Oneworld Alliance
The Oneworld Alliance is not a frequent flyer program in itself, but instead brings together the world’s largest high quality airlines, allowing members to access benefits with each of them with far greater ease than non-members. With so many airlines being part of the alliance, members have hundreds of opportunities to earn points at a fast rate, thus accessing great benefits frequently. Additionally, members will be able to save money, experience smooth and easy transitions between flights, take advantage of comfortable airport lounges, and draw on an army of staff for help and support throughout their journeys.
Oneworld Alliance Airlines
As mentioned previously, Oneworld is not an airline or a frequent flyer program itself, but a partnership of several airlines, each with their own frequent flyer schemes. Those airlines are some of the most highly recommended in the world. They are American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, LAN, Malev, Mexicana, Qantas and Royal Jordinian.
Oneworld Alliance Flights
With 11 world class airlines, each with well developed routes in all the world’s continents, it is likely that members will be able to access discounts, benefits and special offers wherever they are traveling to; between them, Oneworld Alliance airlines fly to 700 destinations across the globe.
Oneworld Alliance Member Entitlements
Members of Oneworld Alliance will have access to almost 550 luxurious, comfortable airport lounges all around the world. This is one of the major benefits of membership of the Oneworld Alliance, and as members move up through the tiers of Oneworld membership, from Ruby to Sapphire to Emerald, access to these exclusive lounges will improve, meaning that members will be able to access the lounges with less restrictions and for longer periods of time. For example, Ruby members will be able to access lounges if they are traveling in First Class or Business class, otherwise a fee applies, but Emerald and Sapphire members can access lounges free of charge regardless of the class they are traveling in.
Another significant benefit to Oneworld members is the pledge from Oneworld to make sure that members experience smoother transfers between flights. Oneworld was the first of all the global airline alliances to provide members with internline e-ticketing between its partner airlines. This enables members to travel throughout the network of flights provided by member airlines using only electronic tickets, cutting down frustrating queues and paperwork.
Frequent flyers looking to save money will benefit from Oneworld Alliance membership. The alliance’s Oneworld fares make it easier to plan travel itineraries using several different airlines, so customers can choose the best deals on flights from various airlines for one trip with the least difficulty possible. Finally, Oneworld’s members employ 292,000 people in 150 countries. That means that there are always members of staff ready to assist members with whatever problems or difficulties they have, helping to make travel much less stressful.
There are three tiers of membership with Oneworld, each with its own benefits. The Emerald and Sapphire statuses provide members with access to all First Class and Business Class frequent flyer lounges prior to departure, regardless of the class they are traveling in. Emerald and Sapphire members can also bring one guest into the lounge too.
All members of any tier are entitled to Business Class priority check in, priority standby and waitlisting, and pre-reserved preferential seating. With Sapphire membership, members also receive a boarding at convenience feature, and with Emerald status, members are entitled to all of the previous benefits plus First Class priority check in.
Earn Oneworld Alliance Points
Members of different airlines' frequent flyer programs are able to reap the benefits of flying with a particular company with all of the airlines that are part of Oneworld. So, if you are a member of American Airlines AAdvantage Program, British Airways Executive Club, Cathay Pacific Marco Polo Club, Finnair Plus, JAL Mileage Bank, Iberia Plus, LANPASS, Malév Duna Club, MexicanaGO, Qantas Frequent Flyer or Royal Jordanian Royal Plus, the benefits and privileges you earn with one airline will extend to all of the other airlines in the alliance. Members earn air miles in their own program on eligible flights. These points or miles then count towards both improving a member’s status within Oneworld Alliance, and can be redeemed with any of the member airlines’ flights.
Eligibility
To be eligible for Oneworld Alliance membership, you must be a member of one of the member airline’s frequent flyer programs. Conditions of membership for these various frequent flyer programs differ, but normally, members must be 16 years of age to become a member of their own accord, or aged 2 or over to become a member with the consent and help of a parent or legal guardian.