This is probably obvious to some, but not to me, a newbie at flying about the globe.

If I achieve an 'elite' status with one airline, say Continental, will its partners such as Alaska Air honor that status if I fly Alaska?

Welcome joshstandon.

Partner airlines generally recognize elite status to some extent, though there may be some elite benefits that don't fully translate. (For instance if you have elite membership on Air Canada, you can access some elite benefits when flying with the AC partner United, but you can't, for instance, use Air Canada elite upgrade certificates unless you're on an Air Canada plane.)

If you have questions that are specific to a certain airline, I'd recommend posting in that airline's Flyertalk forum where you'll get advice from those with the most airline-specific expertise you seek.

Depends on which airline you have status with and which one you are flying. Easy things like the elite check in lines and the private clubs - usually, upgrades totally depends on the airline. Status miles for flying them as an elite again depends on the two airlines.

So they will generally offer something, but rarely everything.

Exactly. For example, United is partners with both US and Delta.
United status is recognized when flying on US, but not when flying on Delta.
If you do a search in a specific airline forum you should be able to find this information without a problem.
Welcome to FT!!!!


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"I just wanna wish you good luck, we're all counting on you"
-Dr. Rumack

comparison of UA Premier Executive (not 1K) with 'other' StarAlliance partner StarGold (as LH Senator):

same privileges:
* higher luggage allowance
* E-Plus sitting in economy
* seperate security line (where available)
* seperate check-in line (where available)
* lounge access when travelling internationally (and showing same day boarding pass)
* 'Privilege' luggage tags at check-in for 'supposed' faster luggage delivery at arrival
* early boarding

more privileges for partner StarGold (but not granted to own Premier Executive)
* lounge access (RCC) when travelling inner NorthAmerica and showing same day boarding pass

privileges not granted for partner StarGold
* earlier clearing of upgrade requests for inner NorthAmerican flights, when upgrading with 500er or HK49 vouchers
* special costumer telefon line

I have Continental elite and have frequently used Northwest. This a partnership where it appears just about all, if not all, benefits get applied to the partner airline.

as others have said -- it depends on the airlines -- I fly nearly exclusively on NW and CO and benefits are quite alike -- but while NW is also "in bed" with KLM as a NW elite I can use the elite check in lines, etc. but there are no upgrades -- hell, last week I was in the last row of KLM 737 next to two drunken Russians coming out of Moscow!

FYI...NWA & CO recognize each other's elites and offer then the same benefits regardless of who's elite status you carry...a great reason to be elite on either

but then if you have KLM elite and try accessing CO benefits or vice versa, they'll laugh at you! very curious arrangement with the KLM-NW-almostCO family.

*alliance by comparison plays ball more or less all the time, which is great.

!

Yeah but KLM does the same thing to NWA Elites

In the specific case you mention, you should see if Alaska will comp you.

I was Preferred on Northwest a few years back and was flying on some paid Alaska fights - I called up Alaska and they comped me MVP, which in turn allowed me to upgrade, can't remember if they were space-available free or paid at check-in.