Star Alliance is the world’s largest global airline alliance, headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, and led by current CEO Mark Schwab. It was founded on May 14, 1997, its name and emblem represent the five founding airlines (see the five airlines in the history section). The current member airlines are Adria Airways, Aegean Airlines, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, All Nippon Airways, Asiana Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Avianca Holdings, Brussels Airlines, Copa Airlines, Croatia Airlines, EgyptAir, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, Swiss International Air Lines, TAP Portugal, Thai Airways International, Turkish Airlines and United Airlines. Avianca Brazil, as a subsidiary of Avianca (who is already in Star Alliance), will join the Star Alliance in Summer 2014. Star Alliance has since grown considerably and the current members have more than 18,000 daily departures combined. These flights reach 1,269 airports in more than 190 countries, with an annual number of 637.6 million passengers.
Premium status
Star Alliance has two premium levels, Silver and Gold, based on a customer’s tier status in a member carrier’s frequent flyer program. Each of the member and regional airlines recognizes Star Silver/Gold status, with a few exceptions (mainly pertaining to airport lounge access). The statuses have no specific requirements of their own; membership is based solely on the frequent flyer programs of individual member airlines. Many member airlines also have an additional premium status beyond Gold which is not recognised across Star Alliance.
Star Alliance Silver
Star Alliance Silver status is awarded to customers who have reached a premium level of a member carrier’s frequent flyer program.
Benefits of Star Alliance Silver membership:
- Priority reservations waitlisting
- Priority airport stand-by
Some airlines also offer the following to Silver members:
- Priority boarding
- Priority airport check-in
- Priority baggage handling
- Preferred seating
- Additional checked luggage allowance
- Waived fees for 1st and 2nd checked bags
Star Alliance Gold
Star Alliance Gold status is awarded to customers who have reached a high level of a member airline’s frequent flyer program.
Benefits of Star Alliance Gold membership:
- Priority reservations waitlisting
- Priority airport stand-by
- Priority boarding
- Priority airport check-in
- Priority baggage handling
- Additional checked luggage allowance of 20 kg (or one extra piece where the piece concept applies)
- Airport lounge access to designated Star Alliance Gold lounges on the day and at the place of departure, on presentation of a valid Star Alliance boarding pass.
Some airlines also offer the following to Gold members:
- Preferred seating (exit seat, or even on a special section on the plane on some carriers, which provides more leg room)
- Guaranteed seating on fully booked flights (subject to the booking class code and notice period)
- Free upgrade (in the form of voucher/certificate or automatic upgrade upon check-in)
- United restricts US lounge access for their Gold Members to long-haul international passengers; Gold members from other carriers are welcome in US Lounges run by United on all itineraries. Unlike in Oneworld and Skyteam, United Star Gold members are admitted to the lounges of foreign alliance carriers (such as Lufthansa’s Senator lounges at US airports) even if traveling domestically.