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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

oneworld Explorer and Global Explorer

oneworld Circle Atlantic, oneworld Circle Pacific, oneworld Circle Trip Explorer, and oneworld Circle Asia & South West Pacific

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

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.