If you’re even a moderately engaged frequent traveler, you no doubt keep an eye on developments in the three global airline alliances: oneworld (U.S. partner: American), SkyTeam (U.S. partner: Delta), and Star (U.S. partners: United, US Airways). And if you don’t, you should.
As these alliances add new airline partners, your opportunities to earn and redeem miles in affiliated U.S.-based programs expand. Your elite benefits extend to more airlines, more airports. Scheduling is optimized among allied airlines, making for better connections. And so on.
A case in point is this week’s addition of Avianca, TACA Airlines, and Copa Airlines to the Star Alliance, giving the Star group a much-needed coverage boost in Latin America.
As a result, members of United and US Airways’ programs can now earn and redeem miles for flights on those airlines.
The three new airlines add around 50 new airports to the Star network and five new hubs: Panama City, Panama; Bogota, Colombia; San Salvador, El Salvador; Lima, Peru; and San Jose, Costa Rica.
For U.S. travelers who fly regularly to Latin America, the move makes Star the go-to alliance, and the programs of United and US Airways the logical choice in mileage programs. SkyTeam has only Aeromexico for a Latin American partner, and oneworld has only LAN, plus American’s own considerable Latin American network.
With the latest additions, the Star Alliance network now includes 27 airlines offering more than 21,500 daily flights to 1,356 airports in 193 countries.
Which is why it’s called a global airline alliance.
Reader Reality Check
How important are global alliances to you when choosing an airline or frequent flyer program?
Other Posts of Interest
- Where Is American’s AAdvantage Program Headed?
- Discounted Awards for Citi AAdvantage Credit Cardholders
- Get United Texts, Get 500 United Bonus Miles
- Alaska Air Discounts Award Flights to Mexico, Hawaii
- Earn Up to 50,000 United Miles for Mortgages
- Earn 5,000 Southwest Bonus Points for AirTran Flights
- US Air Brings Back to 100% Buy-Miles Bonus
- JetBlue and Hawaiian Air to Link Mileage Programs
- One Month Left for British Airways 100,000-Mile Credit Card Bonus
- The Most (and Least) Generous Frequent Flyer Programs
- Got Klout? Welcome to the Cathay Pacific Lounge!
- Membership Rewards to Lose Another Transfer Partner
- Earn Delta Miles for Debit Card Purchases
- US Airways Packages, Sells Airport Elite Perks
- British Air and Hawaiian Air Awards Are Now Bookable on AA.com
- Convert Credits Between Southwest, AirTran Programs
- Earn Virgin Atlantic Bonus Miles Through June 15
- Alaska Airlines Credit Card Comes with Bigger Bonus
- AAdvantage Members Have a New Credit Card Option
- American Doubles the Elite Miles on Boston-Dallas Flights
- New from United: the MileagePlus Club Credit Card
- Earn 500 American AAdvantage Miles for Shopping
- Redeem Virgin America Points for International Award Flights
- Earn Double American Miles for airberlin Flights
- How to Survive the March 3rd United-Continental Merger
- Join Best Western Rewards to Earn a Southwest Bonus
- American Extends Elite Bonus for Chicago, Dallas, California Flights
- New Aeroplan Award Option: Music & Other Digital Media Downloads
- Exchange Your Gift Cards for United Miles
- Alaska Airlines Adds Emirates to Mileage Plan Lineup
- When Should Hotels Announce Upcoming Promotions?
- Are Taxable Frequent Flyer Miles in Your Future?
- When Should Hotels Announce Upcoming Promotions?
- Q&A: What’s an American AAdvantage Member to Do?
- Got Elite Status? United Will Match It
- Renew Elite Status from American, for a Price
- Do Discounted Frequent Flyer Miles Rate a ‘Buy’?
- Psst, Wanna Buy American Airlines?
- Bid United Miles for New Headliners Auction Awards
- Upcoming US Airways Program Changes Are Mostly Downgrades
- Where Do My Miles Go If American Goes Bankrupt?
Stay in Touch
For more news like this, sign up to receive our free weekly newsletter. You can follow us on Twitter, too.
Pingback: mjinubygrcxe4zssxctv