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Founded 2000 · Amsterdam, Netherlands

SkyTeam: members, tiers and the best miles to book it

SkyTeam was founded in June 2000 by Delta, Air France, Aeromexico and Korean Air and today has 18 active members, with Aeroflot suspended since 2022. Its strength is the North Atlantic, where Delta, Air France, KLM and Virgin Atlantic run a joint venture, plus Korean Air, China Eastern, China Airlines and Vietnam Airlines across Asia and Saudia and Middle East Airlines in the Gulf and Levant.

It is the alliance where the choice of booking program matters most, because two of its biggest members price dynamically. Delta SkyMiles and Air France KLM Flying Blue set prices from demand, while Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and Korean Air SKYPASS still publish partner charts. A Delta One seat that costs 170,000 SkyMiles can be 47,500 Virgin Points plus surcharges on the same day; the award chart references show each program's prices.

Written and reviewed by the Points Plug team. Last reviewed .

SkyTeam member airlines (18)

AirlineCountryJoinedNote
Aerolíneas ArgentinasArgentina2012
AeromexicoMexico2000Founding member
Air EuropaSpain2007
Air FranceFrance2000Founding member; Flying Blue
China AirlinesTaiwan2011
China EasternChina2011
Delta Air LinesUnited States2000Founding member; SkyMiles
Garuda IndonesiaIndonesia2014
Kenya AirwaysKenya2007
KLMNetherlands2004Flying Blue
Korean AirSouth Korea2000Founding member; SKYPASS, absorbing Asiana in December 2026
Middle East AirlinesLebanon2012
SAS Scandinavian AirlinesDenmark, Norway and Sweden2024Joined September 1, 2024 from Star Alliance
SaudiaSaudi Arabia2012
TAROMRomania2010
Vietnam AirlinesVietnam2010
Virgin AtlanticUnited Kingdom2023Joined March 2, 2023; Flying Club
XiamenAirChina2012

Suspended: Aeroflot (Russia), membership suspended in 2022.

Best programs for booking SkyTeam awards

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Published partner charts for Delta (by distance and for transatlantic routes) and for ANA, plus Saver seats on Virgin's own flights from 6,000 points. Fed by every US bank program. Carrier surcharges apply on most routes; see the Flying Club chart reference.

Air France-KLM Flying Blue

The most accessible SkyTeam currency, with transfers from all six US bank programs and monthly Promo Rewards at 25 percent off. Prices are dynamic within published ranges and carrier charges are payable in cash, so Delta flights booked through Flying Blue can undercut Delta's own prices.

Delta SkyMiles

No change or cancellation fees, the widest choice of Delta flights and no chart at all. Best for Delta main cabin awards on sale dates; Delta One and partner premium cabins are usually cheaper through Virgin Atlantic or Flying Blue.

Korean Air SKYPASS

A fixed region chart with peak and off-peak dates and the alliance's best first class product, but no US bank transfers and awards for family members only. Worth holding for Korean Air's own premium cabins.

  • Etihad Guest and Emirates Skywards are outside the alliances but partner with several SkyTeam carriers, and Qantas Frequent Flyer books Air France, KLM and China Airlines through bilateral agreements.
  • Virgin Australia Velocity books Virgin Atlantic by phone from its own distance table, but only residents of Australia, New Zealand and nearby Pacific countries can join Velocity.

Elite tiers

SkyTeam Elite
Priority reservation waitlist, priority airport standby, priority check-in and extra baggage allowance. Mapped from Delta Silver Medallion, Flying Blue Silver, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Silver and Korean Air Morning Calm.
SkyTeam Elite Plus
Everything in Elite plus lounge access, priority security, priority baggage handling, guaranteed reservations on sold-out flights and the SkyPriority airport services. Mapped from Delta Gold, Platinum and Diamond Medallion, Flying Blue Gold and Platinum, Flying Club Gold and Korean Air Morning Calm Premium and Million Miler.

Recent and upcoming changes

  • SAS joined on September 1, 2024 after Air France-KLM took a stake, moving from Star Alliance, and Czech Airlines left on October 26, 2024.
  • ITA Airways left in early 2025 ahead of its move to Star Alliance in April 2026, following Lufthansa's investment.
  • Korean Air and Asiana launch as one airline on December 17, 2026, when Asiana Club balances move into SKYPASS, to be converted at 1:1 for flight miles or 1:0.82 for partner miles or kept separately for up to 10 years; Asiana itself leaves Star Alliance the day before.
  • Riyadh Air, launched in October 2025, has said it will not join an alliance and is building bilateral partnerships instead, several of them with SkyTeam carriers.
  • Award pricing moved in 2026: Flying Blue introduced Light, Standard and Flex reward fares on September 8, 2026, and Delta extended Basic fares to premium cabins in July 2026.

SkyTeam FAQ

Which airlines are in SkyTeam?
Eighteen active members as of September 2026: Aerolíneas Argentinas, Aeromexico, Air Europa, Air France, China Airlines, China Eastern, Delta, Garuda Indonesia, Kenya Airways, KLM, Korean Air, Middle East Airlines, SAS, Saudia, TAROM, Vietnam Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and XiamenAir. Aeroflot is suspended.
What is the best program for booking SkyTeam awards?
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club for Delta and ANA awards from its published charts, and Air France KLM Flying Blue for Air France, KLM and most other partners, especially on Promo Rewards dates. Delta SkyMiles is the most flexible but usually the most expensive for premium cabins.
Is Virgin Atlantic in SkyTeam?
Yes. Virgin Atlantic joined SkyTeam on March 2, 2023. Flying Club Silver corresponds to SkyTeam Elite and Flying Club Gold to Elite Plus, and Virgin Points can be redeemed on SkyTeam members as well as on Virgin's long-standing non-alliance partners such as ANA.
Does SkyTeam Elite Plus include lounge access?
Yes. Elite Plus members get SkyTeam lounge access when flying any member airline internationally, plus priority security, baggage and guaranteed reservations. Elite members get priority check-in, waitlist and standby and extra baggage but no lounge access.

Sources

Other alliances