Most experienced frequent fliers will tell you the only thing more highly valued than cheap airplane tickets and cheap vacation packages is free travel. The Star Alliance has just become an even more attractive frequent flier group with the addition of Chinas Shenzhen Airline.
The addition of Shenzhen will allow Star Alliance to yet again enlarge its offering across Mainland China and neighboring countries.
Air China joined Star Alliance in 2007 and is sponsoring Shenzhens entry into the group. Air China became the majority shareholder in Shenzhen Airlines last March increasing its stake in the airline to 51 percent from 25 percent.
The Addition of Shenzhen Airlines will help Star Alliance fill a gap in its China network created when Shanghai Airlines left the group last October to join the competing SkyTeam Alliance.
The addition of Shenzhen, Chinas fifth largest airline, to Star Alliance will add five new destinations to Stars network in China: Juzhou (Zhejiang Province), Linyi, Qinhuangdao, Shijazhuang, and Zhoushan.
27 airlines belong to Star Alliance including Air Canada, Air China, Continental Airlines, Lufthansa, Swiss, Thai, United, and US Airways. These airlines fly over 4,000 planes, 600 million passengers per year, depart from over 1,100 airports and serve 181 countries. Another six airlines have pending membership.
Regardless of which Star Alliance airline frequent flier program a traveler signs up for, members can earn and redeem miles and build status across all Star Alliance airlines. www.cheapfares.com