Airline alliances and why they matter.

Using the alliances to your advantage

5/8/20241 min read

a view of the sun through an airplane window
a view of the sun through an airplane window

Understanding Airline Alliances

Most airlines belong to one of three major alliances:

  • Star Alliance

  • OneWorld

  • SkyTeam

While Chase’s airline transfer partners might not initially excite you (e.g., Singapore Airlines), alliances unlock hidden value. For example, transferring points to Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer program for a flight from Seattle to Sydney could cost 30,000 points. Booking that same United Airlines flight through United’s program would require 80,000 points. The key is that KrisFlyer and United are both part of Star Alliance, allowing you to leverage one program for a better deal.

When searching for flights, always compare availability across all transfer partners to find the best redemption. This process can be time-consuming, but tools like 10x Travel or Point.me can simplify it.

For a deeper dive into alliances and their members, check out “What Are Airline Alliances, and Who’s in Them?” on The Points Guy.

Tips for Booking Award Flights

Booking award flights comes with challenges, especially for premium seats. Airlines limit the number of award seats available to partner programs, and while economy seats are often plentiful, business class seats may be limited to just two per flight.

Here’s how to navigate these restrictions:

  1. Book Early: Award flights typically open for booking 11 months in advance.

  2. Be Flexible:

    • Midweek flights often have more availability than weekends.

    • Alternate routes can open additional opportunities. For example, you could fly business class from Tokyo to San Francisco, spend a couple of days exploring, and then return to Seattle. This is known as a repositioning flight.

  3. Monitor Award Availability: Using paid tools or services can help identify and secure premium award seats.

By planning ahead and being flexible, you can unlock incredible travel experiences while getting the most value from your points.