None of the three alliances issues its own status. Your airline's frequent flyer programme grants a tier, and the alliance recognises it on the other member airlines. Star Alliance has two tiers (Silver and Gold), oneworld has three (Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald), and SkyTeam has two (Elite and Elite Plus).
The lounge question comes first for most readers. On the official lists, Star Alliance Gold, oneworld Emerald and Sapphire, and SkyTeam Elite Plus include lounge access. Star Alliance Silver, oneworld Ruby and SkyTeam Elite do not. Every one of those lounge rights comes with conditions: the flight, the airline operating it, the departure airport and the time of day. The sections below give each rule as the alliance states it.
How you get a tier
Star Alliance. Gold and Silver are tier levels recognised across all member carriers. Each member airline defines its own tier levels that equate to Gold and Silver, so the qualification rules sit on that airline's frequent flyer programme website. If your programme status matches Gold or Silver, your programme card shows the Star Alliance Gold or Silver logo. Gold status cannot be moved to another programme, because the programmes are run independently by the member airlines. Star Alliance suggests carrying your programme card in case another member airline does not recognise your status; after the flight, contact your own programme.
oneworld. There is no standalone oneworld frequent flyer programme. You are automatically designated a oneworld Priority tier (Emerald, Sapphire or Ruby) when you reach a qualifying status in a member airline's programme. The oneworld benefits page has an airline drop-down that shows how each programme's tier equates to a oneworld tier. This article does not list airline-to-tier pairings, because that drop-down is the official answer.
SkyTeam. Each member's Elite programme equates to one of two levels, Elite or Elite Plus. There is no "SkyTeam" programme or card: you sign up to one member's programme. You can earn miles with only one programme per flight. Elite status earned in one programme is not transferable to another carrier's programme, but it is recognised across SkyTeam carriers. SkyTeam's Loyalty Benefits Calculator shows which perks you are entitled to; SkyTeam says its information is for information only. Its programmes page adds that members of Kenya Airways' Asante programme may not get full reciprocity across all SkyTeam members.
Because each programme sets its own qualification rules, look up your own programme's page for how your airline's tier maps to the alliance tier before you count on any benefit below.
What each tier gets
All three tables show only what the alliance lists. A dash means the tier's official list does not include that item.
Star Alliance Silver and Gold
| Benefit | Silver | Gold |
|---|---|---|
| Priority waitlisting | Yes | Yes |
| Priority airport standby (where allowed by law) | Yes | Yes |
| Priority check-in | – | Yes |
| Priority boarding (where available) | – | Yes |
| Priority baggage delivery | – | Yes |
| Extra baggage allowance | – | Yes |
| Worldwide lounge access (some restrictions apply) | – | Yes |
| Gold Track (priority security and immigration, where available) | – | Yes |
The official Silver list has two items, waitlist and standby. Waitlist and standby are subject to the member carrier's fare conditions and legal regulations, and standby excludes award ticket bookings. Priority check-in counters are marked with a Star Alliance Gold sign at selected participating airports and member airlines. Gold Track lane names and availability vary by airport. Gold members and one companion also get a complimentary upgrade to PREMIER+ on Heathrow Express.
oneworld Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald
| Benefit | Ruby | Sapphire | Emerald |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airport lounges | – | Business Class lounges | First and Business Class lounges |
| Priority check-in | Business Class | Business Class | First Class |
| Fast Track or Priority Lane (select airports) | – | – | Yes |
| Priority baggage handling* | – | Yes | Yes |
| Extra checked baggage | – | Yes | Yes |
| Priority boarding | – | Yes | Yes |
| Preferred or pre-reserved seating** | Per operating airline policy | Per operating airline policy | Per operating airline policy |
| Priority on waitlists and standby** | Per operating airline policy | Per operating airline policy | Per operating airline policy |
*Not currently available on flights operated by British Airways. **In accordance with the individual policy of the oneworld airline operating the flight.
The Ruby list has three items: Business Class priority check-in, seating, and waitlist and standby priority. It has no extra bag and no lounge.
SkyTeam Elite and Elite Plus
SkyTeam's benefits page says available priority services may vary by airport.
| Benefit | Elite | Elite Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Extra baggage allowance | 10 kg, or one additional bag where the piece concept applies | 20 kg, or one additional bag where the piece concept applies |
| Priority check-in | Yes | Yes |
| Priority baggage drop-off | Yes | Yes |
| Priority seating | Yes | Yes |
| Priority boarding | Yes | Yes |
| Priority airport standby | Yes | Yes |
| Priority waitlist | Yes | Yes |
| Lounge access | – | Yes |
| SkyPriority recognition | – | Yes |
| Priority at transfer desks | – | Yes |
| Priority baggage handling | – | Yes |
| Guaranteed reservations | – | Yes |
| Fast Track lanes at security and immigration, when available | – | Yes |
Guaranteed reservations mean a guaranteed full-fare economy booking on long-haul international flights of 6 hours or more that are sold out in economy, booked at least 24 hours before departure.
SkyTeam lists Elite priority benefits and SkyPriority eligibility separately. The benefits page lists priority check-in and priority boarding for Elite. The SkyPriority page says SkyPriority services (priority check-in, baggage drop-off, security and immigration lanes, boarding, transfers, baggage handling, ticket office) are offered to First and Business Class customers and to Elite Plus members regardless of class. It says they are available at more than 900 airports and cannot be purchased. The two pages do not say how these fit together for an Elite member, and the benefits page says priority services may vary by airport, so ask at your departure airport.
Lounge access rules
This is where the three alliances differ most. In each case the lounge is at your departure airport. oneworld excludes arrivals lounges, and SkyTeam says lounge access on arrival is not a standard entitlement.
| Star Alliance Gold | oneworld Emerald / Sapphire | SkyTeam Elite Plus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Which flight | Any class on a Star Alliance member-operated flight | Flight both marketed and operated by a oneworld member | Same-day international flight operated by a SkyTeam member, or a transfer between flights (domestic or international) operated by two SkyTeam members |
| Which lounge | A member airline's Business Class lounge showing the Star Alliance Gold logo; First Class lounges too if you fly First (ultra-premium lounges excluded) | Emerald: First Class, Business Class or frequent flyer lounges, regardless of cabin. Sapphire: Business Class or frequent flyer lounges (not Qantas Domestic Business Lounges) | SkyTeam member and SkyTeam-branded lounges, in any cabin including Economy |
| Timing | Flight departs the same day as your visit, or by 05:00 the next morning | Day of travel, or before 06:00 the next day | Entry at least 3 hours before departure; transfers keep same-day or 24-hour access at the connection point |
| What to show | Boarding pass; Gold card if the pass has no Gold indicator | Boarding pass and frequent flyer card showing Emerald or Sapphire | Boarding pass and a valid Elite Plus card, physical or digital |
| Guest | One eligible guest on the same Star Alliance flight from the local airport | One guest also on a oneworld-marketed and operated flight | One guest on the same SkyTeam-operated flight |
Star Alliance Gold details
- Ultra-premium lounges are not open on the Gold entitlement. The lounge policy page names examples such as Lufthansa HON/First Class lounges in Frankfurt and Munich and United Polaris Lounges, and adds that the list is subject to change.
- Any accompanying person over age two counts as a guest; children under two do not. You cannot bring a different guest on each visit to exceed the entitlement, and a customer entitled on several grounds (for example First Class plus Gold) still brings only one guest.
- United MileagePlus Gold members may use United Clubs within the U.S. only when departing on an international Star Alliance flight, not on a domestic United flight.
- Connecting Partner flights: Gold members on a Connecting Partner flight that is part of an itinerary with at least one Star Alliance flight may have lounge access if the boarding pass shows the Gold indicator, or they show the Gold card plus proof of a same-day connecting itinerary. One guest on the same flight is allowed. Each Connecting Partner offers its own set of privileges, and a Connecting Partner flight booked separately does not count as a connecting itinerary.
- Contract (third-party) lounges: access depends on the airline's policy and the Lounge Finder.
- Star Alliance's Gold page says Gold access covers over 1,000 airport lounges worldwide, including six Star Alliance lounges. The Gold status page is the source for that number.
oneworld details
- Exclusions: arrivals lounges, spa and pre-flight dining facilities, British Airways' Concorde lounges, American Airlines' and British Airways' Chelsea lounge at JFK Terminal 8, and Hawaiian Airlines Premier Clubs. Infants under 2 are not counted as a guest.
- Alaska/Hawaiian Atmos Rewards members are not eligible for oneworld member lounges when travelling solely within and between the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
- American AAdvantage members are not eligible when travelling solely on North American flights between the U.S., Canada, Mexico (except Mexico City), the Bahamas, Bermuda and the Caribbean, nor on domestic U.S. flights (the page says some exceptions apply).
- Paid lounge memberships from Alaska, American and Qantas are not part of the oneworld agreement.
- Qatar Airways "Business Lite" and Finnair "Business Light" fares are not eligible.
- Some Qatar lounges in Doha are split by tier: Platinum Lounges for Emerald members in economy, Gold Lounges for Sapphire members in economy.
- Ruby is not listed for lounge access.
- SriLankan Airlines' own FlySmiLes Platinum and Gold members have no lounge access in Economy on SriLankan-operated flights between Colombo and Male, Gan and eight cities in southern India (the oneworld lounge page lists them). The page says this exception does not apply to other members' Emerald and Sapphire customers.
SkyTeam details
- No pre-booking is needed for SkyTeam-branded lounges. SkyTeam does not manage lounge reservations; contact the airline, lounge or booking entity for those.
- Domestic lounges: since 1 April 2025, Elite Plus members can use select member lounges on domestic itineraries. SkyTeam's 6 October 2025 press release says more than 70 lounges are accessible on domestic itineraries, including 32 lounges of China Eastern and Xiamen Airlines across China. The lounges belong to Aeromexico, Air France, China Eastern, Garuda Indonesia, Kenya Airways, KLM, Korean Air, SAS, Saudia, Vietnam Airlines and Xiamen Airlines. It is not available at all member lounges. The press release links to SkyTeam's current list of accessible lounges; read that list before you rely on a domestic lounge. Separate domestic policies may apply to Aerolineas Plus and Delta SkyMiles members.
- Domestic-only itineraries: the lounge finder says customers on a domestic-only itinerary may have access to select lounges.
- SkyTeam says its members together offer 750+ lounges worldwide.
- Delta Sky Club: complimentary access is no longer extended to Delta SkyMiles Elite Plus equivalent members (Diamond, Platinum and Gold Medallion) flying Main Cabin or Delta Comfort+ internationally. Effective 1 January 2024, Delta SkyMiles members in Basic Economy or equivalent partner cabins do not have Sky Club access. Elite Plus members of other programmes are not affected by that line, and Delta Elite Plus members can keep using other SkyTeam member-owned and SkyTeam-branded lounges; third-party lounges are excluded. International travel for this purpose excludes travel between the U.S. and the Caribbean.
- The access policy for Virgin Atlantic's Clubhouse at London Heathrow Terminal 3 is on virginatlantic.com.
Extra checked baggage
| Tier | What the alliance states |
|---|---|
| Star Alliance Silver | No extra baggage on the official Silver list |
| Star Alliance Gold | An extra 20 kg (44 pounds) or an additional piece of luggage, depending on the airline's baggage policy |
| oneworld Ruby | No extra baggage on the official Ruby list |
| oneworld Sapphire | Weight system, international or domestic: 15 kg in addition to the ticketed Economy Class allowance. Piece system, international itineraries that include domestic sectors: one additional bag of up to 23 kg, to a maximum of two pieces. Purely domestic piece-system itineraries with no ticketed baggage entitlement: one piece of up to 23 kg is assured |
| oneworld Emerald | Weight system: 20 kg in addition to the ticketed-cabin allowance. Piece system: one additional bag |
| SkyTeam Elite | 10 kg, or one additional bag where the piece concept applies |
| SkyTeam Elite Plus | 20 kg, or one additional bag where the piece concept applies |
oneworld adds that First and Business Class customers will in most cases receive an even greater free allowance, that special baggage privileges are not available on British Airways "Hand Baggage Only/Basic" fares, and that exceptions may apply. Star Alliance's "20 kg or an additional piece" depends on the operating airline's policy, so the number of bags you can take is set by that airline, not by a single alliance rule.
Which flights count
Each alliance ties its benefits to flights on its own member airlines.
- Star Alliance: Gold lounge and priority benefits apply on flights operated by Star Alliance member airlines. Connecting Partner flights count only under the itinerary rule above. The members page says Star Alliance unites 26 airlines and lists Juneyao Air, Deutsche Bahn and ÖBB as Connecting or Intermodal Partners.
- oneworld: lounge access requires a flight both marketed and operated by a oneworld member.
- SkyTeam: lounge access requires a flight operated by a SkyTeam member, either a same-day international flight or a transfer between two SkyTeam-operated flights. Customers on domestic flights need an itinerary that transfers to an international flight, or a select domestic lounge under the domestic rule above.
Within each of these, benefits can still depend on the airline operating the flight and, for oneworld, on the fare (for example the Qatar and Finnair fares excluded above).
What has changed recently
Asiana leaves Star Alliance. Asiana Airlines' notice dated 23 June 2026 says Asiana will leave Star Alliance effective 16 December 2026 at 23:59 KST because of its merger with Korean Air. Asiana Club members can earn Asiana miles on Star Alliance partner flights until 16 December 2026, but for flights from 16 October to 16 December the miles are credited only through a separate request after the flight. Members of other Star Alliance programmes can earn miles on Asiana-operated flights departing on or before 15 October 2026. The last dates for redeeming Asiana Club miles for tickets or upgrades on partner airlines vary by operating carrier and are listed in the notice. Elite benefits on partner airlines (lounge access, priority check-in, extra baggage) stay valid for flights departing on or before 16 December 2026. Asiana says holders of Star Alliance Gold status through Asiana Club Diamond or higher are to be converted to SkyTeam Elite Plus. Its notice dated 14 September 2026 says Asiana flights departing on or after 17 December 2026 will operate under Korean Air flight numbers and be operated by Korean Air.
SkyTeam domestic lounges for Elite Plus. New from 1 April 2025, and extended to more domestic itineraries in the 6 October 2025 press release described above.
Delta Sky Club exceptions. The 1 January 2024 change to Delta Sky Club access, described above.
Suspended members. SkyTeam's members page lists Aeroflot as suspended, and its 6 October 2025 press release says the same. On oneworld's members page, an advisory says oneworld and S7 Airlines agreed to suspend S7's membership effective 19 April 2022 until further notice.
Which alliance should you look at
This is a routing guide, not a ranking. Match it to what you fly and what you need.
- You mostly fly one airline. Find which alliance that airline belongs to on the alliance members pages, and read that alliance's benefit list. Your airline's programme, not the alliance, decides your tier.
- Lounges matter most. Compare the lounge rules table above: the flight rule (operated versus marketed and operated), the timing window, the guest rule and the exceptions for your home airline. For domestic lounges, read the SkyTeam domestic list and the oneworld exceptions for American and Alaska/Hawaiian members.
- Extra bags matter most. Use the baggage table. Each alliance states a weight or a piece, and the operating airline's policy applies.
- Fast lanes matter most. Star Alliance Gold has Gold Track, oneworld Emerald has Fast Track or Priority Lane at select airports, and SkyTeam Elite Plus has Fast Track lanes at security and immigration when available. Each is limited by airport.
- You are an Asiana Club member with Star Alliance Gold. Asiana says its own timeline and conversion to SkyTeam Elite Plus apply; see the Asiana section above.
- You have no programme yet. Sign up to one member airline's programme; that programme's own page sets the qualification rules.
FAQ
Can I move my status from one programme to another? Star Alliance says Gold status cannot be transferred, because the programmes are operated independently. SkyTeam says Elite status earned in one programme is not transferable to another carrier's programme. oneworld says there is no standalone programme; your tier comes from your member airline's programme.
Does status apply on partner flights? The Star Alliance and oneworld pages describe status as recognised across that alliance's own member airlines, and SkyTeam says Elite status is recognised across all SkyTeam carriers. None of these pages addresses holding status in two alliances. Confirm with your own airline's programme page before you travel.
Can I earn on two programmes on the same flight? On SkyTeam, no: you can earn miles with only one programme per flight.
Do I need to book a lounge in advance? SkyTeam says no pre-booking is needed for SkyTeam-branded lounges.
Do paid lounge memberships count? Star Alliance's lounge policy page lists eligible paid lounge memberships (Air Canada Maple Leaf Club – Worldwide and United Club). oneworld says paid lounge memberships from Alaska, American and Qantas are not part of its agreement.
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