Star Alliance

What is Star Alliance?

Star Alliance was the first global alliance of airline carriers, being founded in 1997. Today, Star Alliance has 28 partner airlines, who while maintaining their distinct style of service and culture, work together to ensure travelers have a smooth and seamless journey to any of the over 1,300 destinations in over 192 countries around the globe.

Star Alliance Partner Airlines

Star Alliance Partner Affiliates

Star Alliance Lounges

Star Alliance Lounge Locations

The Star Alliance operate over 1,000 lounges across the globe. For more information about individual lounges, please check with your departure or connecting airport’s website.

Star Alliance Lounge Access Policy

First Class Passengers: International first-class passengers departing on any Star Alliance partner airline can access both international first-class lounges and Star Alliance member lounges, except for the following:

First-class international customers are also allowed to bring one guest, regardless of their ticket class, provided they are also departing the same day on a Star Alliance member-operated flight.

Domestic first-class passengers may have access to Star Alliance member first-class lounges but should check with their carrier beforehand.

Business Class Passengers: International business-class passengers departing on any Star Alliance partner airline can access Star Alliance member lounges by presenting their boarding pass.

Domestic first-class passengers may have access to Star Alliance member lounges but should check with their carrier beforehand. Domestic business class passengers with United Airlines are not eligible for lounge access with their ticket.

Star Alliance Gold Members: Star Alliance Gold membership status passengers may access all Star Alliance member airline’s lounges that feature the Star Alliance Gold logo. United Airlines members may only access a United lounge when traveling on an international flight.

Star Alliance Gold members are also able to bring one guest with them into member lounges, with proof of a same-day boarding pass with a Star Alliance member-operated flight.

Guests: Guest access to member lounges varies depending upon the ticket-class and Star Alliance membership status of the host, as well as airline restrictions. For more information, contact your flight operator before traveling.

Purchasing Lounge Access: Travelers may purchase a paid lounge access membership, which allows access to Star Alliance member lounges with proof of a same-day boarding pass with a Star Alliance member-operated flight.

Arrival Lounge Access: While many members do not offer lounge access to arriving passengers, some do. Access is generally limited to first-class and business-class travelers, as well as those with Star Alliance Gold status.

Earning Frequent Flyer Miles

Flying with Star Alliance Members

The easiest way to earn miles with Star Alliance is by making bookings with a member airline, or one of their associate airlines. All passengers need to do is provide their frequent flyer number when making their booking or checking in.

To earn miles the airline shown on the ticket, as well as the operating airline, must be a Star Alliance member carrier. Additionally, the fare purchased must qualify for earning miles.

Miles are also applicable retroactively, provided the traveler has already flown, and the miles were never credited to the account.

Earning Bonus Miles with Airline Partners

Star Alliance cardholders can earn points when making purchases with partners of Star Alliance carrier partners – both in their home country and around the world. For more information regarding earning points with Star Alliance member airline partners, please see each airline’s official site, listed below:

Redeeming Miles with Partner Airlines

How to Redeem Miles

Miles gained with Star Alliance members are applicable for the following:

Restrictions on Redeeming Miles

No Blackout Dates

The following Star Alliance members have no blackout dates:

Blackout Dates

Blackout dates for other Star Alliance members are as follow (subject to change – always contact your airline before booking reservations):

Transferring Miles

Do Star Alliance Miles Expire?

Miles earned with Star Alliance partner airlines are subject to the terms and conditions of each member carrier. As such, some miles expire more quickly than others. Here is what you need to know about miles expiration with  member carriers:

Star Alliance Status Levels

Silver 

Silver is the first level of enhanced benefits available to those who frequently travel with a Star Alliance partner carrier. While each member airline has their own unique frequent flyer program, for higher tiers, membership in any of these programs usually equates to either Silver or Gold Status.

Silver status is gained through the accumulation of miles or segments of travel. Typically, achieving Silver status requires between 10,000 and 30,000 miles, or 25 to 35 segments of travel – through as these vary it is best to check with your preferred carrier to better understand the threshold.

Silver Perks

Silver offers some perks not available to base-level Star Alliance membership. These benefits include:

Gold

Gold status is the premier level of membership in the Star Alliance rewards program. This status can usually be earned by accumulating around 48,000 miles in a year, though there are faster ways to earn this status with certain member carriers.

Fastest Ways to Earn Star Alliance Gold Status 

Aegean Airlines: Flying 36,000 miles with Aegean Airlines in a calendar year is enough to earn Gold status, making it one of the easiest ways to achieve the coveted Gold tier. Aegean makes things even easier by offering 200% mileage on many of their business-class fares.

Asiana Airlines: Gold status can also be quickly earned through Asiana Airlines. Diamond membership qualifies members with instant Gold status. Asiana Diamond membership requires only 40,000 miles – one of the lowest levels in the Star Alliance. Frequent travelers with Asiana can also benefit from 125% miles with many business and premium economy fares.

Turkish Airlines: Turkish Airlines is another great way to quickly earn Gold status – especially if you have a higher frequent flyer status with a competitor airline. Turkish generally offers a like-for-like status match with competing airlines, meaning if you already have Elite status with SkyTeam, you will likely be able to gain Star Alliance Gold status with Turkish Airlines instantly.

Perks of Gold Status

Gold offers some impressive perks not available to Silver Star Alliance membership. These benefits include:

Membership Perks Explained

Below you will find more information about what Silver and Gold status members can expect when they travel:

Priority Reservations Wait List: When a preferred flight is sold out, Silver and Gold members have priority on the wait list, should additional seats become available.

Priority Check-in: Members have priority check-in through dedicated priority check-in lanes only available to Gold status members.

Extra Baggage Allowance: Gold status travelers are entitled to carry an additional 44 lbs. (20 kg) or check one extra piece of luggage at no added cost.

Priority Standby: Members have priority on standby lists at the airport, should their travel plans change.

Boarding Priority: Members have priority to board the aircraft before other passengers, or at their leisure.

Priority Luggage Handling at Destination: Those with Gold status can expect their luggage to be dealt with first at arrival, meaning they can quickly collect their belongings and depart the airport to their final destination.