Press Releases 2007

Star Alliance Member Carriers Reward Customer Loyalty in Brazil with Status Match Offer

The six Star Alliance member carriers serving Brazil – Air Canada, Lufthansa, South African Airways, SWISS, TAP Portugal and United – have today launched a status match offer. The aim of this is to ensure that loyal, elite members of the VARIG Smiles programme can continue to enjoy Star Alliance Gold and Silver benefits on their future international travels on the Star Alliance network.

Under this scheme the following Frequent Flyer Programmes (FFP) – Aéroplan (Air Canada), Mileage Plus (United), Miles & More (Lufthansa & SWISS), Victoria (TAP) and Voyageur (South African Airways) – are offering to maintain existing Star Alliance Gold or Silver status for qualifying new registrations.

Further details and contact information can be found at: www.staralliance.com.

The VARIG Smiles programme will continue to operate in its own right, along with the ability to earn and redeem miles outside the Star Alliance network.

The VARIG Smiles programme is also informing members of the possibility of retaining the Star Alliance Gold and Silver benefits through the status match offer, which is valid from January 29th, 2007 to April 30th, 2007.

About Star Alliance
The Star Alliance network was established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance to offer customers worldwide reach and a smooth travel experience. Star Alliance was voted Best Airline Alliance by Business Traveller Magazine in 2003 and 2006 and by Skytrax in 2003 and 2005. The members are Air Canada, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, bmi, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, Spanair, SWISS, TAP Portugal, THAI, United and US Airways. Regional member carriers Adria Airways (Slovenia), Blue1 (Finland) and Croatia Airlines enhance the global network. Air China, Shanghai Airlines and Turkish Airlines have all been accepted as future members and are expected to join Star Alliance soon. Overall, the Star Alliance network offers more than 16,000 daily flights to 855 destinations in 155 countries.

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