And American overhauls LHR lounges

• Brazil’s TAM Airlines has become the newest member of the global Star Alliance, which includes United, Continental, US Airways, Lufthansa and others. (A week earlier, TAM and US Airways announced a new code-sharing pact.) TAM flies to more than 40 cities in Brazil and to 10 other destinations in South America, as well as several cities in the U.S. and Europe. TAM’s U.S. gateways include New York JFK, Miami and Orlando. Participants in Star Alliance member carriers’ frequent flyer programs can now earn and spend miles on TAM flights, and Star Alliance Gold travelers can now use TAM’s airport lounges.

• The SkyTeam alliance, which includes Delta and Air France/KLM, among other airlines, said that two carriers are on track to join the group next month: Vietnam Airlines is slated to become a SkyTeam member on June 10, followed by Romania’s Tarom on June 25.

• At London Heathrow, American Airlines said it has finished a comprehensive renovation of its Admirals Club and Flagship Lounge, located at Gate H in Terminal 3. The new facilities now provide a business center with new HP PCs; free high-speed Internet access; shower facilities; power outlets for both U.S. and U.K. devices; and enhanced food and beverage options. New PrinterOn service lets guests print out documents via email or web page uploads. The Admirals Club seats 237 people, and the Flagship lounge has doubled in size to accommodate 134.

• Lufthansa has taken delivery of its first A380 super-jumbo from Airbus. The German carrier said it will put the new aircraft into regular service June 11 on the Frankfurt-Tokyo route. Three more A380s should be delivered in the weeks ahead, and Lufthansa will use them for Frankfurt-Beijing and Frankfurt-Johannesburg service.