The Star Alliance: Everything You Need to Know [Partners Listed]

Key Takeaways

• The Star Alliance network includes 26 member airlines, offering extensive global coverage with over 1,200 destinations in 193 countries.
• Star Alliance benefits include priority check-in, extra baggage allowance, and access to over 1,000 airport lounges for Gold members.
• You must gain status with an individual airline to receive the equivalent Star Alliance status.

Star Alliance

“The Way the Earth Connects”

Founded: May 14, 1997
Headquarters: Frankfurt Airport, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Website: staralliance.com

By the Numbers

• Annual Customers: 728 million
• Daily Flights: 18,800+
• Destinations: 1,200+
• Countries: 193
• Combined Fleet: 4,919 aircraft
• Lounges: 1,100+
• Employees: 423,210
• Annual Revenue: $171 billion

Partners

German rail operator Deutsche Bahn is also a Star Alliance intermodal partner. With this partnership, you can travel to and from a Deutsche Bahn station in Germany to Frankfurt Airport on a high-speed train and onward on a Star Alliance member airline flight on a single ticket.

Hot Tip:

If you are looking for award availability, check out our Ultimate Guide to Searching for Flight Award Space.

How It Works

Consistent with the other major airline alliances, Star Alliance does not host an individual frequent flyer program.

To achieve Star Alliance status, members must first accrue status through their respective partner airline of choice. Once this is achieved, an equivalent Star Alliance tier status is issued (see below).

Miles earned through multiple airline programs cannot be transferred or combined to reach the designation for Star Alliance status.

With that being said, passengers traveling on eligible flights operated by Star Alliance member airlines will accrue miles or points, which can be redeemed across the entire Star Alliance network.

Status Levels

Benefits

Essentially, Star Alliance status levels aim to translate elite status benefits across partner airlines. For example, if you fly on United Airlines and have the equivalent of Star Alliance Gold, you should be able to get perks such as extra baggage when flying on Lufthansa or any other Star Alliance partner.

Tier Breakdown

Star Alliance Silver

When your tier status is equivalent to Star Alliance Silver, you may take advantage of the following benefits, no matter which Star Alliance airline you are flying or cabin class you’re assigned.

Priority on Waitlists and When on Standby (Where Offered)

• This allows those with status to move ahead of other flyers without status on reservation and standby lists, making it more likely to be granted a seat on the flight in question, except when flying on an award ticket.

Star Alliance Gold

When your respective tier status is equivalent to Star Alliance Gold, you may take advantage of the following benefits, no matter which Star Alliance airline you are flying or cabin class you’re assigned.

Priority on Waitlists and When on Standby (Where Offered)

• This allows those with status to move ahead of other flyers without status on reservation and standby lists, making it more likely to be granted a seat on the flight in question, except when flying on an award ticket.

Access to Priority Check-In Counters

• This can significantly expedite the time spent in line or at the airport ticket counter. Just look for the Star Alliance Gold sign.

Access to Priority Boarding

• Star Alliance Gold members board along with First and Business Class passengers (where offered).

Extra Baggage Allowance*

• Using the weight concept, Star Alliance Gold members are eligible for an additional 44 pounds (20 kg) baggage weight.
• Using the piece concept, Star Alliance Gold members are eligible for 1 extra piece of luggage.

* Exclusions apply, including intra-Europe Light fares from Lufthansa, Austrian, and SWISS; Check&Go fares from Brussels Airlines, and Go light fares from SAS. Also, Air New Zealand’s Seat fares are ineligible for extra baggage allowance. 

Priority Baggage Handling

• This ensures Star Alliance Gold member baggage is among the first on the belt from the aircraft to the carousel when traveling on any cabin on any eligible Star Alliance flight.

Access to Over 1,000 Airport Lounges (When You Fly on a Member Airline Flight)*

• This includes premium first class, business, and frequent flyer lounges, regardless of service class flown at the time of travel, for you and 1 guest traveling on the same flight.

* Exceptions apply.

Access to Priority Security Lanes (at Select Airports, for Select Carriers)

• Star Alliance Gold Track can significantly decrease security wait times.
• Restrictions and local agreements can significantly change this benefit. More information is available here.

Access to Priority Immigration Lanes (at Select Airports, for Select Carriers)

• Star Alliance Gold Track can significantly decrease immigration and customs wait times.
• Restrictions and local agreements can significantly change this benefit. More information is available here.

Hot Tip:

Check out our guide for The Best Ways to Search for Star Alliance Award Availability.

Status Equivalents

Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Croatia Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Swiss International Air Lines

• Miles & More Frequent Traveller = Star Alliance Silver
• Miles & More Senator = Star Alliance Gold
• Miles & More HON Circle = Star Alliance Gold

Aegean Airlines

• Miles+Bonus Silver = Star Alliance Silver
• Miles+Bonus Gold = Star Alliance Gold

Air Canada

• Aeroplan Prestige 25K = Star Alliance Silver
• Aeroplan Elite 35K = Star Alliance Silver
• Aeroplan Elite 50K = Star Alliance Gold
• Aeroplan Elite 75K = Star Alliance Gold
• Aeroplan Super Elite 100K = Star Alliance Gold

Air China, Shenzhen Airlines

• PhoenixMiles Silver = Star Alliance Silver
• PhoenixMiles Gold = Star Alliance Gold
• PhoenixMiles Platinum = Star Alliance Gold

Air India

• Flying Returns Silver Edge Club = Star Alliance Silver
• Flying Returns Golden Edge Club = Star Alliance Gold
• Flying Returns The Maharajah Club = Star Alliance Gold

Air New Zealand

• Airpoints Silver = Star Alliance Silver
• Airpoints Gold = Star Alliance Gold
• Airpoints Elite = Star Alliance Gold

All Nippon Airways (ANA)

• ANA Mileage Club Bronze = Star Alliance Silver
• ANA Mileage Club Super Flyers = Star Alliance Gold
• ANA Mileage Club Diamond = Star Alliance Gold
• ANA Mileage Club Platinum = Star Alliance Gold

Asiana Airlines

• Asiana Club Gold = Star Alliance Silver
• Asiana Club Diamond = Star Alliance Gold
• Asiana Club Diamond Plus = Star Alliance Gold
• Asiana Club Platinum = Star Alliance Gold

Avianca

• LifeMiles Red Plus = Star Alliance Silver
• LifeMiles Silver = Star Alliance Silver
• LifeMiles Gold = Star Alliance Gold
• LifeMiles Diamond = Star Alliance Gold

Copa Airlines

• ConnectMiles Silver = Star Alliance Silver
• ConnectMiles Gold = Star Alliance Gold
• ConnectMiles Platinum = Star Alliance Gold
• ConnectMiles Presidential Platinum = Star Alliance Gold

EgyptAir

• EgyptAirPlus Silver = Star Alliance Silver
• EgyptAirPlus Gold = Star Alliance Gold
• EgyptAir Plus Elite = Star Alliance Gold
• EgyptAirPlus Platinum = Star Alliance Gold

Ethiopian Airlines

• ShebaMiles Silver Club = Star Alliance Silver
• ShebaMiles Gold Club = Star Alliance Gold
• ShebaMiles Platinum Club = Star Alliance Gold

EVA Air

• Infinity MileageLands Silver = Star Alliance Silver
• Infinity MileageLands Gold = Star Alliance Gold
• Infinity MileageLands Diamond = Star Alliance Gold

Scandinavian Airlines

• EuroBonus Silver = Star Alliance Silver
• EuroBonus Gold = Star Alliance Gold
• EuroBonus Diamond = Star Alliance Gold
• EuroBonus Pandion = Star Alliance Gold

Singapore Airlines

• KrisFlyer Elite Silver = Star Alliance Silver
• KrisFlyer Elite Gold = Star Alliance Gold
• KrisFlyer PPS Club = Star Alliance Gold
• KrisFlyer Solitaire PPS Club = Star Alliance Gold
• KrisFlyer Solitaire PPS Club Life = Star Alliance Gold

South African Airways

• Voyager Silver = Star Alliance Silver
• Voyager Gold = Star Alliance Gold
• Voyager Platinum = Star Alliance Gold
• Voyager Lifetime Platinum = Star Alliance Gold

TAP Portugal

• Miles&Go Silver = Star Alliance Silver
• Miles&Go Gold = Star Alliance Gold

Thai Airways International

• Royal Orchid Plus Silver = Star Alliance Silver
• Royal Orchid Plus Gold = Star Alliance Gold
• Royal Orchid Plus Platinum = Star Alliance Gold

Turkish Airlines

• Miles&Smiles Classic Plus = Star Alliance Silver
• Miles&Smiles Elite = Star Alliance Gold
• Miles&Smiles Elite Plus = Star Alliance Gold

United Airlines

• MileagePlus Premier Silver = Star Alliance Silver
• MileagePlus Premier Gold = Star Alliance Gold
• MileagePlus Premier Platinum = Star Alliance Gold
• MileagePlus Premier 1K = Star Alliance Gold
• MileagePlus Global Services = Star Alliance Gold

To enjoy Star Alliance Silver, you must have one of these statuses:

Conversely, you receive Star Alliance Gold if you have any of these statuses:

Co-Location Airports

Star Alliance offers several co-location airports with specific terminals dedicated to Star Alliance member airlines, offering combined ticketing and check-in counters, member lounges, baggage facilities, and other services. This is an “everything under 1 roof” operating logic, though some exceptions apply.

Global Travel

Due to the number of cooperating airlines, providing travelers with opportunities for global travel is simplified within alliance networks.

Star Alliance provides the following global travel options:

Round the World Fares

• Choose from over 1,300 destinations in more than 190 countries.
• Full 26 member airlines available
• Individually planned or Star Alliance Inspired Itineraries such as World Food, World Wonders, Romantic Journey, etc.

Circle Pacific

• Choose from over 85 destinations in 25 countries.
• 12 out of 26 member airlines available: Air Canada (AC), Air China (CA), Air India (AI), Ethiopian Airlines (ET), EVA AIR (BR), All Nippon Airways (NH), Air New Zealand (NZ), Asiana Airlines (OZ), Singapore Airlines (SQ), Shenzhen Airlines (ZH), THAI (TG), United (UA)

For more information on these fares, please visit the Travel Centre on staralliance.com.

Star Alliance Exclusive Lounges

In addition to member airlines’ lounges, a small set of exclusive Star Alliance-branded lounges are also offered. Local architects with local flair have created these to leave you with a positive and lasting memory of that country’s culture. 

Star Alliance provides Exclusive Lounges at the following airports:

• Amsterdam, Amsterdam Airport Schipol (AMS):
  • After the security checkpoint for Schengen flights on the upper level next to gate area D
• Buenos Aires, Ministro Pistarini/Ezeiza International (EZE):
  • Airside, after security & immigration; upper level opposite Gate 9; via elevator or stairs
• Los Angeles, Los Angeles International (LAX):
  • Tom Bradley International Terminal; Level 6, via escalator or elevator from the main atrium
• Paris, Charles de Gaulle (CDG):
  • After passport control, before security checkpoints; access via elevator to entrance on Level 11 of the Central Terminal Building
  • Paris also offers an intra-Schengen Lounge
• Rio de Janeiro, Galeão International (GIG):
  • International Departures Pier, Level 3; after passport control, before the departure gates; via escalators or lifts
• Rome, Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport (FCO):
  • Terminal 3 after the security checkpoint for intra-Schengen flights on the upper level of Gate Area D
• São Paulo, Guarulhos International (GRU):
  • Terminal 3 on the mezzanine above duty-free; accessible via escalators or elevators after passport checkpoint

Hot Tip:

Check out our guide to the full list of U.S. Star Alliance Lounges.