Carrier will also leave SkyTeam for Star Alliance

In an email to its Mileage Plus members, United Airlines announced plans for a comprehensive new partnership with Continental Airlines, and said that Continental will join the Star Alliance. Continental is currently a member of the SkyTeam global alliance with Delta, Northwest, Air France/KLM and others, but since the Delta-Northwest merger was announced, Continental has said it would re-evaluate its alliance partnership. According to United, the new partnership with Continental – still subject to government approval – will include frequent flyer reciprocity between Mileage Plus and Continental’s OnePass, so members of either can earn and spend miles on the other airline. It would also provide for mutual access to United’s Red Carpet and Continental’s Presidents Club airport lounges. “Starting in the U.S., you are going to see United and Continental develop extensive code-sharing that will facilitate travel whenever your itinerary involves both carriers,” United said. “We will be able to provide you with a coordinated process for reservations/ticketing, check-in, flight connections and baggage transfer.” On the international side, United said, it and Continental “will establish joint ventures that will allow us to cooperate with each other and with other Star Alliance carriers throughout the world.” Besides United, the Star Alliance also includes US Airways, Lufthansa, Air Canada, ANA, Singapore, Thai, Air China, SAS and others. Several weeks ago, Continental formally rejected the idea of merging with United, and subsequent merger talks between United and Star Alliance partner US Airways also came to no agreement.