World’s first-ever airline global alliance, and now the largest one in the race- Star Alliance is a big name that accounts when it comes to aviation. It has won many laurels since 1997, when it was first established. There were only five founding members when Star Alliance started, and now it has become as large as five times its original size. Several other regional carriers are also loosely a part of the alliance to allow easy connections to almost any destination in the world.
Star Alliance is a company with the most diverse airline partners, each with their own taste and together creating a model of trust, comfort, and safety. These carriers operate in 189 countries around the globe, from 1,150 airports.
How does Star Alliance work?
So, the goal is to establish a system that allows people worldwide to be with each other regardless of the miles between them. The company creates a benchmark of connectivity, collaboration, and coordination between its members. It ensures travelers do not feel any modification in the quality of products and services when they switch from one carrier to the other. These 25 airlines share airport terminals and often carry the same alliance’s livery to stand out as a team member.
Reward Systems
One of the many reasons why flyers sign up for programs like these is to experience a Convenient schedule and an optimized connection when flying long-haul. It grants seamless check-ins, shared reservations, baggage facilities, and connection teams at airport hubs. You can customize and simplify multi-destination itineraries. The alliance offers two primary reward systems that fit in for the different airlines individually.
Gold Status
The Gold Status fellows are those who have shown absolute loyalty to the airline. The Star Alliance members will repay you with a welcome at every fresh flight and hospitality like no other. Seamless flight awaits you, and a dream-come-true experience lies ahead of you at every step. From access to the most premium lounges, priority check-in, boarding, baggage handling, and waitlisting to extra baggage allowance and gold tracks for faster airport procedures, you have it all with Star Alliance Gold Status.
Silver Status
Those you are in the lower tier of the membership need not worry. Benefits like priority reservations waitlist airport standby are still available for you all. A single frequent flyer card helps you earn and redeem points to level up your tier to reach Star Alliance Gold Status.
Lounges and Airports
What makes Star Alliance a top aviation company is that it offers members the benefit of accessing over 1,000 airport lounges across the globe. 1,150 airports worldwide, including Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in the West to the Tokyo-Tokyo Narita (NRT), are the key airports of the alliance members. You can revel in the priority boarding, check-in, and security options at all these places. You can use https://www.staralliance.com/en/airport-information to find the airport information or https://www.staralliance.com/en/lounge-finder to locate a lounge in your departure airport. That is how you get to experience a fully customized way of traveling with these carriers.
Benefits of being a member of the Star Alliance
Wanting to fly as a member of the Star Alliance is desired by many, and it is logical as well. The pros are just absolute fun. There are plenty of services and amenities that you exclusively get to experince if you are signed up as a member. There are a few that only the passengers with Gold Status get, but Silver Status members are also not left behind. Take a look for yourself!
Applicable for Gold Status Members
- Priority Counter Check-in– A significant benefit of being a Star Alliance member is you need not stand in the queue at the airport for check-in. All you need is to check the Gold Sign of the Star Alliance and there you go!
- Quick Baggage Handling– You will get your bags the earliest amongst all others after landing. You can swiftly grab your belongings and head to the exit gates without having to wait at the carousel.
- Lounge Access– Star Alliance Airlines is known for its opulence lounges and hospitality. There are more than 1000 lounges globally that you can access no matter which member carrier you are flying with.
- Early Boarding– Members get the convenience of boarding along with First- and business-class travelers. That means even with the tickets of economy, you can get the privilege of being the first one to board and deplane.
- More Baggage– Carry 44 pounds of extra luggage compared to the other passengers. If the airline allows a per-piece concept, then you are allowed to carry an additional piece of luggage at the regular allowance.
- Priority Gold Tracks– Swift way to and from the flight to the airport. Passengers flying with Star Alliance status get to use the immigration and security priority lanes called Gold Tracks.
Applicable on Gold as well as Silver Status
- Reservation Waitlits Benefits– If you find yourself unable to book the desired seat, you will be the first one on the reservation waitlist. You will have a higher probability of getting the seat as soon as it is available.
- Priority Airport Stand-by– This applies when the flight you plan to book is full or rescheduled. The benefits allow you to be the priority when you are looking for a preferred flight.
| Expectations: Priority Reservations Waitlist and Priority Airport Stand-by are subject to individual member carriers’ policy and legal regulations and are not applicable on award tickets. |
Earn Star Alliance Status
You need not do much to become a part of the Star Alliance flyer. Simply choose an airline amongst the Star Alliance members and sign up for their frequent flyer program. Now every time you fly with the carrier or avail of the services offered by the airline, you will earn miles or points that you can redeem for future flights. This will increase your tier based on the airline frequent flyer program as well as in the Alliance Status.
Furthermore, another benefit is that you can earn these points and elevate your status using any of the carrier’s services. You do not even need to sign up for any other special program. There are over two dozen carriers to choose from, and all will bring you to the doors of experiencing top-notch service.
Star Alliance members
The founding members are United, Thai Airways International, Lufthansa, SAS Scandinavian Airlines, and Air Canada. However, Scandinavia recently left the alliance, and the newer carriers have made it to the list. Check them out as they are tabulated according to their joining years.
| Member (Joining Year) | Official Website | Frequent flyer Program | Star Alliance Silver equivalent status | Star Alliance Gold equivalent status |
| United Airlines (14 May 1997) | https://www.united.com/en/us/ | MileagePlus | Premier Silver | Premier Gold Premier Platinum Premier 1K Global Services |
| Thai Airways International (14 May 1997) | https://www.thaiairways.com/ | Royal Orchid Plus | Silver | Gold Platinum |
| Lufthansa (14 May 1997) | https://www.lufthansa.com/ | Miles & More | Frequent Traveller | Senator HON Circle |
| Air Canada (14 May 1997) | https://www.aircanada.com/home/ca/en/ | Aeroplan[113] | 25K35K | 50K 75K Super Elite 100K |
| All Nippon Airways (15 October 1999) | https://www.ana.co.jp/en/us/ | ANA Mileage Club | Bronze | Super Flyers Diamond Platinum |
| Air New Zealand (3 May 1999) | https://www.airnewzealand.com/ | Airpoints | Silver | Gold Elite |
| Singapore Airlines (1 April 2000) | https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/us/home | KrisFlyer | Elite Silver | Elite Gold PPS Club Solitaire PPS Club |
| Austrian Airlines (26 March 2000) | https://www.austrian.com/ | Miles & More | Frequent Traveller | Senator HON Circle |
| LOT Polish Airlines (26 October 2003) | https://www.lot.com/us/en | Miles & More | Frequent Traveller | Senator HON Circle |
| Asiana Airlines (28 March 2003) | https://flyasiana.com/ | Asiana Club | Gold | Diamond Diamond Plus Platinum |
| Croatia Airlines (18 November 2004) | https://www.croatiaairlines.com/ | Miles & More | Frequent Traveller | Senator HON Circle |
| TAP Air Portugal (14 March 2005) | https://www.flytap.com/en-us/ | Miles & Go | Silver | Gold Navigator |
| Swiss International Air Lines (1 April 2006) | https://www.swiss.com/ | Miles & More | Frequent Traveller | Senator HON Circle |
| Turkish Airlines (1 April 2008) | https://www.turkishairlines.com/ | Miles & Smiles | Classic Plus | Elite Elite Plus |
| Egyptair (11 July 2008) | https://www.egyptair.com/ | EgyptAir Plus | Silver | Gold Elite Platinum |
| Brussels Airlines (9 December 2009) | https://www.brusselsairlines.com/ | Miles & More | Frequent Traveller | Senator HON Circle |
| Aegean Airlines (30 June 2010) | https://en.aegeanair.com/ | Miles+Bonus | Miles+Bonus Silver | Miles+Bonus Gold |
Dream Come True: World Tour on a Single Ticket!
Star Alliance grants its members a chance to explore the world on a single air ticket. You get two options- Round the World or Circle Pacific. These plans cover a distance of 26,000, 29,000, 34,000, or 39,000 miles. The official website comes with a tool with the help of which you can personalize flexible tickets. You also get to select the airfares of different airlines together and set a budget that lies in your pocket. You can create your own routes connecting the places you want to visit and experience the true joy of flying luxury.
More Doubts?
Star Alliance is actually the oldest and largest airline association in the world.
There are 25 members in the Star Alliance, including United, Lufthansa, Turkish, Ethiopian, Croatia and many more!
The purpose of Star Alliance is to offer smooth connections across a global aviation network while also abiding by the standards of safety and customer service.
United, Thai Airways International, Lufthansa, SAS Scandinavian Airlines, and Air Canada are the five founding members of the Star Alliance.
To become a member of the Star Alliance, you can enroll in any member airline’s frequent flyer programs and earn points to redeem them for any of the member airlines.
Yes. Singapore Airlines is a member of the Star Alliance, so you can use your frequent flyer points on any of the member airline flights.
Yes. Turkish Airlines has been a part of Star Alliance since 2008.
No. Emirates is not a part of Star or any other global airline alliance.
To learn whether you are a member or not, check the boarding passes, if the format “XX*G,” where “XX” represents the two-letter airline code, indicating Airline Star Alliance Gold status.
United Airlines or Singapore Airlines are probably the largest in the Star Alliance.
