Back in 1997, something big happened in air travel. Five airlines decided to team up and create the first ever global airline partnership. We’re talking about Lufthansa, United Airlines, Air Canada, Scandinavian Airlines, and Thai Airways. Together, they shaped a new way for travelers like you to fly across continents without the usual headaches of switching carriers. What they built became the world’s largest airline group: the Star Alliance.
Their move set off a wave of teamwork across the skies. Soon after, two more groups took shape. Oneworld Alliance started in 1999 and SkyTeam Alliance followed in 2000. From those early days, Star Alliance kept adding new members. Airlines from every corner of the planet joined in. Today, it leads the pack with 25 airlines working together under one name.
We’re going to walk you through what Star Alliance offers. You’ll get to know each airline partner and learn about their loyalty programs. We will also point out some of the travel perks that might just make joining Star Alliance the smartest move for your future trips.
Meet the Airlines Behind Star Alliance’s Global Reach
When you fly with Star Alliance, you tap into the reach of 25 airlines working together to connect you to over 1,100 destinations. We’ve put together this overview so you can get familiar with who you’ll be flying with. Each airline plays a role in making travel smoother and more flexible for you.
| Airline | Description |
|---|---|
| Aegean Airlines | Greece’s largest airline, strong in Europe and Mediterranean routes. |
| Air Canada | Canada’s main airline with hubs in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. |
| Air China | Major Chinese carrier with routes across Asia, Europe, Americas, and Oceania. |
| Air India | India’s flag airline flying to Asia, Europe, North America, and the Middle East. |
| Air New Zealand | Based in Auckland, focuses on Pacific and Oceania routes. |
| All Nippon Airways (ANA) | Japan’s top airline, flying across Asia, Europe, Americas, and Oceania. |
| Asiana Airlines | South Korea’s second carrier with wide Asian and global network. |
| Austrian Airlines | Austria’s flag airline linking Europe, North America, and Asia from Vienna. |
| Avianca | Colombia’s national airline with strong South, Central America, Caribbean, and global routes. |
| Brussels Airlines | Belgium-based airline with routes in Europe, Africa, and North America. |
| Copa Airlines | Panama’s national airline linking North, South America, and Caribbean. |
| Croatia Airlines | Croatia’s airline focused on Europe and Mediterranean destinations. |
| EgyptAir | Egypt’s national carrier linking Africa, Middle East, Europe, Asia, and North America. |
More Star Alliance Airlines You Can Fly With
The Star Alliance family goes far beyond the first group. These airlines bring even more destinations and travel options for you.
| Airline | Description |
|---|---|
| Ethiopian Airlines | Africa’s largest airline operating widely across Asia, Europe, Americas, and Middle East. |
| EVA Air | Taiwan’s second carrier connecting Asia to Europe, Americas, and Oceania. |
| LOT Polish Airlines | Poland’s flag airline focused on Central Europe and global routes from Warsaw. |
| Lufthansa | Germany’s flagship airline connecting Europe with global destinations. |
| Shenzhen Airlines | Chinese airline with strong domestic network and growing international routes. |
| Singapore Airlines | Singapore’s national airline with premium global services and worldwide routes. |
| South African Airways | South Africa’s airline linking Africa to Europe, Asia, and Americas from Johannesburg. |
| Swiss International Air Lines | Switzerland’s flag carrier flying across Europe, Americas, Asia, and Africa. |
| TAP Air Portugal | Portugal’s airline linking Europe with Africa, Americas, and transatlantic routes. |
| Thai Airways | Thailand’s national carrier serving Asia, Europe, Oceania, and Middle East. |
| Turkish Airlines | Istanbul-based airline with one of the most global route networks. |
| United Airlines | US founding member airline with hubs across North America and global routes. |
What You Gain by Joining a Star Alliance Airline Loyalty Program
When you sign up for a frequent flyer program with any airline that belongs to Star Alliance, you unlock travel perks that go far beyond what a single airline could offer. Let’s walk through the benefits you’ll be able to enjoy with your membership.
Effortless Travel Across Continents
One of the best things about being a member of a Star Alliance frequent flyer program is the ability to plan global trips without the headache of separate bookings. With 25 airlines serving more than 1,100 cities worldwide, you can build complex journeys that stay under one reservation.
Picture this: you leave New York’s JFK Airport on a United Airlines flight to Frankfurt. You spend some time there, then board a Thai Airways flight to Bangkok. Both flights are booked together on a single itinerary. You avoid dealing with multiple airlines separately and reduce the chances of missed connections or delays throwing off your plans.
This works because both United Airlines and Thai Airways are part of the Star Alliance network. Their cooperation allows you to move between countries and continents as if you were flying with just one carrier. The smoother transfers and consistent service standards make a huge difference when you’re crossing international borders.
Mileage Earning and Redemption Made Easy
The ability to earn and redeem miles across all Star Alliance airlines gives you a real edge. It doesn’t matter if you usually fly with United Airlines, Lufthansa, or any of the others. Your miles will accumulate no matter which partner airline you choose for your flight.
For example, let’s say you belong to Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer program. You decide to fly from London Heathrow to Chicago O’Hare on United Airlines. You will still earn KrisFlyer miles on that trip. Later, you can use those miles to book flights with any airline in the Star Alliance network.
Each member airline has its own rules and calculations for how miles are earned or redeemed. These rules can depend on the fare type you purchase, the route you fly, and other factors based on the airline’s internal policies. That’s why we recommend you take the time to check your frequent flyer program’s mileage earning charts and understand how your trip will be credited.
Elite Status Brings Extra Travel Perks
If you work your way up to elite status with any Star Alliance member airline, you’ll gain benefits that carry over to every other airline within the network. Elite members get to skip long lines with priority check-in, receive extra baggage allowances, board flights earlier than most passengers, and access exclusive lounges at airports all over the globe.
Take Lufthansa’s Miles & More program as an example. Once you achieve Senator status, which qualifies you for Star Alliance Gold, you get to keep those privileges no matter which Star Alliance airline you fly. That means you’ll enjoy priority services, possible complimentary upgrades depending on availability, and access to more than 1,000 lounges around the world. It doesn’t matter what class of ticket you’re holding.
Our advice is to stick with one airline’s frequent flyer program so you can reach elite status faster. The more flights you take with that airline, the quicker you’ll climb the ladder and take advantage of the full benefits across the entire Star Alliance group.
Lounge Access That Makes Travel Relaxing
Holding Star Alliance Gold status opens the door to lounges in airports across the globe. Instead of waiting at crowded gates, you’ll enjoy spaces that offer free meals, drinks, Wi-Fi, quiet areas to relax, and even rooms where you can catch up on work.
There are some limits. Star Alliance Gold won’t get you into every lounge in the network. For instance, Lufthansa’s First Class Lounge at Frankfurt Airport and United’s Polaris Lounge at Newark (EWR) require you to meet stricter entry conditions, such as flying in a premium cabin or reaching an even higher loyalty tier. The airline you hold your Gold status with and whether you’re flying domestically or internationally may also affect your lounge access.
That said, compared to the two other major global airline alliances, Star Alliance offers more lounge access and better consistency across airports. Two lounges in particular stand out:
- Turkish Airlines Business Lounge at Istanbul Airport (IST): Located in the international terminal, this expansive lounge covers two levels. You’ll find authentic Turkish dishes along with a mix of global cuisine. Amenities include private sleep rooms, showers, a golf simulator, quiet relaxation spaces, and large areas to unwind before your next flight.
- Star Alliance Lounge at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX): Positioned in the Tom Bradley International Terminal, this lounge offers a sleek, modern design and wide open spaces. You can take in sweeping views of the Hollywood Hills from the outdoor terrace. Inside, there’s a buffet filled with international food options, private shower facilities, and dedicated business workstations. It earned the title of North America’s Leading Airport Lounge in 2024.
Understanding Star Alliance Status Levels and Their Travel Perks
Within the Star Alliance network, airlines recognize two main loyalty levels under the Star Alliance Status program that reward your commitment as a traveler. These tiers are Star Alliance Silver and Star Alliance Gold. Both come with their own set of benefits that can make your journey smoother and more convenient.
| Status Tier | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Star Alliance Silver | This is the starting point for loyal travelers. While the perks are fewer than what Gold offers, they still give you practical advantages, especially when your travel plans change unexpectedly. You’ll receive priority when standing by for an earlier flight and a better spot on the waitlist when flights are fully booked. |
| Star Alliance Gold | As the highest recognition within Star Alliance, this status unlocks all Silver benefits plus much more. Your journey becomes easier at nearly every step. You gain access to priority check-in desks, skip long lines with priority boarding, and enjoy faster security checks at certain airports. Your bags are handled first, and you can bring extra baggage without extra fees. Best of all, you can relax in more than 1,000 exclusive lounges around the world before your flight. |
How Star Alliance Frequent Flyer Programs Unlock Your Travel Perks
You don’t sign up directly for Star Alliance Status. Instead, you earn it through the frequent flyer program of any airline in the alliance. Each airline runs its own loyalty system, but they all connect back to either Star Alliance Silver or Star Alliance Gold. As you reach certain levels with one airline’s program, you automatically gain the matching Star Alliance Status benefits across the entire network.
Star Alliance even makes it easy for you to see where you stand. Their website includes a tool where you can select your airline loyalty program and current level to instantly see which Star Alliance Status tier you qualify for. We’ve organized the details for you in the table below so you can get a clear look at how airline status levels match up to Star Alliance tiers.
Star Alliance Frequent Flyer Program Status Matching Chart
| Frequent Flyer Program Name | Star Alliance Silver | Star Alliance Gold |
|---|---|---|
| Aegean Airlines | Silver | Gold |
| Air Canada | 25K, 35K | 50K, 75K, Super Elite 100K |
| Air China | Silver | Gold, Platinum |
| Air India | Silver | Gold, Platinum |
| Air New Zealand | Silver | Gold, Elite |
| All Nippon Airways (ANA) | Bronze | Platinum, Diamond |
| Asiana Airlines | Gold | Diamond, Diamond Plus, Platinum |
| Austrian Airlines | Frequent Traveller | Senator, HON Circle |
| Avianca | Red Plus, Silver | Gold, Diamond |
| Brussels Airlines | Frequent Traveller | Senator, HON Circle |
| Copa Airlines | Silver | Gold, Platinum, Presidential |
| Croatia Airlines | Frequent Traveller | Senator, HON Circle |
| EgyptAir | Silver | Gold, Elite, Platinum |
| Ethiopian Airlines | Silver | Gold, Platinum |
| EVA Air | Silver | Gold, Diamond |
| LOT Polish Airlines | Frequent Traveller | Senator, HON Circle |
| Lufthansa | Frequent Traveller | Senator, HON Circle |
| Shenzhen Airlines | Silver | Gold, Platinum |
| Singapore Airlines | Silver | Gold, PPS Club, Solitaire PPS Club, Solitaire PPS Club Life |
| South African Airways | Silver | Gold, Platinum |
| Swiss International Air Lines | Frequent Traveller | Senator, HON Circle |
| TAP Air Portugal | Silver | Gold |
| Thai Airways | Silver | Gold, Platinum |
| Turkish Airlines | Classic | Elite, Elite Plus |
| United Airlines | Silver | Gold, Platinum, Premier 1K |
Earning top status with any member airline gives you more than just that airline’s perks. It unlocks Star Alliance Status benefits across every airline in the network. Say you reach Premier Gold with United Airlines’ MileagePlus program. That automatically gives you Star Alliance Gold perks when you fly any other member airline. You’ll get access to lounges, enjoy priority boarding and check-in, receive extra baggage allowances, and have an all-around smoother experience every time you travel within the Star Alliance family.
Why Joining Star Alliance Elevates Your Travel Experience
As the world’s largest airline partnership, Star Alliance gives you access to a level of global travel convenience few others can match. With its two loyalty tiers, Star Alliance Status Silver and Gold, you enjoy advantages that take the stress out of flying. These include faster check-in, priority baggage handling, and entry to more than 1,000 lounges in airports worldwide.
When you sign up for a frequent flyer program with any Star Alliance airline, you open the door to these perks. Whether you find yourself relaxing over a meal at the Star Alliance Lounge at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) or appreciating the benefit of extra baggage allowance on your long-haul trip, your membership works for you across every continent. You get smoother connections, comfort at every stage, and the assurance that wherever your journey takes you, Star Alliance has your back.
