Joining one of the major airline alliances comes with many benefits to an airline and its passengers. That said, it also comes with responsibilities and associated costs for the airline. To allow smaller airlines’ passengers to enjoy some of the benefits of traveling with an airline belonging to a major alliance, Star Alliance created the Connecting Partner model.
Continue reading to learn more about what the model is and what benefits the alliance’s frequent flyers can enjoy when flying onboard one of the Star Alliance Connecting Partners.
What Is the Star Alliance Connecting Partner Model?
The Star Alliance Connecting Partner model allows smaller airlines that would otherwise find it difficult to join one of the large airline alliances to become affiliated with the largest of them.
Doing so allows Star Alliance member airlines to tap into the network of these smaller partners which serve some destinations not already served by the alliance and the smaller airlines to tap into the alliance’s network by offering itineraries with connecting flights to or from a Connecting Partner.
This, in turn, allows passengers traveling on such itineraries to transfer seamlessly between flights and have their baggage delivered all the way to their final destination as long as it is on the same ticket.
Additionally, when flying on one of the Connecting Partners, Star Alliance Silver and Star Alliance Gold status holders can enjoy their frequent flyer benefits to one extent or another.
So far, two airlines joined the program:
- Juneyao Air (May 2017): This is a Chinese airline founded in 2005 and currently operating a fleet of just under a hundred aircraft. While most of its fleet are Airbus narrowbodies, it also has a few 787-9s. Juneyao Air has its main hubs at Shanghai’s Hongqiao and Pudong airports and primarily operates flights around China and Asia.
- THAI Smile (February 2020): This is a subsidiary of Thai Airways operating a fleet of A320-200s on regional flights. In 2023, it was announced that the airline would be integrated into Thai Airways.
At this point, there have been no announcements about the addition of potential new Star Alliance Connect Partners.
Earning and Redeeming Miles on Star Alliance Connecting Partners
Passengers traveling on Juneyao Air can credit their miles to some but not all of Star Alliance members’ frequent flyer programs. Similarly, those traveling on the same group of airlines – Air Canada, Air China, ANA, EVA Air, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and United Airlines – can earn Juneyao Air miles for their flights.
The same applies to redeeming miles for flights.
Star Alliance mileage earning and redemption on THAI Smile is considerably more restricted with only select Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus and Miles & More status holders being eligible.
Connecting Partners’ Benefits for Star Alliance Frequent Flyers
As mentioned earlier, Star Alliance member airline frequent flyer status holders can enjoy some – although not all – of the benefits that they can enjoy when flying on Star Alliance airlines.
Below is an overview of the benefits provided to frequent flyers by both of the Connecting Partners.
Juneyao Airlines
Star Alliance Gold members can enjoy essentially all the benefits when flying on Juneyao Airlines as they can when flying on a member airline including lounge access, Gold Track, extra baggage allowance, priority check-in and boarding, priority baggage handling, priority airport standby (and presumably reservation waitlist).
The last of those perks, while not that useful, can be enjoyed by Star Alliance Silver members too.
THAI Smile
The situation with benefits for Star Alliance Gold members traveling on THAI Smile is similar to the above. One notable difference – or clarification – is that Star Alliance Gold members cannot access THAI Smile contract lounges but only Star Alliance lounges.
On the other hand, Thai Airways’ frequent flyer program status holders can enjoy some additional perks to those enjoyed by other Star Alliance Gold members:
- Royal Orchid Plus Silver members can enjoy extra baggage allowance even though the status is only equivalent to Star Alliance Silver
- Royal Orchid Plus Gold and Platinum members can access THAI Smile contract lounges in addition to Star Alliance lounges
Summary
If you travel frequently with Star Alliance, it is worth having at least some idea about Star Alliance Connecting Partners. That’s because the two airlines that are part of the program – Juneyao Air and THAI Smile – help extend the reach of the alliance slightly. This then allows passengers on the two airlines to have a smoother journey when connecting between Star Alliance members and Connecting Partners.
It also allows frequent flyers on Star Alliance to enjoy perks they wouldn’t otherwise be able to when flying on non-member airlines.
The recognition of status is especially valuable if you are a Star Alliance Gold member as that will mean you can access some lounges before departing on the two Connecting Partners’ flights, get free extra baggage allowance, and enjoy priority at various points in your journey including check-in, boarding, and baggage handling.
That said because there are only two Star Alliance Connecting Partners (of which one will be integrated into a full member soon) with no new expected partners at this point, the program is too small in scope to make any meaningful difference in most Star Alliance passengers’ lives.
