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Airline alliances Voyage Tips and guide

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    Airline alliances are formed when different airlines agree to substantially cooperate with each other. Advantages for customers include more destinations and more convenient connections, while the airlines benefit by feeding passengers to each other instead of to competitors.

    Flying topics: Planning your flightAt the airportOn the planeArriving by plane

    Understand

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    For travelers, the most obvious effect of airline alliances is codesharing whereby one airline will sell a seat on a flight with its own flight number, but the flight is performed by a different airline. (Note that not all airlines are part of an airline alliance, and not even all airlines within the same alliance do codeshares with each other.)

    Although many airlines in an alliance have subsidiaries, the subsidiaries are often not members of the alliance which the parents are part of. Instead, they may be an affiliate of that particular alliance, but this is not always the case.

    How does this apply to me?

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    • Airline alliances tend to coordinate their flights to ease connections, flying intercontinental flights to each other's hubs, adjusting schedules and grouping one alliance's flights at a single terminal at large airports. They code-share and interline (transfer bags) with each other, so that you can travel to many more destinations on a single ticket sold by your local airline.
    • You can collect frequent flyer miles when flying on an alliance partner airline. This means for example that a passenger with Qantas can claim mileage when flying with another OneWorld airline such as British Airways.
    • Additionally, status levels that you have on one airline are generally recognized by other airlines in the same alliance. For example, a 'Morning Calm' status with Korean Air will automatically give you 'Elite' status when flying with another airline in the SkyTeam alliance. Thus, you can check in at the Business Class counter, get priority luggage tags, getting emergency exit row seats assigned to you and priority boarding of the aircraft.
    • Travelers can take advantage of a round-the-world ticket, a ticket with the ability to stop at a few countries around the world for a relatively lower price.
    • If your trip is interrupted by a flight delay or cancellation and has a connecting flight that you will now miss due to the interruption, airline staff may rebook you on another airline's flight from the same alliance to minimize the delay in reaching your final destination.

    Oneworld

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    Oneworld is the smallest alliance counting by the number of airlines. The member airlines are spread evenly around the world, so it is a workable option when planning a long multi-point trip such as for a round the world flight. It was the first alliance to introduce interlining e-tickets.

    Members

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    Airline Country Hubs Frequent flyer
    program
    Lounges IATA
    Alaska Airlines United States United States Anchorage, Los Angeles, Portland (OR), San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose (CA), Seattle-Tacoma. Mileage Plan Alaska Lounge AS
    American Airlines United States United States Charlotte, Chicago - O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami, New York - JFK, New York - LaGuardia, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Washington - Reagan AAdvantage Admirals Club, Flagship Lounge AA
    British Airways United Kingdom United Kingdom London - Gatwick, London - Heathrow, New York-JFK Executive Club Various BA
    Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Hong Kong Hong Kong, Taipei-Taoyuan Asia Miles/Marco Polo Club Various CX
    Finnair Finland Finland Helsinki Finnair Plus Finnair Lounge AY
    Iberia Spain Spain Madrid Iberia Plus Sala VIP IB
    Japan Airlines Japan Japan Fukuoka, Nagoya, Naha, Osaka-Itami, Osaka - Kansai, Sapporo,

    Tokyo - Haneda, Tokyo - Narita,

    JAL Mileage Bank Sakura Lounge JL
    Malaysia Airlines Malaysia Malaysia Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, Kuching, Penang Enrich Golden Lounge MH
    Qantas Australia Australia Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney. Qantas Frequent Flyer Qantas Club QF
    Qatar Airways Qatar Qatar Doha Privilege Club Premium Lounge QR
    Royal Air Maroc Morocco Morocco Casablanca, Marrakech, Tangier. Safar Flyer Casablanca Lounge AT
    Royal Jordanian Jordan Jordan Amman, Aqaba Royal Plus Crown Lounge RJ
    SriLankan Airlines Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Colombo FlySmiLes Serendib Lounge UL


    Oneworld Connect Partners:

    Airline Country Hubs Frequent Flyer Program Lounges IATA
    Fiji Airways Fiji Fiji Nadi, Suva Tabua Club Fiji Airways Premier Lounge FJ

    SkyTeam

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    SkyTeam is the latest large-scale alliance to be formed. It has a particularly strong network in Europe.

    Members

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    Airline Country Hubs Frequent flyer
    program
    Lounges IATA
    Aerolíneas Argentinas Argentina Argentina Buenos Aires-Ezeiza, Buenos Aires-Jorge Newbury, Córdoba, Rosario Aerolíneas Plus Salón Cóndor AR
    Aeroméxico Mexico Mexico Guadalajara, Mexico City, Monterrey Club Premier Salón Premier AM
    Air Europa Spain Spain Madrid - Barajas, Palma de Mallorca, Tenerife-North Flying Blue UX
    Air France France France Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Paris-Orly, Toulouse Flying Blue Various AF
    China Airlines Taiwan Taiwan Hong Kong, Kaohsiung, Taipei-Taoyuan, Taipei - Songshan. Dynasty Flyer Dynasty Lounge CI
    China Eastern Airlines China China Beijing Capital, Chengdu, Dalian, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Harbin, Hefei, Hong Kong, Kunming, Lanzhou, Nanchang, Nanjing, Ningbo, Qingdao, Shanghai-Hongqiao, Shanghai-Pudong, Taiyuan, Wuhan, Xi'an, Yantai. Eastern Miles MU
    Czech Airlines Czech Republic Czech Republic Prague OK Plus Crystal Lounge OK
    Delta Air Lines United States United States Atlanta, Boston, Cincinnati, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York-JFK, New York-LaGuardia, Raleigh/Durham, Salt Lake City, Seattle/Tacoma. SkyMiles Delta Sky Club DL
    Garuda Indonesia Indonesia Indonesia Bali/Denpasar, Balikpapan, Jakarta - Soekarno Hatta, Makassar, Manado, Medan, Palembang, Surabaya, Yogyakarta GarudaMiles Garuda Indonesia Executive Lounge GA
    ITA Airways Italy Italy Milan-Linate, Rome-Fiumicino Volare AZ
    Kenya Airways Kenya Kenya Nairobi Flying Blue Simba Lounge KQ
    KLM Netherlands Netherlands Amsterdam Flying Blue KLM Crown Lounge KL
    Korean Air South Korea South Korea Busan, Jeju, Seoul-Gimpo, Seoul-Incheon. SKYPASS Korean Air Lounge KE
    Middle East Airlines Lebanon Lebanon Beirut Cedar Miles Cedar Lounge ME
    Saudia Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia Dammam, Jeddah, Riyadh. Al-Fursan SV
    TAROM Romania Romania Bucharest, Iași Flying Blue RO
    Vietnam Airlines Vietnam Vietnam Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Phnom Penh, Siem Reap Golden Lotus Plus Golden Lotus Lounge VN
    Virgin Atlantic United Kingdom United Kingdom London - Heathrow, Manchester Flying Club Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse VS
    Xiamen Airlines China China Changsha, Chongqing, Fuzhou, Hangzhou, Quanzhou, Shanghai-Hongqiao, Tianjin, Xiamen. Egret Card MF

    Star Alliance

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    Star Alliance is the world's largest airline alliance.

    Cooperation includes seamless code share flights and baggage interlining and, as a new trend, an increased degree of co-location in airport terminals.

    Members of any Star Alliance frequent traveler program (FT) can credit miles or points flown in many booking classes on any Star Alliance operated aircraft.

    "Gold" Star Alliance FT members get an extra 20 kg or "piece" of baggage; reciprocal access to most Star Alliance members' lounges; priority boarding and priority wait listing.

    Members

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    Airline Country Hubs Frequent flyer
    program
    Lounges IATA
    Aegean Airlines Greece Greece Athens, Chania, Heraklion, Kalamata, Larnaca, Rhodes, Thessaloniki, Miles&Bonus Aegean Club Lounge A3
    Air Canada Canada Canada Calgary, Halifax, Montréal-Trudeau, Ottawa, Toronto-Pearson, Vancouver Aeroplan Maple Leaf Lounge AC
    Air China China China Beijing-Capital, Chengdu, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Hohhot, Shanghai-Pudong, Shenzhen, Tianjin, Wuhan Air China Companion/Phoenix Miles VIP Lounge CA
    Air India India India Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Thiruvananthapuram. Flying Returns Maharaja Lounge AI
    Air New Zealand New Zealand New Zealand Auckland, Christchurch, Sydney, Wellington. Airpoints Koru Club NZ
    All Nippon Airways Japan Japan Fukuoka, Nagoya-Chubu, Okinawa-Naha, Osaka-Itami, Osaka-Kansai, Sapporo, Tokyo-Haneda, Tokyo-Narita, ANA Mileage Club Club ANA Lounge NH
    Asiana Airlines South Korea South Korea Busan, Jeju, Seoul-Gimpo, Seoul-Incheon Asiana Club Asiana Lounge OZ
    Austrian Airlines Austria Austria Graz, Innsbruck, Salzburg, Vienna Miles & More Senator Lounge OS
    Avianca Colombia Colombia Bogotá, Cali, Guatemala City, Lima, Managua, Medellín, Miami, Quito, San José (CR), San Pedro Sula, San Salvador LifeMiles Avianca VIP Lounges AV
    Brussels Airlines Belgium Belgium Brussels Miles & More HON, Senator Lounge SN
    Copa Airlines Panama Panama Bogotá, Panama City, San José (CR). ConnectMiles Copa Club CM
    Croatia Airlines Croatia Croatia Dubrovnik, Split, Zadar, Zagreb Miles & More Senator Lounge OU
    Egypt Air Egypt Egypt Alexandria, Cairo, Hurghada, Luxor, Sharm el-Sheikh. EgyptAir Plus EGYPTAIR MS
    Ethiopian Airlines Ethiopia Ethiopia Addis Ababa, Lomé ShebaMiles Cloud Nine and Sheba Miles Lounges ET
    EVA Air Taiwan Taiwan Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi, Hong Kong, Kaohsiung, Taipei-Taoyuan, Taipei-Songshan Infinity MileageLands EVA Air Lounge BR
    LOT Polish Airlines Poland Poland Budapest, Tallinn, Warsaw Miles & More Executive Lounge LO
    Lufthansa Germany Germany Frankfurt, Munich Miles & More HON/Senator Lounge LH
    SAS Scandinavian Airlines (until 31st August 2024) Denmark Denmark, Norway Norway, Sweden Sweden Bergen, Copenhagen, Gothenburg, Oslo, Stavanger, Stockholm, Tromsø. Eurobonus Scandinavian Lounge/Business Lounge SK
    Shenzhen Airlines China China Beijing Capital, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Nanjing, Nanning, Quanzhou, Shenyang, Shenzhen, Wuxi, Xi'an, Yangzhou, Zhengzhou PhoenixMiles ZH
    Singapore Airlines Singapore Singapore Singapore KrisFlyer SilverKris Lounge SQ
    South African Airways South Africa South Africa Johannesburg-O.R. Tambo, Cape Town Voyager Cycad/Baobab Lounge SA
    Swiss International Switzerland Switzerland Geneva, Zurich Miles & More Swiss Lounge LX
    TAP Portugal Portugal Portugal Madeira, Lisbon, Porto Victoria Top Executive Lounge TP
    Thai Airways Thailand Thailand Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi, Phuket Royal Orchid Plus Royal Lounges TG
    Turkish Airlines Turkey Turkey Ankara, Istanbul-New, Izmir Miles & Smiles THY CIP Lounge TK
    United Airlines United States United States Chicago-O'Hare, Denver, Guam, Houston-Bush, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco, and Washington-Dulles. Mileage Plus United Club, United Polaris Lounge UA

    A few airlines are "connecting partners", offering limited perks on flights connecting to ones on other Star Alliance airlines, but without being full members of Star Alliance:

    Airline Country Hubs Frequent Flyer Program Lounges IATA
    Juneyao Airlines China China Shanghai-Hongqiao, and Shanghai-Pudong Juneyao Air Club Juneyao Airlines Lounges HO
    Thai Smile Thailand Thailand Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi and Chiang Mai Royal Orchid Plus WE

    Value Alliance

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    Value Alliance is an alliance of low-cost Asia-Pacific carriers.

    Members

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    Airline Country Hubs Frequent flyer
    program
    Lounges IATA
    Cebugo Philippines Philippines Lapu-Lapu/Cebu City, Manila GetGo DG
    Cebu Pacific Philippines Philippines Boracay-Kalibo, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Iloilo City, Lapu-Lapu/Cebu City, Manila, Pampanga, Zamboanga City GetGo 5J
    Jeju Air South Korea South Korea Jeju, Seoul-Gimpo, Seoul-Incheon Refresh Point 7C
    Nok Air Thailand Thailand Bangkok-Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, Ho Chi Minh City, Phuket, Yangon Nok Fan Club DD
    Scoot Singapore Singapore Singapore, Taipei-Taoyuan KrisFlyer TR

    Vanilla Alliance

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    Vanilla Alliance (French: Alliance Vanille) was created to improve air connectivity within the Indian Ocean region.

    Members

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    Airline Country Hubs Frequent flyer
    program
    Lounges IATA
    Air Austral France France Saint-Denis Capricorn UU
    Madagascar Airlines Madagascar Madagascar Antananarivo Namako MD
    Air Mauritius Mauritius Mauritius Port Louis Kestrelflyer MK
    Air Seychelles Seychelles Seychelles Victoria Etihad Guest HM
    Int'Air Îles Comoros Comoros Anjouan I7

    Rail-air alliances

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    In some countries (especially those with extensive high speed rail networks) there are also cooperation agreements between airlines and railway operators, offering trains as a code-shared "flight" or other benefits to travelers. For more on the topic see rail air alliances.

    Frequent flyer programs

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    Main article: Frequent flyer programmes

    You should choose your Frequent Flyer airline in an alliance carefully. Although you may think it is intuitive to join the airline you fly most, you should be aware that privileges offered are often different and frequent flyer points may be more generous under a different airline in the same alliance.

    By way of example, to reach Star Alliance Gold status (affording you priority wait listing and boarding, extra checked baggage allowance and use of lounges even when flying on any Star Alliance economy flight) requires only 20,000 miles in one year with Aegean Airlines' Miles&Bonus program, but some other member programs require 50,000 or even 100,000 miles in a year to be flown before awarding Gold status.

    This travel topic about Airline alliances is a usable article. It touches on all the major areas of the topic. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.


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