Why I've got my fingers crossed today

Today - 23 June 2014 - will be a big day for Air India as later in the day, Star Alliance will decide on AI's induction into the alliance. AI's membership, if granted, will end its 7-year wait to join Star Alliance, which in turn will give it access to Star's global network of over 18,000 daily flights to 193 countries. Here are some statistics about Star Alliance:

  • 18,000 daily flights
  • Flying to 1,269 airports across 193 countries
  • 4,338 aircraft currently operated by the existing Star Alliance members
  • 640 million passengers carried in a year (to put that in perspective, Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson airport which is possibly the busiest airport in the world, handles 95 million passengers a year).

But it isn't for AI's sake that I'm hoping for their membership to be approved. As any true blue points and miles enthusiast will agree, the whole thing is about miles and status.

Firstly, the miles. I've written about AI joining Star Alliance in the past (you can read them here and here), and is something I'm really looking forward to, as it provides a great option to burn AI miles, particularly if you have the AI-SBI credit card.

Secondly, and more important, I'm also looking forward to AI's membership being approved, for the simple yet powerful benefit of being able to credit flights to Aegean Airlines' Miles & Bonus program. Why would I pick such a program, out of left field? Because it takes only 20,000 miles in a year to reach Gold status with Aegean, which in turn would mean Star Alliance Gold. And, what's more, one activity in a 36-month period is sufficient to keep Aegean Gold, and therefore Star Alliance Gold status. That's virtually lifetime Gold, though Aegean, or Star Alliance, or both, could change those terms later on. I find this to be a great travel hack for Star Alliance status.



Star Alliance Gold will give you the following benefits:
  • Priority Airport Check-in: Star Alliance Gold Status allows you to check-in through the Priority check-in counters. With shorter queues checking-in, you can get to the lounge a little sooner.
  • Airport Lounge Access: When you travel with any Star Alliance member airline, you and a guest can escape the crowds and relax in over 1,000 airport lounges worldwide, regardless of your class of travel.
  • Priority Boarding: There's no need to rush out of the lounge anymore. With priority boarding you can enjoy the freedom of boarding at your convenience along with First and Business Class passengers.
  • Extra Baggage Allowance: As a Gold Status holder you can choose not to travel light. We allow an additional 20 kg (44 pounds) where the weight concept applies, or one additional piece of luggage where the piece concept applies.
  • Priority Baggage Handling: Similar to you, your bags get priority treatment and are among the first to be unloaded, which means you can be one of the first in line for a taxi/shuttle bus.
  • Priority Reservations Waitlist: If there aren't any seats available on your preferred flight, we ensure that you are given higher priority on the waiting list.
  • Priority Airport Standby: If your travel plans change and flights are full, your Star Alliance Gold status ensures you are given higher priority when standing by for a flight at the airport.

Some T&Cs apply, but they're not really prohibitive.

I should mention that not all flights (even with existing Star Alliance members) earn 100% credit for posting to Aegean's Miles & Bonus program. Things will become clearer once AI's membership is approved, and I will write about it in future.

But as of now, fingers crossed.


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