Aer Lingus' withdrawal date set as 1 April 2007

30 September 2006

The date for Aer Lingus' withdrawal from oneworld® has been confirmed as 1 April 2007 - at around the same time as the alliance's three new recruits join in the biggest expansion in its history.

Aer Lingus will continue to offer the full range of oneworld services and benefits until the end of 31 March 2007.

It is in talks with some other members of oneworld about maintaining some frequent flyer links with them on a one-on-one basis from then. Details will be announced by the individual airlines concerned if and when agreements are reached.

Aer Lingus will continue to participate in the Global Explorer round-the-world fare, which includes all oneworld carriers plus a number of airlines that are not members of the alliance.

Its involvement in all other oneworld programmes will cease from the end of 31 March 2007. For details, see below.

Besides Aer Lingus, four other oneworld member airlines currently offer services to the Republic of Ireland - American Airlines, British Airways, Finnair and Iberia - as does member elect Malév.

Aer Lingus announced in May its intention to leave oneworld as its strategy has changed fundamentally since it joined the alliance six years ago and is no longer convergent with oneworld's. The alliance's key target market is the multi-sector, premium, frequent international traveller, and Aer Lingus has repositioned itself as a low fares point-to-point carrier.

oneworld's three recruits - Japan Airlines, the largest airline in the Asia-Pacific region; Malév Hungarian Airlines and Royal Jordanian – are all well on track in their implementation programmes to join the alliance at around the same time as Aer Lingus withdraws, increasing its capacity by more than a net 20 per cent and its network by almost a hundred destinations.

The following arrangements will apply between oneworld and Aer Lingus from 1 April 2007:

FREQUENT FLYER

 

Frequent flyer programme redemption flights

Members of other oneworld airlines' frequent flyer programmes - American Airlines AAdvantage®  programme, the British Airways Executive Club, Cathay Pacific's Marco Polo Club, Finnair Plus, Iberia Plus, LAN Pass and Qantas Frequent Flyer - may book frequent flyer redemption flights on Aer Lingus as part of the oneworld agreement until and on 31 March 2007. They will be not be able to book redemption flights on Aer Lingus on or after 1 April 2007. All redemption flights booked for Aer Lingus flights before or on 31 March 2007 will be honoured, regardless of the date of travel.

Aer Lingus Gold Circle members will be able to book frequent flyer redemption flights on American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, LAN and Qantas until and on 31 March 2007. They will not be able to book redemption flights on these airlines on or after 1 April 2007. Redemption flights booked on these airlines before or on 31 March 2007 will be honoured, regardless of the date of travel.

Any agreements by oneworld member airlines to continue frequent flyer links with Aer Lingus on a one-on-one basis will be announced by the individual airlines concerned.

Earning frequent flyer rewards and tier status points

Members of other oneworld airlines' frequent flyer programmes - American Airlines AAdvantage, the British Airways Executive Club, Cathay Pacific's Marco Polo Club, Finnair Plus, Iberia Plus, LAN Pass and Qantas Frequent Flyer - will earn mileage rewards and tier status point when flying on eligible Aer Lingus flights until and on 31 March 2007, but not on or after 1 April 2007.

 

Aer Lingus Gold Circle members will be able to earn frequent flyer tier status points and mileage rewards when flying on eligible fares on American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, LAN and Qantas until and on 31 March 2007, but not on or after 1 April 2007.

Any agreements by oneworld member airlines to continue frequent flyer links with Aer Lingus on a one-on-one basis will be announced by the individual airlines concerned.

Lounge access

Members of other oneworld airlines' frequent flyer programmes - American Airlines AAdvantage, the British Airways Executive Club, Cathay Pacific's Marco Polo Club, Finnair Plus, Iberia Plus, LAN Pass and Qantas Frequent Flyer - may continue to use Aer Lingus lounges, in line with oneworld's existing arrangements until and on 31 March 2007. They will not be able to access Aer Lingus lounges as part of the oneworld agreement on or after 1 April 2007.

Aer Lingus Gold Circle Elite and Prestige members will be able to use the lounges of American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, LAN and Qantas on or before 31 March 2007 in line with oneworld's existing arrangements. They will not be able to use these other airlines' lounges as part of the oneworld agreement on or after 1 April 2007.

Any agreements by oneworld member airlines to continue to offer lounge access with Aer Lingus on a one-on-one basis will be announced by the individual airlines concerned.

Other frequent flyer benefits

Members of all other oneworld airlines' frequent flyer programmes will continue to receive all other oneworld frequent flyer services and benefits (priority check-in, boarding, waitlisting etc) when flying on Aer Lingus until and on 31 March 2007. These services and benefits will no longer apply for Aer Lingus flights on or after 1 April 2007.

Likewise, members of Aer Lingus Gold Circle will continue to receive all other oneworld frequent flyer services and benefits when they fly on the other oneworld airlines until or on 31 March 2007. These services and benefits will no longer apply on or after 1 April 2007.

Aer Lingus will re-issue frequent flyer cards to its members before 1 April 2007. These new cards will not have the oneworld gemstones.

 

SALES

 

Global Explorer round-the-world tickets

Aer Lingus will continue to participate in the Global Explorer round-the-world fare after the airline withdraws from oneworld.

All other oneworld fares and sales products (including Explorer, Circle, Visit fares, businessflyer corporate agreements etc)

All sectors on Aer Lingus booked and ticketed as part of a oneworld fare or sales product before or on 31 March 2007 will be honoured, regardless of the date of travel.

Sectors on Aer Lingus will not be sold as part of any other oneworld fare or sales product on or after 1 April 2007.

 

NETWORK AND FLYING
 

 

oneworld services to Ireland

Four of oneworld's other existing carriers serve the Republic of Ireland, with American Airlines flying to Dublin and Shannon and British Airways, Finnair and Iberia flying to Dublin. Member elect Malév also serves Cork and Dublin.