Originally Posted by
coolfish1103
China Southern released a statement on 12/24 announcing official leave of Skyteam from 2020/1/1.
China Southern will continue codeshare partnership and individual airline partnership with the following Skyteam Alliance partners.
Xiamen Airlines (obviously)
Air France
KLM
Delta
Korean Air
MEA
Czech
China Airlines
Vietnam Airlines
Air Europa
Aerolina Argentina
Alitalia
Aeroflot
Saudi Arabia Airlines
China Southern Sky Pearl members flying these airlines will continue to receive mileage crediting to China Southern Sky Pearl program. Redemption and elite services are also available as usual (but did not note if it has to be codeshared).
From 1/1/2020, Skyteam Sky Priority service will be replaced by China Southern CZ Priority. The airlines listed previously plus China Southern Sky Pearl Gold, and Silver members will continue to receive the usual benefits when flying China Southern, which includes:
Priority Check In
Priority Baggage
Priority Boarding
Lounge Access
Furthermore, China Southern has expanded partnership agreements such as codeshares and/or mileage programs with the following airlines:
American Airlines (3/30)
British Airways (12/17, FFP from 2020/6)
Finnair
Emirates
Qatar
Qantas
Japan Airlines
For more information, please visit China Southern website.
CZ website now provides more detail on the agreements with different airlines
For Sky Pearl members:
Priority check in, priority boarding, lounge access are available in flights marketed and operated by:
- Xiamen Air (obviously)
- China Airlines (including AE)
- Alitalia
- Delta
- Air France/KLM
- Czech Airlines
- Middle East Airlines
Certain benefits are available only on
codeshare flights marketed by CZ and operated by:
- Korean Air (Only priority check in)
- Vietnam Airlines (Priority check in and boarding)
[Note that members does NOT have lounge access for this 2 airlines]
Sky Pearl members cannot not enjoy any benefit when travelling on Aeroflot, Saudia, Aerolíneas Argentinas, Air Europa, Aeromexico, Kenya Airways, China Eastern Airlines and Garuda Indonesia (though still can earn and redeem miles on SU, SV, AR and UX)
It seems that Sky Pearl members still suffer quite a bit as now they lose most of the Asian partners
(Especially for KE and VN where they can only enjoy limited benefits on codeshare flights)