Once the domain of stuffy corporate types and ultra-elite leisure passengers, airport lounges have gone mainstream. The big challenge for many operators is striking a balance between accessibility and exclusivity.
With the ink barely dry on the divorce papers, Star Alliance is wasting no time in luring back some of SAS’ most loyal - and profitable - passengers. The aim of this neatly timed promotion is business continuity and customer retention, but it remains to be seen how many frequent flyers will take up the offer.
The fallout from SAS leaving the Star Alliance group of airlines will be felt far beyond Scandinavia, with SkyTeam partners such as Delta's SkyMiles program due to be the biggest winners.
Delta frequent flyers are about to lose a SkyTeam partner in China, which means fewer miles and codeshare benefits. Those who fly American Airlines and other Oneworld partners, however, may soon gain one.
Casual travelers often think airlines in the same alliance love to cooperate with each other. That's not always true. They're often fierce competitors. At least SkyTeam has developed new technology that is designed to make it easier for airlines to rebook customers during irregular operations.