TORONTO — The Star Alliance Connection Service has officially launched at Toronto Pearson, making it easier for passengers with tight connections to make their onward flights.
Available with Star Alliance member airlines, the service uses special software to monitor the transfer window for customers with connecting flights. Cases where passengers and checked bags appear in danger of missing a connection are automatically highlighted. This allows the Dedicated Connection Service staff to quickly consider the various options available to ensure that passenger meets their connection, or if necessary book alternative options, before the inbound flight even lands.
“With Connection service now available in Toronto, we will ensure that more passengers with tight connections can make their onward flight, thereby improving the travel experience at one of our main hubs in North America,” said Christian Draeger, Star Alliance Vice President Customer Experience.
Draeger also said that Star Alliance is currently working on expanding the service to more key hubs in its network.
Toronto is the 13th biggest Star Alliance transfer hub worldwide, with more than 400,000 passengers connecting from one Star Alliance carrier to another each year.
In addition to home carrier Air Canada, the following member carriers serve Toronto: Austrian, Avianca, Brussels Airlines, Copa Airlines, EGYPTAIR, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, TAP Air Portugal, Turkish Airlines and United. Together they offer more than 6,000 flights per week connecting Toronto to 159 destinations in 59 countries.
Star Alliance Connection Service was rolled out last year, with Chicago (ORD) being the first airport to offer the service combined with baggage expedite. In addition to Toronto, the combined passenger assistance and baggage expedite is now available at the following Star Alliance hubs: Chicago (ORD), Frankfurt (FRA), Houston (IAH), and Munich (MUC). At present, baggage-only expedite is offered at Denver (DEN), London (LHR), Los Angeles (LAX), Newark (EWR), San Francisco (SFO) and Washington (IAD).
