The Major Frequent Flyer Program Alliances and Their Partners

All major airlines have some sort of loyalty, or frequent flyer program where you can earn various levels of status and privileges based on how many miles you accumulate. In addition. Most of them have partner airlines with whom you can also earn mileage. The miles you earn, serve 2 purposes: one, they can be used for earning free reward tickets, and two, you accumulate 'Elite Miles' towards achieving Elite Status, which allows you varying levels of perks depending on which level you attain. Generally, there are 3 levels of Elite Status; silver, gold and platinum, on most. When you have Elite Status within your own airline's frequent flyer program, their partners will also acknowledge your status so your perks and benefits are portable.

In deciding which frequent flyer program to join, you should start by considering which airline best serves the areas you tend to travel to and from, and also, who their partners are. Below is a list of 3 major frequent flyer program alliances, and their partner airlines:


SKYTEAM

• Aeroflot
• Aeromexico
• Air Europa
• Air France
• Alitalia
• China Southern
• Continental (only until October 24, 2009)
• Copa Airlines
• Czech Airlines
• Delta
• Kenya Airways
• KLM
• Korean Air
• Northwest

STAR ALLIANCE

• Air Canada
• Air China
• Air New Zealand
• ANA
• Asiana Airlines
• Austrian
• BMI
• Continental (starting October 24, 2009)
• Egyptair
• LOT Polish Airlines
• Lufthansa
• Scandinavian Airlines
• Shanghai Airlines
• South African Airways
• Spanair
• SWISS
• TAP Portugal
• THAI
• Turkish Airlines
• United
• US Airways

ONE WORLD ALLIANCE

• American Airlines
• British Airways
• Cathay Pacific
• Finnair
• Iberia
• Japan Airlines
• LAN
• Malev
• Qantas
• Royal Jordanian

The Markets of Provence

The middle of June marks the beginning of lavender season in Provence. Not the harvesting season, but rather, the peak of lush purple fields that are a feast for both the eye and the nose. Acres and acres of rolling hils, ochre colored cliffs, green vineyards and thousand-year old villages nestled between rows of brightly colored purple lavender.

Over the next month, thousands will flock to the South of France to witness nature's show, and to take advantage of the great weather and bounty of fruit. No visit to Provence is complete without experiencing its markets. You can get everything from farm fresh produce, cheeses, sausages, and Provencal herbs to clothes, shoes, fabrics and antiques, usually in the setting of a charming and ancient hill-top village.

Below, is a list of the markets of Provence listed by the day of the week:

DAILY
Aix-en-Provence - food market - place Richelme
Aix-en-Provence - flowers - place de l'Hôtel (Tue, Thur, Sat) and place des Prêcheurs (other days)
Avignon - food market - Les Halles (covered market - closed Mon)
Grasse - food market
Marseille - food market - cours Pierre Puget, place Jean-Jaurès, place du Marché-des-Capucins and avenue du Prado (all closed Sun)
Marseille - fish market - quai des Belges
Sanary-sur-Mer - food market
Toulon - food market - cours Lafayette (except Mon)

SUNDAY
Aix-en-Provence - antique book market - place Mairie (first Sun of each month)
Avignon - flea market - place des Carmes
Carpentras - flea market
Chateaurenard - food market
Le Coustellet - food market
Isle sur la Sorgue - food market
Isle sur la Sorgue - antiques - held throughout the town
La Ciotat - food market - Vieux Port
Marseille - flea market - avenue du Cap-Pinède
Ramatuelle - food market
St-Maxime - food market

MONDAY
Bédoin - food market
Cadenet - food market
Cavaillon - food market

TUESDAY
Aix-en-Provence - flea market - place Verdun
Apt - flea market - place St. Pierre
Gordes - food and arts & crafts market
La Ciotat - food market - place Evariste-Gras
La Tour D'Aigues - food market
Lorgues - food and arts & crafts market
Stes-Maries-de-la-Mer - flea market
St-Tropez - flea market - place des Lices
Tarascon - food market
Vaison-la-Romaine - food market

WEDNESDAY
Arles - food market - boulevard Emilie-Combes
Arles - antique market (first Wed of every month)
Draguignan - food and arts & crafts market
Draguignan - flea market
Fréjus
Grasse - flea market - place aux Herbes
Salon-de-Provence - food and arts & crafts market - Place Morgan
Sault - food and arts & crafts market
St-Rémy-de-Provence - food market - place de la République and place Pélissier

THURSDAY
Aix-en-Provence - flea market - place Verdun
Ansouis - food market
Isle sur la Sorgue - food market
Le Lavandou
Orange - food market
Orange - flea market - cour A. Brians
Ramatuelle - food market
Roussillon - food market
Salon-de-Provence - food and arts & crafts market - Place Morgan
Vacqueyras - food market

FRIDAY
Bonnieux
Carpentras - food and arts & crafts market - in the old town
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Lourmarin - food market
Pertuis - food market
Tarascon - organic market - place du Marché

SATURDAY
Aix-en-Provence - flea market - place Verdun
Apt - food and arts & crafts market - throughout entire town
Arles - food market - boulevard des Lices and boulevard Clemenceau
Avignon - flower market - place des Carmes
Barjols
Draguignan - food and arts & crafts market
Fréjus
Isle sur la Sorgue - antiques - held throughout the town
Isle sur la Sorgue - food market
Manosque - food market
Marseille - book market - cours Julien (every second Sat of each month)
St-Rémy-de-Provence
St-Tropez - flea market - place des Lices