If you regularly travel, it makes sense to join the loyalty scheme of the airline with which the majority of your flights takes place. Most major carriers are part of one of the three airline alliances – Oneworld, Skyteam or Star Alliance.
There is no best alliance, but one of them will almost certainly suit you more than another because of your location and the destinations you regularly visit, or the airlines you regularly use. Bear in mind that there are also associated financial products for alliances, meaning you can accrue additional benefits using a credit card allied with one of them.
As you rise through the tiers of your airline programme, you will also be progressing through the tiers of that alliance, giving you benefits across member airlines including earning and burning miles and lounge access. Here’s a guide to the benefits available.
The alliances
ONEWORLD
Number of airlines: 13
American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, LATAM, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian, S7 Airlines, Sri Lankan Airlines, plus Fiji Airways (Oneworld Connect partner and so different rules may apply), Royal Air Maroc (future member, expected mid-2020)
Number of lounges: approx 650
SKYTEAM
Number of airlines: 19
Aeroflot, Aerolineas Argentinas, Aeromexico, Air Europa, Air France, Alitalia, China Airlines, China Eastern, Czech Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Garuda Indonesia, Kenya Airways, KLM, Korean Air, MEA, Saudia, TAROM, Vietnam Airlines, Xiamen Air
Number of lounges: approx 750
STAR ALLIANCE
Number of airlines: 28
Adria Airways, Aegean Airlines, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Avianca, Avianca Brasil, Brussels Airlines, Copa Airlines, Croatia Airlines, Egyptair, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, SAS, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, Swiss, TAP Air Portugal, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines, United
Number of lounges: more than 1,000
