Star Alliance Partners
The Star Alliance programme guides cover Lufthansa, Turkish, Air Canada, and Singapore Airlines in detail. This article covers the rest — the airlines that complete itineraries, unlock specific destinations, and provide the routing depth that makes Star Alliance the world’s largest network. United Airlines, ANA, Thai Airways, EVA Air, Ethiopian, Aegean, and others.
These airlines are not usually where you hold status or earn miles. They are where redemptions become bookable — the connecting segment, the alternate routing, or the premium cabin that appears when the obvious option does not.
Earn in one programme (Aeroplan, Miles & More, KrisFlyer, or Miles&Smiles). Book across the full alliance. Star Alliance Gold carries across all 26 member airlines — lounge access, priority services, and extra baggage regardless of which carrier you fly. The partners below are where you spend, not where you earn.
United Airlines — US Domestic Engine
United is the largest US Star Alliance carrier — hubs at Newark, Chicago O’Hare, Denver, Houston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Washington Dulles. For UK travellers, it provides the deepest US domestic connectivity within the alliance.
Why it matters: If your final destination is a US city beyond the gateways (Austin, Nashville, Portland, Salt Lake City), United’s domestic feed is how you get there on Star Alliance metal. London–Newark on United, then Newark–anywhere in the US.
MileagePlus: United’s own programme. Dynamic pricing — no fixed chart. Can be expensive. Miles never expire. For UK travellers, Aeroplan typically offers better value for the same United flights on the fixed partner chart. MileagePlus is not an Amex MR transfer partner in the UK.
Polaris Business Class: United’s long-haul Business — lie-flat 1-2-1 pods on the 787 and 777-300ER. The product has improved significantly. Polaris Lounges at key US hubs (Newark, Chicago, San Francisco, Houston, LAX, Denver) are among the best US domestic Business lounges.
Booking: United flights are bookable via Aeroplan (fixed chart, no surcharges — best option), KrisFlyer, Miles&Smiles, and Miles & More. Aeroplan charges no fuel surcharges on United. Via Miles & More, surcharges can be high.
ANA — Japan and Transpacific
All Nippon Airways is Japan’s largest airline and operates one of the finest Business and First Class products in the world. Its Tokyo Narita and Haneda hubs connect to virtually every Japanese city plus destinations across Asia and the Pacific.
Why it matters: For Japan travel, ANA is the Star Alliance anchor — direct London–Tokyo (Haneda) service, with onward connections to Osaka, Sapporo, Fukuoka, Okinawa, and more. When Lufthansa or Turkish cannot get you to Japan cleanly, ANA often can.
ANA Mileage Club: Round-trip pricing only (no one-ways). Excellent value on round-trip awards — Europe–Japan round-trip in Business from 88,000 miles (off-peak). Transfer partner for Amex MR at 1:1. The 36-month hard expiry and round-trip requirement are the main drawbacks.
The product: ANA Business Class “The Room” on the 777-300ER is one of the best in the world — enclosed suite with closing door. First Class “The Suite” features a fully enclosed private space. Japanese hospitality throughout.
Booking: ANA own programme for best availability on own flights (round-trip only). Via Aeroplan for one-way bookings at fixed rates. Via KrisFlyer (limited partner availability). Availability can be scarce — book 355 days ahead.
EVA Air — Premium Asia via Taipei
EVA Air operates one of Star Alliance’s best-kept-secret premium products. Its Royal Laurel Business Class is consistently rated among the top 5 globally — reverse herringbone lie-flat with exceptional food and service. Taipei Taoyuan hub connects across Asia and to Australia.
Why it matters: Taipei is an excellent connecting hub for Southeast Asia, and EVA’s product quality rivals Singapore Airlines at lower award pricing. London–Taipei–Bangkok or London–Taipei–Bali via EVA can be a premium alternative to the Singapore Airlines route.
Booking: Via Aeroplan at 62,500 points one-way in Business (Europe–Taipei). One of Aeroplan’s best sweet spots. Also bookable via KrisFlyer and Miles&Smiles. Award availability can be inconsistent — EVA sometimes releases last-minute seats.
Thai Airways — Bangkok Hub
Thai Airways provides Star Alliance’s primary coverage of Thailand and mainland Southeast Asia via its Bangkok Suvarnabhumi hub. Connections to Chiang Mai, Phuket, Krabi, and destinations across the region.
Why it matters: For Thailand specifically, Thai Airways is the most direct Star Alliance routing from Europe. London–Bangkok direct on Thai, or via a European hub. The Bangkok hub then connects domestically and regionally.
The product: Thai’s 787 and A350 Business Class is solid — lie-flat in 1-2-1. The Royal First Lounge at Bangkok is one of the best in Asia. The airline has been through financial restructuring but the product remains competitive.
Booking: Via Aeroplan, KrisFlyer, or Miles&Smiles. Surcharges vary — Aeroplan charges no fuel surcharges. Thai’s own Royal Orchid Plus programme is less useful for UK travellers.
Ethiopian Airlines — Africa Depth
Ethiopian Airlines is Star Alliance’s primary African carrier — Addis Ababa hub connecting to 60+ African destinations including many secondary cities no other alliance reaches. The fastest-growing airline in Africa.
Why it matters: For African destinations beyond South Africa and Kenya (which SkyTeam’s Kenya Airways covers), Ethiopian is often the only Star Alliance routing. Addis Ababa connects to Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam, Entebbe, Kigali, Accra, Lagos, Zanzibar, and dozens more.
Booking: Via Aeroplan or Miles&Smiles for partner awards. Ethiopian’s own ShebaMiles programme is less practical for UK travellers. Award availability can be inconsistent on premium cabins.
Aegean Airlines — Lifetime Star Alliance Gold
Aegean is a small Greek carrier — but its Miles+Bonus programme offers something no other airline does: lifetime Star Alliance Gold for just 20,000 total status miles.
How it works: Sign up for Miles+Bonus (free). Earn 4,000 status miles within the first 12 months to reach Blue tier. Then earn a further 16,000 status miles within 12 months to reach Gold. Once Gold, you keep it permanently — just credit one flight every 36 months to keep the account active.
The maths: 20,000 status miles is achievable with approximately one Lufthansa Business return to Asia (earning 300% of distance at ~10,000 miles) plus a few additional short-haul segments. The requirement is cumulative, not annual — once you reach the total, you are done forever.
The catch: Aegean previously required 4 Aegean-operated segments per year. Check current requirements — they have changed over time. If the requirement still stands, you need to find 4 Aegean flights (Greece routes) within the qualification period. If it has been relaxed, this becomes the cheapest permanent alliance status available.
Different airlines earn different rates on Aegean. Lufthansa First Class earns 300% of distance. Lufthansa Business (C, D, Z, J classes) earns 150-200%. Economy varies widely by fare class and airline. Check Aegean’s partner earning tables before crediting — not all economy fares qualify, and some earn very little.
Other Members
Air India: Recently rejoined Star Alliance under Tata ownership. Delhi and Mumbai hubs. Useful for Indian subcontinent routing. Product improving under new management but still inconsistent.
Air New Zealand: Auckland hub to the South Pacific. Excellent Business Premier product. Useful for New Zealand and Pacific Island connections. Airpoints programme uses a dollar-based system.
TAP Air Portugal: Lisbon hub. Useful for connections to Brazil (TAP’s strong point) and Portuguese-speaking Africa. Low surcharges on partner awards via most programmes. TAP’s €199 status match gave BA Silver holders full Star Alliance Gold — watch for future rounds.
LOT Polish Airlines: Warsaw hub. Good transatlantic availability in Business Class via Aeroplan — often among the easiest Star Alliance partners to find Business seats on. Decent 787 product.
Avianca: LifeMiles programme has its own fixed award chart with no fuel surcharges — useful as a separate redemption tool for Star Alliance flights. Miles can be bought cheaply during sales. Not an Amex transfer partner in the UK.
Copa Airlines: Panama City hub. Star Alliance’s Central America gateway. Connects to destinations across Latin America and the Caribbean.
How to Book Partner Flights
| Book via | Strengths | Limitations |
|---|---|---|
| Aeroplan | Fixed partner chart. No fuel surcharges (C$39 fee). Stopovers. Mix partners. Amex MR 1:1 | Dynamic pricing on United/Emirates/Etihad. Complex itineraries may need phone call |
| Miles & More | Best for Lufthansa First (no 14-day restriction). LH Group access | High surcharges. Dynamic pricing. No Amex MR transfer. 36-month hard expiry |
| KrisFlyer | Only way to book SQ Suites/First/Business. Amex MR at 3:2 | Partner rates increased Nov 2025. Passes on surcharges. 36-month hard expiry |
| Miles&Smiles | Fixed partner chart. Low pricing. 2-year status. Free Istanbul stopover | Phone booking often required. Customer service slow. No UK Amex transfer |
Star Alliance partners are where complex itineraries become bookable. United provides US domestic depth. ANA unlocks Japan with world-class premium cabins. EVA offers stealth-excellent Business via Taipei. Thai anchors Bangkok and Southeast Asia. Ethiopian reaches Africa. Aegean offers lifetime Star Alliance Gold for 20,000 miles. LOT has some of the best Business availability in the alliance. Earn in one programme. Book across the full network. The partners are the routing engine — the airlines that turn a theoretical search into a confirmed seat.
