Mongolia’s national airline hopes to join one of the “big three” global alliances… sort of.
In this post:
MIAT Mongolian plans oneworld cooperation
MIAT Mongolian Airlines is a fascinating little carrier that is undergoing a refresh. The airline is taking delivery of two Boeing 787-9s, and has aspirations to fly to the United States. The airline has a fleet of just seven aircraft, and serves destinations ranging from Frankfurt to Hong Kong.
While the airline focuses on point-to-point routes with the highest demand, as you might expect, the airline also values partnerships. After all, Mongolia has fairly limited air service, and MIAT Mongolian Airlines can only serve so many destinations.
Along those lines, as flagged by Live and Let’s Fly, MIAT Mongolian Airlines CEO Munkhtamir Batbayar had a fascinating interview with CNN’s Richard Quest, about the company’s plans for partnerships.
In the interview, Batbayar is asked if the airline joining an alliance would be the best path forward, to which he responds “we are actively pursuing to get into the oneworld Connect program.”
That seems like a logical fit, as the airline already partners with Japan Airlines for its Tokyo (NRT) service, and partners with Cathay Pacific on its Hong Kong (HKG) service. However, the oneworld connection would be less valuable for some of the carrier’s longer services, like Frankfurt and Istanbul, which are both Star Alliance hubs (for Lufthansa and Turkish, respectively).
What does the oneworld Connect concept entail?
So, what is oneworld Connect? There’s currently one member for this concept, and that’s Fiji Airways. While it’s better than nothing, unfortunately it stops short of offering full elite-like perks.
The oneworld Connect concept is intended specifically for smaller airlines where the economics of fully joining the alliance don’t make sense. However, in situations where an airline already partners with oneworld airlines, those airlines can sponsor a carrier to become a oneworld Connect member.
With oneworld Connect:
- All oneworld elite members traveling with a oneworld Connect member airline receive priority check-in and boarding
- Only oneworld elite members belonging to the sponsor airlines (in this case, probably Cathay Pacific and Japan Airlines) receive perks like the ability to earn and redeem points, lounge access, and more
So while this concept is better than nothing, I find that oneworld Connect just creates more confusion than anything else. For most oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members, flying with a oneworld Connect airline just gets them priority check-in and boarding, and not the typical lounge access perks.
Bottom line
MIAT Mongolian Airlines is actively pursuing becoming a oneworld Connect member. The airline already partners with Cathay Pacific and Japan Airlines, so it seems like a logical fit. While this would be better than nothing, unfortunately expect limited perks from this as a oneworld frequent flyer.
While oneworld Connect airlines offer priority check-in and boarding to all oneworld elite members, other perks are reserved only for sponsor airlines.
What do you make of MIAT Mongolian Airlines joining oneworld Connect?
If you are flying MIAT where can you credit the mileage? When you buy tickets from MIAT, their site allows you to select frequent flyer airlines (mostly SkyTeam) other than MIAT. Can you get mileage from one of the SkyTeam airlines?
This would be great news.
No issue extending MIAT an Invitation to Join but there are other Airlines in Asia/Orient that would be worth pursuing as in STARLUX or Philippine Airlines and getting China Southern onboard. Air Astana would also be a notable addition.
Having just flown MIAT several times in the past few weeks (just took a tour around Mongolia), I think this plan makes sense. They currently have a very isolated loyalty program and only a small biz lounge at UBN outside security. However the airport and services onboard were otherwise great. I would love to see them take strides toward having partners and expanding rewards. Mongolia is a lovely country and their tourism success depends on the airlines.
While I would rather have them in OneWorld than not, if their is no Loyalty Earning/recognition then I'm not flying them. I sometimes add a full stop or even backtrack just to earn status. I don't think I'm alone.
And airline is not totally in the program so you can't choose where to earn the points etc. Seems almost useless. Many of these smaller airlines will not become big enough to become a full one world member.
If MIAT were to join oneworld connect is there a possibility that the Frankfurt route could be dropped in favour of serving a oneworld hub such as London Heathrow? Or is it more so that there's a demographic in Frankfurt that makes the route viable
A very very good question! Let's see!
Personally I find it interesting that both OneWorld and *A have a similar programme, but they take such vastly different approaches.
Where the *A connecting partner programme only has co-operation if you are on a connecting flight between that character and another *A carrier, but, all *G members will get benefits like lounge access, etc.
I wonder why they each take such a different approach for a similar scheme.