With more and more airlines becoming alliance members, the benefits of playing the loyalty game are becoming better by the day. Dominic Lalk provides a guide
Finding the right frequent flyer programme is not always an easy feat.
The decision will often largely depend on which airline, or alliance, dominates your nearest airport and which destinations you fly to most often – although, for business travellers, specially negotiated corporate discounts can sometimes limit one’s options.
Given the choice, loyalty to one or two carriers eventually pays off in the form of building up your tier status, through which you can benefit from premium services on your chosen airline and, perhaps more important, across its extended alliance network.
Long gone are the days when your hard-earned miles only took you from A to B, and only on the airline with which you accrued your miles.
As a member of, say, British Airways’ Executive Club, you can connect to the extensive US network of American Airlines, explore Central and South America with Iberia, LAN or TAM, travel throughout Asia with Cathay Pacific, JAL, Malaysia Airlines or Sri Lankan, link on to the fast-growing network of Qatar Airways out of Doha, or hit the Kangaroo route with Qantas – all fellow Oneworld members.
Determining what an alliance can do for you, given your travel patterns, is crucial in making a choice.
The experience at the airport, your ability to upgrade or build your airline elite status, the ease with which you can earn or burn miles, and the price you pay for your tickets are all important considerations when finding the airline and alliance partner that works best for you.
To help you in your decision-making, here is the lowdown on Oneworld, Skyteam and Star Alliance.
ONEWORLD
Launched in 1999 by founding members American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Qantas, Oneworld remains the smallest of the alliances in terms of the number of airlines.
As of September 2014, Oneworld has 16 members that operate some 14,000 daily flights to more than 1,000 destinations.
Oneworld has recently experienced expansion, especially in Asia-Pacific. Malaysia Airlines and Qatar Airways joined last year, while 2014 has seen the inclusion of TAM, US Airways and Sri Lankan Airlines.
Securing Qatar Airways – the first of the three big Gulf carriers to join an alliance – was a boon for Oneworld, since both Etihad and Emirates have consistently denied interest in joining an alliance.
When Sri Lankan joined in May, it became the first carrier in the Indian subcontinent to join an alliance. Politics, labour disputes and rising fuel costs have long stifled the competitiveness of South Asia’s aviation sector, creating a void on the world map for alliances, but things seem to be improving – in July, Air India joined Star Alliance.
Oneworld is the only alliance that offers three status tiers. Whereas the lowest – Ruby – offers little alliance-wide recognition other than waitlist priority and business class check-in, Sapphire and Emerald grant access to more than 600 business and first class lounges worldwide.
As Oneworld’s big airlines are based in iconic cities such as London, Hong Kong, New York, Sydney and Tokyo, you can enjoy some of the world’s finest lounges while you travel, such as Cathay Pacific’s facilities at Hong Kong International and British Airways’ Galleries at Heathrow Terminal 5.
To reach Sapphire status, BA’s Executive Club requires you to accrue 600 tier points (roughly equivalent to two return London-Hong Kong business class flights), upon which you will receive 100 per cent extra award miles on every British Airways, American Airlines, Iberia or JAL flight.
Qatar Airways’ Privilege Club requires you to accrue 300 Qpoints (roughly the equivalent of two business class long-haul return flights) and in return you receive 75 per cent extra award miles every time you use Qatar Airways.
Click here for a table of the various benefits airlines offer Oneworld members.
SKYTEAM
Founded in 2000 by Aeromexico, Air France, Delta Air Lines and Korean Air, Skyteam is the second-largest alliance. As of September 2014, its 20 member airlines together serve 1,052 destinations with more than 16,323 daily flights.
Skyteam’s forte stems primarily from the size and strength of its founding members’ networks – Delta is the second-largest airline in North America, Air France-KLM is the largest in Europe, and Korean Air has one of the widest networks in North East Asia.
Add to that the largest number of Chinese carriers in any network – China Airlines, China Eastern, China Southern and Xiamen Air – and you have an alliance that, while not necessarily renowned for its premium image, certainly boasts a wide array of choices, particularly in East Asia, Europe and North America.
Skyteam has only two elite tiers – Skyteam Elite and Skyteam Elite Plus. Unlike Star Alliance’s Silver tier, however, Skyteam’s Elite status already grants passengers substantial standardised benefits such as an extra 10kg luggage allowance on every flight and priority check-in services. Elite Plus tier members are offered access to most of the alliance’s 564 lounges, as well as priority luggage handling and 20kg extra luggage allowance.
To reach the coveted Elite Plus status, Delta Air Lines’ Skymiles scheme requires you to accrue a minimum of 50,000 miles with any Skyteam member. In return, you get 100 per cent extra award miles on any Skyteam flight and almost unlimited complimentary upgrade options when you travel on Delta.
Air France-KLM’s Flying Blue scheme, meanwhile, awards you Elite Plus status when you accrue a minimum 40,000 miles on any Skyteam carrier (60,000 in France and Monaco). Thereafter, you will receive 75 per cent extra award miles whenever you travel on Skyteam. Note that Flying Blue is the frequent flyer programme also shared by Air Europa, Kenya Airways and Tarom.
Click here for a table of the various benefits airlines offer Skyteam members.
STAR ALLIANCE
The largest of the three, Star Alliance was the first global alliance when it was founded in 1997 by five airlines from three continents – Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, United Airlines, Air Canada and Thai Airways.
It continues to enjoy high recognition among frequent travellers for its wide network, premium members and strong reliability. As of last month, it had 27 members serving 1,316 airports with 18,504 daily departures.
While Star used to dominate the alliance world, it suffered a major knock-back when it lost both TAM and US Airways to rival Oneworld earlier this year. TAM’ s departure was a particularly hard blow, as Star Alliance has always had big ambitions in the high-yield South American market.
It remains as strong as ever in Europe, with Lufthansa at the helm and subsidiaries Swiss, Austrian and Brussels Airlines in support. Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways and ANA form the backbone of the group in Asia.
In July, Air India finally became an official member after its integration process was put on hold in 2011 for failing to meet standards. This addition means Star will offer more flights to India than any other alliance. In Africa, Star is already the uncontested market leader with South African Airways, Egyptair and Ethiopian Airlines in its fold.
Star Alliance offers two status tiers, silver and gold. Silver does not provide any standardised inter-alliance benefits other than priority waitlisting. Gold will give you 20kg extra luggage, priority baggage handling and access to more than 1,000 lounges worldwide.
Aegean Airlines’ Miles and Bonus scheme requires a mere 20,000 miles to reach the top tier, but there are no additional perks such as extra award miles.
Asiana Airlines’ Asiana Club awards gold status for 40,000 miles. It also offers a gift and extra award miles every time you fly Asiana.
Turkish Airlines’ Miles and Smiles also requires 40,000 miles, after which you get 175 per cent award miles with every Turkish Airlines flight in business class and discounted companion tickets.
Click here for a table of the various benefits airlines offer Star Alliance members.
Securing Qatar Airways – the first of the three big Gulf carriers to join an alliance – was a boon for Oneworld, since both Etihad and Emirates have consistently denied interest in joining an alliance.
When Sri Lankan joined in May, it became the first carrier in the Indian subcontinent to join an alliance. Politics, labour disputes and rising fuel costs have long stifled the competitiveness of South Asia’s aviation sector, creating a void on the world map for alliances, but things seem to be improving – in July, Air India joined Star Alliance.
Oneworld is the only alliance that offers three status tiers. Whereas the lowest – Ruby – offers little alliance-wide recognition other than waitlist priority and business class check-in, Sapphire and Emerald grant access to more than 600 business and first class lounges worldwide.
As Oneworld’s big airlines are based in iconic cities such as London, Hong Kong, New York, Sydney and Tokyo, you can enjoy some of the world’s finest lounges while you travel, such as Cathay Pacific’s facilities at Hong Kong International and British Airways’ Galleries at Heathrow Terminal 5.
To reach Sapphire status, BA’s Executive Club requires you to accrue 600 tier points (roughly equivalent to two return London-Hong Kong business class flights), upon which you will receive 100 per cent extra award miles on every British Airways, American Airlines, Iberia or JAL flight.
Qatar Airways’ Privilege Club requires you to accrue 300 Qpoints (roughly the equivalent of two business class long-haul return flights) and in return you receive 75 per cent extra award miles every time you use Qatar Airways.
Click here for a table of the various benefits airlines offer Oneworld members.
SKYTEAM
Founded in 2000 by Aeromexico, Air France, Delta Air Lines and Korean Air, Skyteam is the second-largest alliance. As of September 2014, its 20 member airlines together serve 1,052 destinations with more than 16,323 daily flights.
Skyteam’s forte stems primarily from the size and strength of its founding members’ networks – Delta is the second-largest airline in North America, Air France-KLM is the largest in Europe, and Korean Air has one of the widest networks in North East Asia.
Add to that the largest number of Chinese carriers in any network – China Airlines, China Eastern, China Southern and Xiamen Air – and you have an alliance that, while not necessarily renowned for its premium image, certainly boasts a wide array of choices, particularly in East Asia, Europe and North America.
Skyteam has only two elite tiers – Skyteam Elite and Skyteam Elite Plus. Unlike Star Alliance’s Silver tier, however, Skyteam’s Elite status already grants passengers substantial standardised benefits such as an extra 10kg luggage allowance on every flight and priority check-in services. Elite Plus tier members are offered access to most of the alliance’s 564 lounges, as well as priority luggage handling and 20kg extra luggage allowance.
To reach the coveted Elite Plus status, Delta Air Lines’ Skymiles scheme requires you to accrue a minimum of 50,000 miles with any Skyteam member. In return, you get 100 per cent extra award miles on any Skyteam flight and almost unlimited complimentary upgrade options when you travel on Delta.
Air France-KLM’s Flying Blue scheme, meanwhile, awards you Elite Plus status when you accrue a minimum 40,000 miles on any Skyteam carrier (60,000 in France and Monaco). Thereafter, you will receive 75 per cent extra award miles whenever you travel on Skyteam. Note that Flying Blue is the frequent flyer programme also shared by Air Europa, Kenya Airways and Tarom.
Click here for a table of the various benefits airlines offer Skyteam members.
STAR ALLIANCE
The largest of the three, Star Alliance was the first global alliance when it was founded in 1997 by five airlines from three continents – Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, United Airlines, Air Canada and Thai Airways.
It continues to enjoy high recognition among frequent travellers for its wide network, premium members and strong reliability. As of last month, it had 27 members serving 1,316 airports with 18,504 daily departures.
While Star used to dominate the alliance world, it suffered a major knock-back when it lost both TAM and US Airways to rival Oneworld earlier this year. TAM’ s departure was a particularly hard blow, as Star Alliance has always had big ambitions in the high-yield South American market.
It remains as strong as ever in Europe, with Lufthansa at the helm and subsidiaries Swiss, Austrian and Brussels Airlines in support. Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways and ANA form the backbone of the group in Asia.
In July, Air India finally became an official member after its integration process was put on hold in 2011 for failing to meet standards. This addition means Star will offer more flights to India than any other alliance. In Africa, Star is already the uncontested market leader with South African Airways, Egyptair and Ethiopian Airlines in its fold.
Star Alliance offers two status tiers, silver and gold. Silver does not provide any standardised inter-alliance benefits other than priority waitlisting. Gold will give you 20kg extra luggage, priority baggage handling and access to more than 1,000 lounges worldwide.
Aegean Airlines’ Miles and Bonus scheme requires a mere 20,000 miles to reach the top tier, but there are no additional perks such as extra award miles.
Asiana Airlines’ Asiana Club awards gold status for 40,000 miles. It also offers a gift and extra award miles every time you fly Asiana.
Turkish Airlines’ Miles and Smiles also requires 40,000 miles, after which you get 175 per cent award miles with every Turkish Airlines flight in business class and discounted companion tickets.
Click here for a table of the various benefits airlines offer Star Alliance members. 
