Which alliance is United part of?

United Airlines is a member of the Star Alliance, which unites 26 member airlines made up of both global and regional worldwide brands. Choosing an airline rewards programs that's part of an alliance like this can make it easier to book and connect flights to anywhere in the world using your rewards.



United Airlines is a founding member of the Star Alliance, which remains the largest and most comprehensive global airline network in 2026. Being part of Star Alliance means that United travelers can earn and redeem MileagePlus miles on over 25 different partner airlines, including Lufthansa, Air Canada, ANA (All Nippon Airways), Singapore Airlines, and Turkish Airlines. This partnership provides United passengers with seamless connectivity to over 1,200 destinations in 190 countries on a single ticket. For frequent flyers, the alliance is particularly valuable because United "Premier" status translates into Star Alliance Silver or Gold status. A Star Alliance Gold member flying United can access over 1,000 airport lounges worldwide, even when flying in economy on a partner carrier. In 2026, the alliance has also expanded its "intermodal" partnerships, allowing United passengers to book connecting high-speed rail journeys in Europe (like Deutsche Bahn) directly through the United app, all while earning airline miles. This makes United part of the most powerful loyalty ecosystem in the aviation industry, far outpacing the reach of SkyTeam (Delta) or Oneworld (American).

People Also Ask

United Airlines is a founding member of the Star Alliance, the largest airline alliance in the world, that includes the following global airlines:
  • Aegean.
  • Air Canada.
  • Air China.
  • Air India.
  • Air New Zealand.
  • All Nippon Airways (ANA)
  • Asiana Airlines.
  • Austrian Airlines.


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You can redeem your miles for an award ticket of any member airline — subject to availability — irrespective of the frequent flyer programme with which you earned them.

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You can earn and use MileagePlus miles on more than 35 airlines worldwide. Select a Star Alliance™ or MileagePlus partner airline below for more information about earning miles on flights operated by that airline.

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The airline is part of the SkyTeam alliance with 18 other airlines and has direct relationships with nine other airlines. Additionally, Virgin Atlantic is a transfer partner of most credit card points programs, so cardholders can transfer points to Flying Club to book flights.

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Emirates has collaborated with other airlines, but is not a member of any of the three global airline alliances – Oneworld, SkyTeam, or Star Alliance. In 2000, the airline briefly considered joining Star Alliance, but opted to remain independent.

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Airline alliances have grown over the years to form an integral part of the passenger aviation industry. Altogether, there are currently three big players in the market. These groups are oneworld, Star Alliance, and SkyTeam.

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With an impressive 26 members, Star Alliance was founded in 1997 by Lufthansa, Air Canada, United Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) and Thai Airways. Today it services 1,200-plus airports (even more with their connection partners) and is the largest airline alliance.

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MileagePlus® members traveling on United between Newark (EWR) and Dubai (DXB) can earn miles for connecting flights on Emirates. This is only available on select routes between Dubai (DXB) and Africa, the Middle East, and the South Asian Subcontinent.

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United replaces Delta as Virgin's US-based partner, with Delta to exit the partnership on 13 June 2022. Until then, you can use Velocity Points to book either airline. Until 13 June 2022, you can book both Delta and United with Velocity Points. United's co-payments are cheaper.

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The airline has been under restructuring since it filed for bankruptcy under the U.S. Chapter 11 process. After several months, they reached a significant milestone: it will be acquired by a new consortium that includes Air France-KLM, leaving behind Star Alliance and joining SkyTeam.

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United Airlines is a member of the Star Alliance, which unites 26 member airlines made up of both global and regional worldwide brands.

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Today, Star Alliance comprises 26 member airlines, each with its own distinctive culture and style of service. Alliance members come together at over 50 global hubs to offer smooth connections across a world-leading global network.

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United Airlines is a member of the Star Alliance, which unites 26 member airlines made up of both global and regional worldwide brands. Choosing an airline rewards programs that's part of an alliance like this can make it easier to book and connect flights to anywhere in the world using your rewards.

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Qatar Airways is a proud member of oneworld, an alliance of 14 of the world's leading airlines, committed to providing the highest level of service and convenience.

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