What Are Airline Alliances?
Airlines have formed global partnerships called alliances. Within an alliance, airlines share routes, lounges, and—most importantly for us—loyalty program benefits.
This means miles from one airline can often book flights on any airline in the same alliance. United miles can book Lufthansa flights. American miles can book British Airways flights. This dramatically expands your options.
The Three Major Alliances
⭐ Star Alliance
U.S. carrier: United
Key members: Lufthansa, ANA, Singapore Airlines, Air Canada, Swiss, Turkish Airlines, EVA Air
Best for: Asia (ANA, Singapore, EVA) and Europe (Lufthansa, Swiss, Turkish)
🌍 oneworld
U.S. carrier: American
Key members: British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Iberia, Finnair
Best for: Premium cabins (Qatar QSuites, Cathay, JAL)
🔷 SkyTeam
U.S. carrier: Delta
Key members: Air France, KLM, Korean Air, Virgin Atlantic, Aeromexico
Best for: Europe (Air France/KLM) and Korea
Why This Matters for You
Let's say you want to fly to Tokyo. Without alliance knowledge, you might think "I need United miles for United flights." But actually:
- United miles can book ANA flights (often with better availability)
- American miles can book Japan Airlines flights
- Air France/KLM miles can book Korean Air flights
Sometimes the partner booking offers better value, better availability, or a better product than booking directly with a U.S. airline.
Award charts vary between programs. Flying from New York to London might cost 30,000 miles via American, but only 13,000 miles via British Airways Avios for the same flight. Same seat, different price—knowing your options matters.
Key Takeaways
- Three major alliances: Star Alliance (United), oneworld (American), SkyTeam (Delta)
- Miles from one airline can book flights on alliance partners
- Partner bookings sometimes offer better value or availability
- You don't need to memorize every airline—just know the concept exists