Oneworld alliance guide: Airlines, lounges and status

The Oneworld alliance was originally established by American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Qantas in 1999. Currently, the alliance has 13 member airlines and one Oneworld connecting partner airline, Fiji Airways.

Oneworld airlines can take you to more than 900 destinations worldwide in 170 countries and territories. The Oneworld alliance is how elite statuses held by any Oneworld member airline are recognized when flying with other alliance airlines. So let’s take a closer look at the Oneworld alliance.

Oneworld airline

The Oneworld Alliance has 13 active members, but remember that Oman Air will soon join Oneworld And S7 suspended in 2022. Below are the current Oneworld airlines:

• Alaska Airlines
• American Airlines
• Airline British
• Cathay Pacific
• Finnair
• Iberia
• Japanese airlines
• Malaysian Airlines
• Qantas
• Qatar Airways
• Royal Maroc Airlines
• Royal Jordanian Airlines
• Sri Lankan Airlines
• Fiji Airways (Oneworld connection partner)

Travelers need to know this list of Oneworld member airlines because you can often book award tickets on member airlines through other Oneworld partners. For example, you can book award flights that include flights operated by other Oneworld airlines through American Airlines Advantages.

Grants Oneworld alliance status

Oneworld has three elite status levels: Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald. If you hold airline elite status with any Oneworld member airline, you will have one of these Oneworld statuses.

Here’s a closer look at each status level of the Oneworld alliance.

Unique world ruby

The key benefit of Oneworld Ruby status is access to the enterprise-level priority check-in queue. Look for the Oneworld logo with a ruby ​​ellipse next to it and you’ll reach the check-in line which is usually significantly shorter than the standard queue.

Oneworld Ruby members can also receive priority or reserved seating as well as priority on the waitlist and when on standby. However, these perks are not offered consistently as they are offered based on the operating airline’s policy.

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Some airline statuses that offer Oneworld Ruby status include:

• Alaska Airlines MVP
• American Airlines AAdvantage Gold
• British Airways Executive Club Bronze

The world’s only sapphire

Oneworld Sapphire is where the more impressive perks come into play. In addition to the benefits available to Oneworld Ruby members, Oneworld Sapphire members also get access to business class lounges with qualifying tickets and priority boarding.

You can also enjoy extra baggage allowance and priority baggage handling when flying on Oneworld member airlines as a Oneworld Sapphire member. Typically, you will be at least 15 kg (about 33 pounds) heavier if the baggage allowance on your ticket is based on weight. You will typically also receive at least one additional checked bag weighing up to 23 kg (about 50 pounds) if your ticket’s baggage allowance is per piece.

However, you won’t get priority baggage handling when flying on British Airways flights, and you won’t get any additional baggage allowance if you book a basic ticket or are carrying only carry-on luggage. hand in hand with British Airways.

Here are some airline statuses that offer Oneworld Sapphire status:

• Alaska Airlines MVP Gold
• American Airlines AAdvantage Platinum
• British Airways Executive Club Silver

The New Qatar Airways Privilege Club Visa Infinite Credit Card offers one year free Qatar Airways exclusive club Gold status, confers Oneworld Sapphire status. So you can effectively buy a year’s worth of Oneworld Sapphire status by adding this $499 annual fee card to your wallet.

Information about the Qatar Airways Privilege Club Infinite Visa Card has been independently collected by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Related: Elite status versus miles: How to get the most out of Oneworld partner tickets

Oneworld Emerald

Oneworld Emerald offers many of the same perks as Oneworld Sapphire status. However, in addition to the benefits for Oneworld Sapphire members, Oneworld Emerald members also get first class lounge access with qualifying tickets, Priority first-class check-in and fast or priority lanes at select airports.

Oneworld Emerald members also weigh at least 20 kg (about 44 pounds) more if their ticket’s baggage allowance is based on weight. However, Oneworld Emerald members will still not receive any additional baggage allowance due to their status when flying on a basic fare or carrying only British Airways hand luggage.

Here are some airlines that offer Oneworld Emerald status:

• Alaska Airlines MVP 75K Gold and MVP 100K Gold
• American Airlines AAdvantage Platinum Pro and AAdvantage Executive Platinum
• British Airways Gold Executive Club

Oneworld Emerald is the main reason why people write high-level points and miles Katie Genter strive to maintain at least AAdvantage Platinum Pro status. Katie enjoys visiting Oneworld’s first class lounges — including Cathay Pacific’s The Pier First Class Lounge in Hong Kong, Malaysia Airlines’ Golden Class First Class Lounge in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Qantas International First Class Lounge in Los Angeles — when flying on qualifying itineraries. Additionally, some Oneworld airlines will automatically block the seat next to you when the flight is not full, which is an interesting perk that hasn’t been announced yet.

Related: The best sites to find Oneworld awards

Oneworld lounge

Oneworld and its member airlines have more than 600 lounges worldwide. So research your Oneworld lounge options online before arriving at the airport. If you plan to gain lounge access based on your Oneworld status, look for the Sapphire or Emerald elliptical. As you look through lounge options, check the lounge’s opening hours and whether you’ll have access based on the airline operating your flight.

Most Oneworld airport lounges have a Sapphire or Emerald ellipse near the entrance. As there are multiple Oneworld lounges at some airports — and there are often multiple lounges with similar names operated by the same airline — be sure to check the specific location of the lounge you want to visit on Oneworld page.

For example, it would be disappointing to miss out on sushi if you were able to access the Japan Airlines First Class Lounge at Tokyo’s Narita International Airport (NRT) but accidentally ended up in a different lounge.

First class passengers and Oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members may bring a guest into the lounge if that guest is also traveling on a flight marketed and operated by a Oneworld airline.

Each lounge has its own access regulations, although many lounges offer access to customers eligible to fly on any Oneworld member airline. However, there are some cases where you may not have lounge access, even if you have Oneworld Sapphire or Emerald status or are flying in a premium cabin. Check the Oneworld alliance website for the most up-to-date, detailed information on lounge access, in addition to keeping a few things in mind:

• Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan elite member those with Oneworld Sapphire or Emerald status are only entitled to lounge access when traveling on itineraries that include travel outside the United States, Canada or Mexico.
• American Airlines AAdvantage elite members with Oneworld Sapphire or Emerald status generally does not have Oneworld lounge access when flying on North American flights only (except flights involving Mexico City).
• Oneworld lounge access policy does not include British Airways Concorde lounge; the Chelsea Lounge in Terminal 8 at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).; Qatar Airways’ First Al Safwa and Al Mourjan business class lounge at Hamad International Airport in Doha (DOH); Qatar Airways Premium Lounge; arrival waiting room; spa facilities; and pre-flight dining facilities. However, you may have access to some of these lounges depending on the operating airline and your cabin class.
• Qatar Airways Business Lite fares And Finnair business class tickets not eligible for lounge access.
• Your flight must be marketed and operated by a Oneworld member airline. Fiji Airways is a connecting partner of Oneworld, so you’ll only get pre-departure lounge access if your ticket also includes travel on British Airways, Cathay Pacific or Qantas (Oneworld sponsors Fiji Airways).

The lack of lounge access when flying within the US and between the US and some destinations near the US is often a disappointment to Oneworld Sapphire and Emerald members who get elite status through American Airlines AAdvantage et Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan. This is exactly why Katie loves having Oneworld Sapphire status via Malaysia Airlines Enrich as of early 2019 despite also having Oneworld Emerald status through American AAdvantage. By having Oneworld Sapphire status from a non-US airline, she has access to the Admirals Club and even the Flagship Lounge on flights to, from, and within the US

Related: Best credit cards for airport lounge access

Bottom line

The Oneworld alliance facilitates travel to more than 900 destinations with just one ticket. Although the Oneworld airline roster notably lacks a South American airline and only has one African airline, Oneworld’s route map still provides good worldwide coverage.

Oneworld status and lounge access also mean that travelers with elite status from any Oneworld airline will enjoy certain perks when flying with other airlines in the Oneworld alliance. One aspect that sets the Oneworld alliance apart from other airline alliances is that it offers first-class lounge access to Emerald’s top elite members. That said, Oneworld Ruby status also offers a valuable benefit you don’t see with other airline alliances: access to the business class priority check-in queue.