No, as of early 2026, Etihad Airways is not a member of the SkyTeam alliance, nor is it a member of any of the three major global airline alliances (Star Alliance, Oneworld, or SkyTeam). Instead, Etihad follows a strategy of independent partnerships and "equity alliances." They have deep codeshare and loyalty agreements with dozens of individual airlines, including several SkyTeam members like Air France-KLM and Delta Air Lines. This allows passengers to earn and redeem miles across certain routes even though Etihad remains an independent carrier. While there have been occasional rumors about Etihad joining a major alliance to better compete with its neighbor, Emirates, the airline has historically preferred to maintain its own identity and flexibility. This means that if you are a "SkyTeam Elite" member, you will not automatically receive perks like lounge access or priority boarding when flying Etihad, unless you are on a specific codeshare flight that explicitly includes those benefits. Travelers should always check their specific itinerary and the current status of "bilateral agreements" to see if their frequent flyer status will be recognized on an Etihad-operated flight.