What Is a Partner Booking?
A partner booking is when you use miles from one airline to book a flight operated by a different airline. For example:
- Using United miles to fly on Lufthansa
- Using American miles to fly on Cathay Pacific
- Using Virgin Atlantic miles to fly on ANA
This works because airlines form partnerships (usually through alliances) that allow their frequent flyers to book seats on each other's planes.
Why Partner Bookings Matter
1. Different Pricing
Airlines price the same flight differently. A United-operated flight might cost:
- 60,000 United miles
- 45,000 Turkish miles
- 50,000 Avianca miles
Same seat, same flight, different price.
2. Better Availability
Sometimes partners see different availability. A flight showing no space on United.com might have space when searched through Air Canada's website.
3. Lower Fees
Some programs add massive fuel surcharges; others don't. British Airways charges high fees on their own flights but often lower fees when you book partner flights.
How to Book Partner Awards
- Find the flight — Search on the operating airline's website or Google Flights
- Check partner availability — Search on partner program websites
- Compare pricing — See which program offers the best rate
- Transfer points — Move points to the program with best value
- Book — Complete the booking on the partner's website
Popular Partner Booking Sweet Spots
Virgin Atlantic → ANA to Japan
60,000 miles round trip in business class to Tokyo. One of the best business class values available.
Turkish → United domestic
7,500 miles for short US flights that United prices much higher.
British Airways → American short-haul
7,500 Avios for flights under 1,150 miles.
Air France → Delta to Europe
Flying Blue promo awards can cut the cost significantly.
Things to Watch Out For
- Award types: Partners usually only see "saver" availability, not all seats
- Phone bookings: Some partner awards require calling instead of booking online
- Fuel surcharges: Can vary dramatically between programs
- Seat selection: May be more limited than booking direct
Partner bookings are often where the best value hides. Don't just search one program—check multiple options for any flight you want to book.
Key Takeaways
- Partner bookings let you book one airline using another's miles
- The same flight can have very different prices across programs
- Availability may differ between the operating airline and partners
- Watch for fuel surcharges that vary by booking program
- Some of the best redemption values come from partner bookings