What is an airline alliance?
A group of airlines that share networks, lounges and loyalty benefits: Star Alliance, oneworld and SkyTeam.
Airline alliance, explained
Alliance members connect their flights, recognize each other's frequent flyer status and let members earn miles across the group. Business class passengers can usually use partner lounges when flying a partner.
United and Lufthansa are in Star Alliance, American Airlines and British Airways in oneworld, Delta and Air France in SkyTeam. Some airlines, such as Emirates, are in no alliance but have partnerships of their own.
An itinerary on two airlines of the same alliance can usually be booked on one ticket.
On a business class trip
A trip from Chicago to Athens on United and Lufthansa, both Star Alliance: one ticket, bags checked through, and a United frequent flyer earns United miles on the Lufthansa flight.
Related terms
- Codeshare flight
A flight sold under the flight number of more than one airline. One airline flies the plane; the others sell seats on it.
- Interline agreement
An agreement between airlines to carry each other's passengers and bags on one ticket, even outside an alliance.
- Hub airport
An airport where an airline bases its network and connects most of its flights, such as Frankfurt for Lufthansa or Doha for Qatar Airways.
- Lounge access
Use of an airline's lounge before a flight and between connections. Most international business class tickets include it, the airline's or a partner's.
- Airline joint venture
A deeper partnership in which airlines coordinate schedules and fares on a set of routes and share the revenue, beyond an alliance.
Further reading: Star Alliance, oneworld, SkyTeam, Airlines we book, Chicago to Athens in business class. Every term in the glossary.
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