TAM-Another Brazilian Carrier joined Star Alliance

Finally, TAM joined star alliance yesterday. After Varig went bankrupt and exited the star alliance few years ago, there was no south American Carrier in the Alliance, which made award redemption within south America on Lan airlines(one world) only. With this addition to the network, we will have more access to South American countries with our Star Allaince carriers miles

Great move!

Some cheap Business Class ticket

Air Canada has some super cheap business one way fare from KUL-LAX/SAN/SEA/SFO.

bookable on expedia.com, using multi city search.

book under

KUL-SIN,
SIN-HKG,
HKG-SAN/LAX/SEA/SFO,
the trip should under $1300 USD in total and free stopover permitted. I found if stopover in HKG, fare did not increase, if Stopover both SIN and HKG, fare increase by $200.

Another routing possible,

KUL-SIN,
SIN-SYD,
SYD-SAN/LAX/SEA/SFO
You can have stopover in SIN and SYD for total 1600 USD, without stopover, the fare is $200 cheaper. Please note you should select the SYD-SAN/LAX/SEA/SFO leg with connecting in Vancouver rather than AKL, because AC has no traffic right to sell you a ticket Between NZ-US(even it's operate by Air New Zealand) without touching Canada. Ticket can not be on AC 9507.

Update: More routing possible from KUL- US west coast via SIN and PVG, KIX, ICN, NRT with stopover permitted. Aslo it valid to US east coast with few hundred more.

Credit to Flyertalk

Egypt Air joined Star Alliance

Star Alliance just announced Egypt air official entry as part of the team, with new Egpyt air, star alliance covers entire Africa, where no carrier flew btw North Africa and South Africa. It also provides more option for travel from Asia countries to middle east area.