member affiliates: including those airlines are operating on a franchise agreement of a member airline (i.e. Comair in South Africa), a wholly or partly owned subsidiaries of the member airlines that participate on oneworld membership agreement (i.e. Dragon Air of Cathay Pacific). and a separate brand that belongs to the member airlines (i.e. American Eagle of American Airlines)

non-member affiliates: including those airlines are operating on behave of member airlines but does not provide oneworld service (i.e. Ryukyu Air Commuter for JAL) and those are wholly owned or partially owned by member airlines but does not participate in alliance (i.e. Vueling and jetstar).

For member affiliate, they are oneworld members and they are not allowed to be in another alliance. for non-member affiliate, they are not in oneworld. If they are operating on their own they may develop bilateral relationship with other alliances, but not sure if it is forbidden by oneworld contract of the parent companies.

In SkyWest's case, they are neither a member affiliate or non-member affiliate. They are a sort of a flight lease company and provide aircraft and operations based on member airlines' contracts and requirement. the operation is considered as part of the member airline's network.