Its addition to oneworld will link one of the most extensive networks covering Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States, with oneworld's unrivalled global network, as the only alliance including airlines based on every continent.

S7 serves 72 destinations worldwide - 38 of them in Russia. It will add 54 cities to the oneworld map - 35 of them in Russia. It will bring eight countries onto the alliance's network - Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

This will expand oneworld's network to nearly 750 destinations in almost 150 countries, served by a combined fleet of 2,300 aircraft operating almost 8,500 flights a day, carrying more than 330 million passengers a year.

S7 is Russia's leading airline in terms of domestic passenger carryings, customer service quality and innovation. It is majority privately owned.

It is the first carrier in Russia to convert to an all Western-built Airbus and Boeing fleet and the first to adopt full electronic ticketing and on-line reservations and sales. It holds the internationally recognised IOSA (International Air Transport Association Operational Safety Audit) certification, renewed in October 2008.

It offers two-class in-flight product to international standards on all departures - Business Class and Economy.

Its fleet, decorated in a distinctive bright green livery, includes 26 Airbus A320 family types, seven Airbus A310 and two Boeing 767s, with an average age of nine years.

S7 carried 6 million passengers in 2008, with a bigger share of the domestic Russian air travel market than any other airline. Including its international network, it is Russia's second biggest carrier.

S7's main hub Moscow Domodedovo - the capital's most modern airport - is served also by oneworld members American Airlines, British Airways, Iberia, Japan Airlines and Royal Jordanian. Its secondary hubs are Novosibirsk and Irkutsk. Its international destinations include oneworld hubs Madrid and Bangkok.

Besides Moscow Domodedovo, oneworld's existing members currently serve three other destinations in Russia - Moscow Sheremetyevo, St Petersburg and Yekaterinburg.

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oneworld Managing Partner John McCulloch added: "S7 fills one of oneworld's few remaining membership ‘white spaces' with a carrier that matches our alliance's demanding quality requirements. It will expand oneworld's presence substantially in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States, while enabling S7 to offer its customers a truly global network on quality partners. We are delighted to welcome them to the oneworld alliance."

Statuses and privileges

Classic card Participation in the S7 Priority program begins with the Classic card. For every flight with S7 you receive status miles, which bring you closer to elite status. As soon as you accumulate the necessary number of status miles or flights with S7 during the calendar year, you automatically acquire elite status.

Elite status remains in effect until the end of the year during which you acquired the status and the entire following year. You retain the status if you confirm it during every following year by accumulating the corresponding number of status miles or segments.

There are three elite statuses in the S7 Priority program: Silver, Gold and Platinum, each of which gives the participant special privileges:
Silver status

Silver card Acquired at 20,000 status miles or 10 status flights in business class 20 status flights in economy class.

Privileges:

* +25% additional miles for all flights
* Check-in at the business-class counters
* Overweight baggage + 5 kg
* Priority baggage service
* Priority seat selection
* Priority in wait lists
* Guaranteed booking in 3 workdays before flight


Gold status

Gold card Acquired at 40,000 status miles or 20 status business-class segments or 40 status economy-class segments.

Privileges:

* +50% additional miles for all flights
* Check-in at the business-class counters
* Access to the S7 business lounges
* Overweight baggage + 15 kg
* Priority baggage service
* Priority seat selection
* Priority in wait lists
* Guaranteed booking in 24 hours before flight


Platinum status

Platinum card Acquired at 60,000 status miles or 30 status business-class segments or 60 status economy-class segments.

Privileges:

* +75% additional miles for all flights
* Check-in at the business-class counters
* Accelerated passage through the formalities at the airport
* Access to the business lounges for the participant and one guest
* Oversize baggage + 25 kg
* Priority baggage service
* Priority seat selection
* Priority in wait lists
* Guaranteed booking in 12 hours before flight


You can learn more about the privileges of the elite statuses and the terms of their provision by visiting the Program Rules page.