An airline alliance is a grouping of carriers that credit each other's miles, recognise each other's status and allow award bookings across the group.
An airline alliance is a grouping of carriers that credit each other’s miles, recognise each other’s status and allow award bookings across the group.
Also called: Frequent flyer alliance.
How it works#
An alliance mainly governs three things: earning miles on partner flights, recognition of benefits such as lounge access and baggage allowances, and the ability to book partner awards. It is not a single company: pricing, award charts and service standards remain each airline’s own and can differ substantially across the group.
Not to be confused with#
An airline alliance is not the same as a joint venture: a joint venture is a much closer commercial partnership between a few carriers in specific markets.
In German#
The German term is Luftfahrtallianz. German version of this term
Related terms#
- Partner award: A partner award is a redemption in which one programme’s miles pay for a flight operated by a different airline.
- Codeshare: A codeshare is a flight sold by one airline under its own flight number while a different airline actually operates it.
- Joint venture: A joint venture is a deeper partnership between a few airlines that share revenue on defined markets and plan their schedules together.
Articles that use this term#
TopicEvery article and term onStatus and lounges.