Oneworld Airlines
Brief Profile
oneworld is the third largest global airline alliance in the world based in Vancouver,
British Columbia, Canada. It was founded in 1999 by American Airlines, British Airways,
Canadian Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways and Qantas with the vision statement “To
generate more value for customers, shareholders and employees than any airline can
achieve by itself.” The alliance brings together 12 of the world’s leading airlines,
reaching the total strength of 20 along with the affiliate airlines. The member
airlines jointly serve more than 900 destinations in nearly 150 countries. With
a combined fleet of over 2,500 aircraft, the member airlines operate over 9,500
daily flights, carrying 340 million passengers annually.
Members
The member airlines include American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways,
Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, LAN, Malév Hungarian Airlines, Mexicana, Qantas,
Royal Jordanian and S7 Airlines. India’s Kingfisher Airlines and Germany’s second
largest airline Air Berlin will be joining oneworld in the near future. The following
airlines are the affiliate members: AmericanConnectionSM, American Eagle (American
Airlines); BA Cityflyer, Comair, Sun-Air of Scandinavia (British Airways); Dragonair
(Cathay Pacific); Air Nostrum (Iberia); JAL Express, J-Air, Japan Transocean Air
(JAL – Japan Airlines); LAN Argentina, LAN Ecuador, LAN Express, LAN Peru (LAN);
MexicanaClick, MexicanaLink (Mexicana); QantasLink, Jetconnect (Qantas); and Globus
(S7 Airlines).
Benefits Offered
Though the oneworld alliance doesn’t offer its own frequent flyer program, it however
offers several benefits to the passengers traveling by the member airlines in its
network. The benefits include greater rewards for frequent flyers, access to airline
lounges, smoother transfers, and many more.
Greater Rewards for Frequent Flyers:
The rewards and privileges are extended throughout the oneworld alliance if the
passengers are members 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, Royal
Jordanian Royal Plus or S7 Priority. The passengers will be able to earn miles in
their own program whenever they travel on eligible flights and fares of any oneworld
alliance member airline. Qualifying flights will also count towards advancing or
maintaining the passengers’ tier status.
Access to Airline Lounges:
The oneworld alliance has different names for the top three membership tiers in
their frequent flyer programs – Emerald (top tier), Sapphire (second tier) and Ruby
(third tier) – so that the passengers are able to receive the privileges according
to their tier status. Emerald status gives access (with one guest) to all First
Class and Business Class/Frequent Flyer lounges, regardless of the class of travel,
whereas Sapphire status gives access (with one guest) to all Business Class/Frequent
Flyer lounges regardless of the class of travel at the nearly 550 airport lounges
around the world in its network.
Smoother Transfers:
With a view for smoother transfers, especially to passengers with onward connections,
oneworld is first of the global alliances to offer the customer convenience of interline
e-ticketing between all partner airlines enabling them to travel throughout the
network, on any combination of oneworld’s carriers, using electronic tickets only
(up to a maximum of 16 sectors).
Oneworld alliance provides various travel options for passengers traveling by its
member airlines.
(a.) Round-the-World Fares:
oneworld Explorer and Global Explorer
(b.) Multi-Continent Fares:
oneworld Circle Atlantic, oneworld Circle Pacific, oneworld Circle Trip Explorer,
and oneworld Circle Asia & South West Pacific
(c.) Single-Continent Fares:
oneworld Visit Passes offer special flexible fares for exploring several destinations
within one continent. The seven Visit Passes are Visit Africa, Visit Asia (Following
countries are covered: China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan,
Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam), Visit
Japan (Access to over 40 destinations in Japan), Visit Australia and New Zealand
(Access to over 50 cities in Australia and New Zealand), Visit Europe, Visit North
America, and Visit South America
(d.) Business Travel
businessflyer
oneworld, which has emerged among the world’s leading airline alliance, assures
all its passengers a commitment to provide world-class service and value.
