STAR ALLIANCE CONVENTIONS PLUS SET TO EXPAND WITH MORE CARRIERS JOINING THE ALLIANCE
FRANKFURT, October 27th, 2007 — Star Alliance, the Way the Earth connects, is set to expand its dedicated meetings and conventions product, Conventions Plus, with four carriers set to join the alliance within the next 18 months.
The first step of this expansion will be in the Chinese market, with Air China and Shanghai Airlines joining Star Alliance in December this year. This will allow Star Alliance more connections to the major convention centres in China and at the same time offer better access to the rest of the world for Chinese conventions travellers. The next steps in increasing network coverage will be focused on Africa and the Middle East, with both EgyptAir and Turkish Airlines slated to join within 18 months.
Conventions Plus was first launched in 2002 and provides simplified travel solutions to convention organisers who need to deal with one airline in order to set up an event, rather than with several. The local Star Alliance member airline becomes the point of contact for the convention organiser.
Delegates participating in any of the Star Alliance member airlines’ frequent flyer programmes are able to earn miles or points on their tickets. This includes using miles or points to upgrade from certain Business Class fares to First Class or from selected Economy Fares to Business Class on participating member carriers*. Moreover, Star Alliance Gold and Star Alliance Silver customers may also avail themselves of their benefits accorded to them by their status when travelling on Conventions Plus fares.
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In order to qualify for Conventions Plus benefits, conferences should be truly global events with a minimum number of 500 international delegates from at least three different countries and two continents. The lead time to the event should be a minimum of six months.
Further information can also be found at: www.staralliance.com/conventions
* participating carriers in Star Alliance upgrade awards are: Air New Zealand, ANA, Austrian, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, SWISS, TAP, THAI and United.
About Star Alliance: The Star Alliance network was established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance to offer customers worldwide reach and a smooth travel experience. Star Alliance was voted Best Airline Alliance by Business Traveller Magazine in 2003, 2006 and 2007 and by Skytrax in 2003, 2005 and 2007. The members are Air Canada, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, bmi, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, Spanair, SWISS, TAP Portugal, THAI, United and US Airways. Regional member carriers Adria Airways (Slovenia), Blue1 (Finland) and Croatia Airlines enhance the global network. Air China, EgyptAir, Shanghai Airlines and Turkish Airlines have all been accepted as future members and are expected to join Star Alliance soon. Overall, the Star Alliance network offers more than 16,000 daily flights to 855 destinations in 155 countries.
For further information please contact:
Star Alliance Press Office Tel: +49 69 96375 183 Fax: +49 69 96375 683 Email: [email protected] www.staralliance.com