up into the premium category and then do the existing clientele want to move up into those fare structures etc, etc...

And if it is loss making i imagine those cheap fares would be one of the first things to go...

 

[markis10]

And if it is loss making i imagine those cheap fares would be one of the first things to go...

Depends on what time frame, in Feb Malaysia Airlines reported 2010 net income of MYR237.3 million ($77.6 million), down 54.6% from a MYR522.9 million profit in 2009 that benefited from a MYR1.16 billion derivative gain

 

[mannej]

\ And it would cost more money i assume to move it up into the premium category and then do the existing clientele want to move up into those fare structures etc, etc...

And if it is loss making i imagine those cheap fares would be one of the first things to go...

Technically isn't MH a 5-Star airline, i.e in the same league as SQ (well atleast according to Skytrax)?

 

[browski]

Technically isn't MH a 5-Star airline, i.e in the same league as SQ (well atleast according to Skytrax)?

With a concerted effort, Qantas could perhaps reach the premium quality of Malaysian Airlines; but that may not be a risk an airline of MH's stature might like to take.

 

[marks]

Have you noticed you can now book flights to KUL on the QF website? via SIN to a MH flight to KUL

 

[mannej]

Have you noticed you can now book flights to KUL on the QF website? via SIN to a MH flight to KUL

That has been like that for a while. A while back IIRC the only option was either the 3K or the JL option, however there are options with both MH and SQ going to KUL.

 

[oz_mark]

Have you noticed you can now book flights to KUL on the QF website? via SIN to a MH flight to KUL

You've been able to do that for a while. Various interline parters show up from time to time in search results, including EK and SQ.

 

[Adelaide]

Must say I have enjoyed flying MH and using their lounge in the long haul flights was very welcome.
The staff were so friendly and helpful. A nice smile makes all the difference in a flight.

 

[MH_fan]

I always enjoy flying with Malaysia Airlines. The cabin crew are really good and their lounges are nice.
Anyway, there are rumours in the Malaysian press that QF and MH could be in talks regarding a merger. Here's a link to that article:
http://www.mmail.com.my/content/87492-masqantas-merger-way

 

[asterix]

We're flying to KUL in June, I wonder whether I'll be getting QFF point or Velocity points.

 

[Jacques Vert]

We're flying to KUL in June, I wonder whether I'll be getting QFF point or Velocity points.

Well it won't be Velocity points:

Velocity Airline Partner Update

Effective 2 April 2012, Malaysia Airlines will no longer be an airline partner in the Velocity Frequent Flyer program. The final day members will be eligible to earn Points and Status Credits for travel on Malaysia Airlines flights is 1 April 2012. The final day to redeem Points with Malaysia Airlines is 1 April 2012.

 

[MH_fan]

Hopefully, a partneship with QF will be announced soon and the earning of points between the 2 airlines can start in April or May.

 

[MH_fan]

*sigh*
Still no announcement from either MH or QF. The latest Enrich newsletter (for May-July) has just been released and there's no mention of any additional partnerships with any of the OW carriers. Hopefully, we'll get something official from August.

 

[Timba-Jet]

I was hopeful, the end to the DJ/Velocity tie/up would open the way for a QF-MH points & SCs arrangement ahead of MH officially joining OW. Particularly as QF is MH's sponsor.

 

[pauly7]

Might be worthy of a question to Red Roo?