SkyTeam Alliance: An Overview

The year 2000 marked a significant milestone in aviation history, as it saw the formation of the SkyTeam Alliance. As other major airlines across the globe started joining or forming their own alliances, four additional ones—Aeroméxico, Air France, Delta Air Lines and Korean Air—responded by creating a network that would also offer seamless travel experiences across the continents. These airlines formed what would become known as the SkyTeam Alliance.

Since its inception, SkyTeam has grown steadily, expanding its global reach by welcoming new member airlines. This expansion has provided passengers with even more opportunities to connect to destinations worldwide on a single SkyTeam ticket. Likewise, it has afforded loyal frequent flyers the ability to earn and redeem miles across a broader network. Today, SkyTeam is recognized as one of the “big three” airline alliances in the world, boasting 18 member airlines.

In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at the SkyTeam alliance by exploring each member airline and their frequent flyer program. We’ll also focus on the travel benefits that make a SkyTeam membership such a valuable asset for global travelers.

Member Airlines of SkyTeam

The SkyTeam Alliance comprises 18 member airlines, together serving over 1,000 destinations across more than 160 countries. Here’s a quick introduction to each SkyTeam airline:

• Aerolineas Argentínas: As the flag carrier of Argentina, Aerolineas Argentínas offers an extensive network of flights between South America, North America and Europe.
• Aeroméxico: Mexico’s national airline, Aeroméxico, operates flights to destinations across the Americas, Europe and Asia. Its main hub is in Mexico City.
• Air Europa: A smaller carrier based in Spain, Air Europa is known for its route network connecting Europe, the Americas, and the Caribbean, with a focus on Latin American destinations.
• Air France: One of the founding members of SkyTeam, Air France is a major airline headquartered in Paris. A true global airline, it offers flights to destinations across Europe, Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Middle East.
• China Airlines: Taiwan’s largest carrier, China Airlines, provides a network of flights within Asia and to North America, Europe and Oceania.
• China Eastern: As one of China’s leading carriers, China Eastern operates an extensive domestic and international network, connecting Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania.
• Delta Air Lines: As the United States’ oldest operating airline, Delta consistently ranks among the largest airlines in the world today. Headquartered in Atlanta, it offers a wide network of domestic and international flights.
• Garuda Indonesia: Indonesia’s national carrier, Garuda Indonesia, connects passengers to destinations across Asia, Australia and the Middle East, with a strong presence in Southeast Asia.
• Kenya Airways: As one of Africa’s leading airlines, Kenya Airways offers routes across Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Its main hub is in Nairobi.
• KLM Royal Dutch Airlines: KLM is the flag carrier of the Netherlands and one of the oldest airlines in the world. Today, it operates an extensive network of flights across Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia.
• Korean Air: Another founding member of SkyTeam, Korean Air is a major global airline headquartered in Seoul. It offers flights to destinations across Asia, North America, Europe and Oceania.
• Middle East Airlines: Based in Lebanon, Middle East Airlines connects passengers to destinations across the Middle East, Europe and Africa. Its hub is in Beirut.
• SAS (Scandinavia Airlines): SAS has been the leading airline in this region for 75 years, with hubs in Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm.
• Saudia: Saudia is the national carrier of Saudi Arabia, offering routes spanning the Middle East, and to Africa, Asia, Europe and North America.
• TAROM: Romania’s national airline, TAROM, operates flights to destinations across Europe, with a focus on connecting Eastern Europe to the rest of the continent.
• Vietnam Airlines: Vietnam’s national carrier, Vietnam Airlines, flies primarily intra-Asia routes, but also offers flights to Europe, Oceania and North America.
• Virgin Atlantic: As the first airline to ever offer personal entertainment to all passengers, Virgin Atlantic is known for its innovative service. It connects passengers to destinations across the United States, Caribbean, Africa and Asia, and has its main hub in London.
• XiamenAir: Based in China, XiamenAir offers flights to destinations across Asia, with a growing presence in Europe, North America and Oceania.

Benefits of SkyTeam Membership for Passengers

Becoming a member of one of the SkyTeam airlines can significantly enhance your travel experience, regardless of your destination. Let’s take a closer look at some of the key benefits.

Seamless Connectivity

One of the primary benefits of SkyTeam membership is the seamless connectivity it provides. The 18 member airlines operate flights to over 1,000 destinations worldwide. This means that when you book a flight with one SkyTeam airline, you gain access to a vast network of routes operated by all member airlines.

For example, suppose you’re planning a trip from Los Angeles (LAX) to Amsterdam (AMS), and then onward to Nairobi (NBO). With SkyTeam, you can book the first leg from LAX to AMS on Delta Air Lines, and the second leg from AMS to NBO on Kenya Airways–all under one itinerary. This streamlined booking process eliminates the need for multiple bookings and ensures a smooth connection through the multi-city trip.

Earning and Redeeming Miles With Partners

Joining a SkyTeam airline’s frequent flyer program opens up opportunities to earn and redeem miles across the entire SkyTeam network.

For instance, suppose you’re a loyalty member of Air France-KLM’s Flying Blue program, but wish to fly to Seoul (ICN). While Air France doesn’t operate direct flights to Seoul, you can book a Korean Air flight and provide your Flying Blue membership number when booking. You’ll earn Flying Blue miles for your Korean Air flight.

Of course, you can also redeem your miles with partner airlines. If you’ve accumulated enough Flying Blue miles, for example, you’re not limited to just using those miles with Air France or KLM. Instead, you could potentially book yourself a one-way business-class ticket on Korean Air from Paris (CDG) to Seoul (ICN).

It’s important to note that while SkyTeam offers the convenience of earning and redeeming miles across the alliance, each member airline has its own earning and redemption rates for partner airlines. These rates may vary based on the fare class booked and the specific airline’s policy. Each airline either publishes charts detailing these rates, or operates under a dynamic pricing model. It’s advisable to familiarize yourself with each program’s specific rates if you choose to join a SkyTeam frequent flyer program.

Frequent Flyer Benefits

When you enroll in a SkyTeam airline’s frequent flyer program and achieve elite status, you gain access to a range of benefits that extends across all SkyTeam member airlines. These benefits include priority check-in, priority boarding, complimentary upgrades and access to SkyTeam lounges worldwide.

For example, a passenger holding SkyTeam Elite Plus status earned via status match through achieving Delta Air Lines Gold Medallion status can enjoy similar perks when flying any SkyTeam airline. This includes privileges like priority check-in, extra baggage allowance and access to over 750 business- and first-class SkyTeam lounges globally, regardless of class of service.

Since elite status with one SkyTeam airline translates to benefits across the entire alliance, we suggest logging most or all of your travel efforts on one frequent flyer program. Concentrating your flights with one airline allows you to achieve status faster, thus maximizing benefits. Spreading your flights across multiple programs can make it harder to reach elite status.

Global Lounge Access

Having lounge access can have a significant impact on your travel experiences. In general, once you achieve SkyTeam Elite Plus status, you start to gain access to SkyTeam lounges around the world.

Admittedly, lounge access policies for SkyTeam are generally weaker than those of the other two big alliances, Oneworld and Star Alliance. For instance, even with Elite Plus status, you unfortunately won’t have access to many of the most renowned lounges within the SkyTeam alliance, such as the Air France La Premiere Lounge in Paris.

In addition, you might have to check access requirements on a lounge-by-lounge basis, as access can also depend on the airline with which you earned status. One of the most notorious examples is with Delta Sky Clubs worldwide. You generally don’t get access to Delta Sky Clubs based on status alone; you need to be traveling in Delta One, or on a same-day international first- or business-class ticket on a SkyTeam-operated flight.

Still, there are many lounges worldwide that you can access by having SkyTeam Elite Plus status alone. Some examples include the following:

• Air France Business Lounge, Paris (CDG): Even if you can’t get into La Premiere, Air France has a handful of other beautiful lounges at Charles de Gaulle Airport, many of which have recently gone through renovations. The Air France lounge in terminal 2F is a stunner, and comes complete with amenities like a Clarins spa, dining areas, relaxation areas and shower suites.
• China Airlines Lounge, Taipei (TPE): Located in Terminal 2 of the Taipei-Taoyuan International Airport, the China Airlines Lounge is one of the more uniquely aesthetic business-class lounges in the SkyTeam portfolio. It comes fully stocked with tasty Taiwanese cuisine options, a noodle bar, shower facilities and plenty of private resting areas.

SkyTeam Status Tiers

Now, let’s explore the status tiers within the SkyTeam Alliance. SkyTeam has just two main status tiers: SkyTeam Elite and SkyTeam Elite Plus.

SkyTeam Elite

SkyTeam Elite is the entry-level status tier. Members with SkyTeam Elite status enjoy a range of travel-essential benefits, including:

• Priority check-in
• Priority boarding
• Priority baggage handling
• Access to preferred seating
• Priority standby on waitlists

SkyTeam Elite Plus

SkyTeam Elite Plus is the top-tier status within the alliance. Elite Plus members enjoy all the benefits of SkyTeam Elite, along with the following additional perks, which help boost your travel experience even more:

• Access to business-class lounges
• Priority boarding with first- and business-class passengers
• Extra baggage allowance on SkyTeam airlines
• Guaranteed seat on fully-booked flights

SkyTeam Frequent Flyer Programs

The frequent flyer programs of SkyTeam member airlines are key to attaining SkyTeam status. While each airline has its own independent loyalty program, status tiers within these programs correspond directly to SkyTeam’s Elite and Elite Plus status levels. By achieving status within a SkyTeam airline’s frequent flyer program, you simultaneously earn the equivalent SkyTeam status.

The SkyTeam website offers a handy page where you can input your chosen frequent flyer program and tier level, and it outputs the corresponding SkyTeam elite status. We’ve also summarized all this information in the following table:

Earning status within an airline’s frequent flyer program means you earn all the benefits your airline offers at that tier, plus the corresponding SkyTeam status tier. For example, attaining Delta Gold Medallion status earns you all the associated benefits with Delta Air Lines, plus all SkyTeam Elite Plus benefits.

Conclusion

As one of the modern big three alliances, SkyTeam is committed to enhancing the travel experience for its loyal travelers. Through its extensive network of member airlines, SkyTeam offers streamlined travel connections and valuable frequent flyer rewards. These perks accompany you across continents, making travel smoother and more enjoyable no matter where your journey takes you.

To fully take advantage of what SkyTeam has to offer, enroll in a SkyTeam member airline’s frequent flyer program today and start working your way through the status tiers. Before long, you’ll be reaping the rewards of being a loyal SkyTeam traveler.