For those new to Star Alliance, here is some information that may be useful.
What is Star Alliance?
Star Alliance is one of 3 major airline groupings (the other being Oneworld and Sky Team). The airlines cooperate with each other in several areas - operational, frequent flyer programs, fares (where allowed). Examples include
- arranging flight schedules to permit sensible connections
- using the same terminal at various airports
- ability to earn redeemable and status miles on each others flights, as well as redeem and to some extent upgrade
- codesharing flights
- aligning IT platforms
Star Alliance Member Airlines
Full Members
As of 8 May 2009 the full members of Star Alliance are
Code:
AC Air Canada - based in Toronto, Canada
CA Air China - based in Beijing, Canada
NZ Air New Zealand - based in Auckland, New Zealand
NH ANA - based in Tokyo, Japan
OZ Asiana - based in Seoul, South Korea
OS Austrian - based in Vienna, Austria
BD bmi - based in London, UK
MS EgyptAir - based in Cairo, Egypt
LO LOT - based in Warsaw, Poland
LH Lufthansa - based in Frankfurt, Germany
SK SAS - based in Copenhagen, Denmark
FM Shanghai - based in Shanghai, China
SQ Singapore - based in Singapore, Singapore
SA South African - based in Johannesburg, South Africa
JK Spanair - based in Madrid, Spain
LX Swiss - based in Zurich, Switzerland
TP TAP - based in Lisbon, Portugal
TG Thai - based in Bangkok, Thailand
TK Turkish - based in Istanbul, Turkey
UA United - based in Chicago, USA
US US Airways - based in Phoenix, USA
Regional Members
Regional members of Star Alliance are treated the same as full member airlines. All Star Alliance policies, benefits, products, etc apply equally to regional member airlines. Differences are internalised to Star Alliance.
As of 8 May 2009 the regional members of Star Alliance are
Code:
JP Adria - based in Ljubljana, Slovenia
KF Blue1 - based in Helsinki, Finland
OU Croatia - based in Zagreb, Croatia
Observer Members
Observer members of Star Alliance are the airlines which have been invited to join and have accepted. The entry date of Star Alliance members may or may not be known. All Star Alliance policies, benefits, products, etc
do not apply to observer member airlines. However some Star Alliance airlines may already have moved to partially integrate, eg through accrual and/or redemption in their FFP, use of common terminals, etc.
As of 8 May 2009 the observer members of Star Alliance are
Code:
AI Air India - based in Mumbai, India - expected entry 2010
SN Brussels - based in Brussels, Belgium - expected entry 2009
CO Continental - based in Houston, USA - expected entry 25 October 2009 (tbc)
JJ TAM - based in Sao Paulo - expected entry 2009 or 2010
Abbreviations and Acronyms
Code:
*A Star Alliance
*G Star Alliance Gold status
*S Star Alliance Silver status
AC Air Canada - airline code
AP Aeroplan - FFP of Air Canada
AP Airpoints - FFP of Air New Zealand
AI Air India - airline code
BD bmi - airline code
C Business class
CA Air China - airline code
CO Continental - airline code
DC Diamond Club - FFP of bmi
EB Eurobonus - FFP of SAS, blue1
F First class
FM Shanghai - airline code
IFL - International First Lounge - lounge of United
JK Spanair - airline code
JJ TAM - airline code
JP Adria - airline code
KC Koru Club - lounge and paid club of Air New Zealand
KF Blue1 - airline code
KF Kris Flyer - FFP of Singapore
LH Lufthansa - airline code
LO LOT - airline code
LX Swiss - airline code
M&M Miles & More - FFP of Austrian, Lufthansa, LOT, Swiss, Adria, Croatia
MI Silk Air - airline code
MLL Maple Leaf Lounge - lounge of Air Canada
MP Mileage Plus - FFP of United
MS EgyptAir - airline code
NH ANA - airline code
NZ Air New Zealand - airline code
OS Austrian - airline code
OU Croatia - airline code
OZ Asiana - airline code
PC Presidents Club - lounge & paid club of Continental
RCC Red Carpet Club - lounge of United
ROP Royal Orchid Plus - FFP of Thai
SA South African - airline code
SK SAS - airline code
SKL Silver Kris Lounge - lounge of Singapore
SN Brussels - airline code
SQ Singapore - airline code
TG Thai - airline code
TK Turkish - airline code
TP TAP - airline code
UA United - airline code
US US Airways - airline code
Y Economy / coach class
Y+ Economy plus or premium economy class