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Founded 1997 · Frankfurt, Germany

Star Alliance: members, tiers and the best miles to book it

Star Alliance is the largest and oldest of the three global alliances, founded in May 1997 by Air Canada, Lufthansa, SAS, Thai Airways and United, and now 26 airlines after ITA Airways joined on April 1, 2026. It has the deepest coverage of Europe (Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian, Turkish, TAP, LOT, Aegean, ITA), Asia (ANA, Singapore Airlines, EVA, Thai, Air China) and the Americas (United, Air Canada, Avianca, Copa), which is why a Star Alliance balance can be redeemed almost anywhere.

For award travellers the alliance matters because every member program can book every member's flights. The same Lufthansa business class seat is on the price list of United MileagePlus, Air Canada Aeroplan, Singapore KrisFlyer, Turkish Miles&Smiles and Lufthansa's own Miles & More, each at its own price and with its own fees. Choosing which of those programs to book through is most of the skill; the award chart references compare them.

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

Star Alliance member airlines (26)

AirlineCountryNote
Aegean AirlinesGreece
Air CanadaCanadaFounding member; Aeroplan
Air ChinaChina
Air IndiaIndia
Air New ZealandNew Zealand
ANAJapanANA Mileage Club
Asiana AirlinesSouth KoreaLeaves December 16, 2026 as it merges into Korean Air
Austrian AirlinesAustriaLufthansa Group; Miles & More
AviancaColombiaLifeMiles
Brussels AirlinesBelgiumLufthansa Group
Copa AirlinesPanama
Croatia AirlinesCroatia
EGYPTAIREgypt
Ethiopian AirlinesEthiopia
EVA AirTaiwan
ITA AirwaysItalyJoined April 1, 2026 from SkyTeam
LOT Polish AirlinesPoland
LufthansaGermanyFounding member; Miles & More
Shenzhen AirlinesChina
Singapore AirlinesSingaporeKrisFlyer
South African AirwaysSouth Africa
SWISSSwitzerlandLufthansa Group
TAP Air PortugalPortugal
Thai AirwaysThailandFounding member
Turkish AirlinesTurkeyMiles&Smiles
United AirlinesUnited StatesFounding member; MileagePlus

Connecting Partner: Juneyao Airlines (China).

Best programs for booking Star Alliance awards

United MileagePlus

No fuel surcharges on any partner, no change fees on award tickets and the biggest US network to connect through. Prices are dynamic and often higher than the partner programs below, but the site shows every Star Alliance carrier and United's own Saver awards are unbeatable when they appear.

Air Canada Aeroplan

A published distance-based partner chart, no surcharges beyond a $39 partner booking fee, stopovers for 5,000 points and transfers from Chase, Amex, Capital One and Bilt. The most complete Star Alliance booking tool; see the Aeroplan chart reference.

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer

The only way to book Singapore Airlines Suites and its best business class at Saver prices, plus a fixed Star Alliance chart for partners. Transfers from all four big US bank programs.

Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles

A fixed chart that still prices Star Alliance business class to Europe well and United domestic flights at 15,000 miles, fed by Capital One, Citi and Bilt. Booking partner awards often needs a phone call or email.

ANA Mileage Club

A published partner chart with no seasons that prices business class between North America and Europe at 100,000 miles round trip or 50,000 one way, and ANA's own business and first class to Japan from 100,000 and 150,000 miles round trip in Low season, plus fuel surcharges. Fed by Amex (1:1, on ANA's own page) and Marriott; see the ANA chart reference.

Avianca LifeMiles

Books Avianca and the other Star Alliance airlines, takes transfers from Capital One and Bilt at 1:1 and from Citi ThankYou, and regularly sells miles in bonus sales. It publishes no award chart, so price each trip in the lifemiles.com search before moving points; see the LifeMiles chart reference.

Lufthansa Miles & More

Best kept for Lufthansa Group first class, which the airline releases to its own members before partners. Dynamic pricing on Lufthansa flights since June 2025 and full carrier surcharges make it a poor choice for most partner awards, and no US bank transfers to it.

  • Alaska Atmos Rewards, a oneworld program, books Singapore Airlines and Starlux through bilateral partnerships.
  • Virgin Australia Velocity, outside the alliances, books Singapore Airlines, United, ANA, Air Canada and South African Airways from its own distance tables, but only residents of Australia, New Zealand and nearby Pacific countries can join Velocity; see the Velocity chart reference.

Elite tiers

Star Alliance Silver
Priority reservation waitlisting and priority airport standby on every member airline. Mapped from each program's entry tier, such as United Premier Silver or Aeroplan 25K.
Star Alliance Gold
Lounge access worldwide with one guest, priority check-in, boarding, baggage handling and standby, fast-track security at participating airports and extra baggage allowance. Mapped from United Premier Gold and above, Aeroplan 50K and above, KrisFlyer Elite Gold, Miles & More Senator and Turkish Elite.

Recent and upcoming changes

  • ITA Airways joined on April 1, 2026, moving from SkyTeam after Lufthansa took a stake in the airline, and became the alliance's 26th member.
  • Asiana Airlines leaves at 23:59 Korea time on December 16, 2026, the day before it merges into Korean Air, a SkyTeam member. Star Alliance members earn miles on Asiana-operated flights departing up to October 15, 2026, and Star Alliance awards on Asiana can be used for travel completed by December 16, 2026.
  • Asiana Club members must book Star Alliance awards with Asiana miles by October 31, November 30 or December 16, 2026, depending on the partner airline. From December 17, 2026 Asiana balances move into Korean Air SKYPASS, where they can be converted at 1:1 for flight miles or 1:0.82 for partner miles, or kept separately for up to 10 years.
  • Virgin Australia is often reported as a future member, but no membership has been announced and Star Alliance benefits are not extended on Virgin Australia flights.
  • Lufthansa Miles & More moved its own flights to dynamic pricing on June 3, 2025, and United ended its Excursionist Perk in August 2025, so the value of booking Star Alliance awards through those two programs has fallen relative to Aeroplan, KrisFlyer and Turkish.

Star Alliance FAQ

Which airlines are in Star Alliance?
Twenty-six airlines as of September 2026: Aegean, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana (until December 16, 2026), Austrian, Avianca, Brussels Airlines, Copa, Croatia Airlines, EGYPTAIR, Ethiopian, EVA Air, ITA Airways, LOT, Lufthansa, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, SWISS, TAP, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines and United.
What is the best program for booking Star Alliance awards?
Air Canada Aeroplan for most partner awards, because it publishes a chart, adds no surcharges beyond a $39 fee and takes transfers from every major US bank program. United MileagePlus is the simplest for US travellers and charges no fees to change or cancel. Singapore KrisFlyer is best for Singapore Airlines' own premium cabins, and Turkish Miles&Smiles has the cheapest United domestic awards.
Does Star Alliance Gold status work across all members?
Yes. Star Alliance Gold gives lounge access, priority check-in, boarding, baggage and standby and extra baggage on every member airline, whichever program issued the status. Star Alliance Silver gives only priority waitlisting and standby.
Can I book Lufthansa first class with United or Aeroplan miles?
Sometimes. Lufthansa releases first class award seats to partner programs only close to departure, typically within about two weeks, and to Miles & More members earlier. Business class on Lufthansa, SWISS and Austrian is available to partners much further out.

Sources

Other alliances