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Alliance Advisor
By Dave Demerjian
Business Traveler, November 2006
They all proimse sprawling route networks and lots of extras for frequent flyers, but what are the differences between the three global airline alliances? We asked Forrester Research airline expert Henry Harteveldt to weigh in on Star Alliance, oneworld, and SkyTeam – and to tell us what each offers to the globetrotting road warrior.
| Star Alliance |
SkyTeam | oneworld | |
| The major players |
Americas: United, US Airways, Air Canada, VARIG Europe: Lufthansa, Austrian, Scandnavian, LOT Polish Airlines, bmi, TAP Portugal, Spanair, Swiss International Airlines |
Americas: Continental, Delta, Northwest, Aeromexico Europe: Air France/KLM, Alitalia, Aeroflot, CSA Czech Airlines Asia/Pacific: Korean Airlines, (China Southern expected 2007) |
Americas: American Airlines, LAN Europe: British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Finnair (Malev expected 2007) Asia/Pacific: Qantas, Cathay Pacific (JAL expected 2007) Middle East: Royal Jordanian expected 2007) |
| Daily departures |
Over 15,500 | 14,615 | 8,151 |
| Destinations | 842 | 728 | 605 |
| Key hubs | Americas: Chicago, Washington, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro Europe: Frankfurt, Munich, Lisbon, Warsaw, London, Zurich, Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm, Vienna, Manchester, Madrid Asia/Pacific: Auckland, Tokyo, Seoul, Singapore, Bangkok |
Americas: New York/JFK, Newark, Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis, Cincinnati, Houston, Mexico City, Memphis, Salt Lake City, Cleveland Europe: Paris, Amsterdam, Rome, Milan, Moscow, Prague Asia/Pacific: Seoul, Tokyo |
Americas: Dallas, Chicago, Miami, New York/JFK, San Juan, Santiago, Buenos Aires Europe: London, Madrid, Helsinki, Dublin, Frankfurt, Paris Asia/Pacific: Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Tokyo |
| Route network |
Harteveldt says that Star has the strongest trans-Pacific and Central European networks, an Africa hub, and the most airlines offering trans-Atlantic service, but is weak in Mexico and Central and Latin America. | SkyTeam boasts the most US hubs, extensive trans-Atlantic service, big operations at Newark and JFK, and strong service to Africa via Air France's Paris hub, says Hartevldt. But trans-Pacific service is limited, and some frequent flyers have reported difficulties with reciprocity among the US carriers. | oneworld is Latin America's top alliance, and rules the Caribbean thanks to American's big Miami hub. Qantas provides extensive Austrailian service, but Harteveldt says limited Pacific service and lack of a conveniently located continental European hub are major drawbacks. |
| Earning miles |
Travelers earn miles in their particular frequent flyer program whenever they travel on eligble flights of an alliance member |
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| Redeeming miles |
To redeem miles to any Star Alliance destination, contact the frequent flyer program where you earn miles. | Passengers can reserve award tickets up to 24 hours prior to departure on the Web site of the airline where they earn miles, or can call that airline's frequent flyer program. | Call the airline through which you accumulate miles to book oneworld award travel. |
| Elite status |
Star offers Silver or Gold status to frequent fliers based on the elite level they've reached on a member airline: Star Alliance Silver=United Mileage Plus, US Airways Dividend Miles Silver Star Alliance Gold=United MIleage Plus Premier Executive or Premier Executive 1K; US Airways Gold, Platinum, and Chairman's Preferred |
SkyTeam Elite or Elite Plus status is granted to frequent fliers based on the level they've reached on a member airline: SkyTeam Elite=Delta SykMiles: Silver, Gold, or Platinum Medallion; NWA worldPerks Silver or Gold; Continental OnePass Silver or Gold SkyTeam Elite Plus=Delta SkyMiles Platinum, NWA WorldPerks Platinum, Continental OnePass Platinum |
oneworld provides Ruby, Sapphire, or Emerald staus to frequent fliers based on the elite level they've reach on a member airline: oneworld Ruby=American AAdvantage Gold oneworld Sapphire=American AAdvantage Platinum oneworld Emerald=American AAdvantage Executive Platinum |
| Benefits | Silver: Priority wait-listing and airport standby Gold: Silver benefits plus priority check-in, boarding, and baggage handling, extra 44-lb baggage allowance, complimentary airport lounge access regardless of class of travel |
Elite: Priority check-in, seating, boarding, airport standby, and wait-listing. Elite Plus: Elite benefits plus priority baggage handling, guaranteed reservations on any flight, complimentary airport lounge access for first- and business-class passengers |
Ruby: Priority check-in, standby, and wait-listing Emerald and Sapphire: Ruby benefits plus priority preboarding and access to all oneworld member airport lounges included the new British Airways Terraces lounge at Heathrow. |
| Why to fly | Harteveldt calls Star "the alliance most focused on premium travelers," citing United's p.s. transcontinental service and Lufthansa's new lie-flat business class seats. He says Star offers the most ultra-long-haul nonstops, and will be the first to fly Airbus' A380 superjumbo when Singapore takes delivery in late 2007. | According to Harteveldt, SkyTeam members Continental and Northwest are the only US airlines so far to order Boeing's new 787 Dreamliner. And with its newly upgraded transcontinental service coming soon, Delta will be the only US network airline to offer live TV. | American Airlines is investing heavily in new business-class seats, says Harteveldt. The seats, which don't lie completely flat, have been met with lukewarm reception. Three new members: Royal Jordanian, Japan Airlines, and Malev are scheduled to join oneworld in 2007. |
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