Continental Airlines will join Star Alliance, says a Dallas News report. Continental considered merging with United recently, and backed off, perhaps because of the concern that the merger would be nixed by anti-trust regulators as a past merger between United and US Airways had been. Northwest and Delta are currently merging, which may have discomfited Continental, a member of the Skyteam partnership with them.

Star Alliance is a partnership of 23 national airlines and 3 regional airlines, offering code-sharing, and pooled privileges for the airlines various affinity clubs. Mileage points can be earned and used across the various partners. Passengers who have reached the "Star Gold" level in their airline's mileage club can make use of lounges before international flights, and are boarded before other coach passengers (but after First Class or higher-privileged members).