Skyteam
From Frequent Flier Addicts
SkyTeam Alliance is the second largest airline alliance in the world — behind Star Alliance — partnering ten carriers from three continents.
The stated benefits and goals of the alliance are:
- Easy frequent flyer mile collection and redemption across carriers
- Reciprocal airport lounge access between carriers
- Guaranteed reservations for Elite Plus customers
- More available flights and easier connections between carriers
- More fare options
- Unified check-in for all carriers
- Consistent quality standards across carriers
- One reservation network for all members
SkyTeam calls itself the "first alliance built around customer needs".
In 2005 SkyTeam was the world's best airline alliance, according to the readers of Global Traveler Magazine 1.
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[edit] Membership History
- 2000 - Aeroméxico, Air France, Delta Air Lines, and Korean Air launch the SkyTeam alliance on June 22.
- 2001 - Czech Airlines and Alitalia join.
- 2004 - Continental Airlines, KLM and Northwest Airlines join in September. Their simultaneous entry has been the largest expansion event in airline alliance history. As a result of the three new members, SkyTeam passes Oneworld as the second-largest alliance.
- 2005 - Even though current member CSA pledged to help Malév Hungarian Airlines become associate member of the alliance (as opposed to a full member, an associate has no voting rights), Malév opts to join Oneworld Alliance, signing a Memorandum Of Understanding late in May.
A few days later Skyteam announces four new associate members due to join by 2006, each one being "sponsored" by an existing member: Madrid-based Air Europa (sponsored by Air France), Panama-based COPA (partly owned and sponsored by Continental Airlines), Kenya Airways (partly owned and sponsored by KLM) and Romania's Tarom (sponsored by Alitalia). Every associate will adopt a frequent flyer program of a full member (COPA already uses Continental's Onepass scheme and Kenya Airways uses Air France-KLM's Flying Blue) [1]. - 2006 - Aeroflot joins on April 14. Air Europa, Copa Airlines, Kenya Airways, and Tarom will launch the alliance's associate program. China Southern Airlines is expected to join.
[edit] Members
[edit] Current Members
- Aeroflot [2]
- Aeroméxico [3]+
- Air France+ -KLM [4], [5]
- Alitalia [6]
- Continental Airlines [7]
- Czech Airlines [8]
- Delta Air Lines+ [9]
- Korean Air+ [10]
- Northwest Airlines [11]
Note+: Indicates the founding members of the SkyTeam Alliance.
[edit] Future Members
[edit] Full members
- China Southern Airlines [12] signed a Memorandum of Understanding on August 28, 2004, being the first mainland Chinese airline to do so.
[edit] Associate members
- Air Europa [13] (sponsored by Air France)
- COPA [14] (sponsored by Continental Airlines)
- Kenya Airways [15] (sponsored by KLM)
- Tarom [16] (sponsored by Alitalia)
- Middle East Airlines (sponsored by Air France)
[edit] Potential future members
- JAT Airways - recently launched a campaign to join the alliance.
- China Airlines - rumored to be in negotiations with SkyTeam, and already has extensive code-sharing with Delta Air Lines and Alitalia
- Malaysia Airlines - the airline reached an agreement with AirFrance KLM to upgrade their code-sharing agreement into an alliance in 2006. No timeframe has been given for MAS joining the alliance, but the company's restructuring plan puts this no later than 2008-2009.
[edit] Premium Status
SkyTeam has two premium levels, Elite and Elite Plus, based on a customer's tier status in a member carrier's frequent flyer program. Each of the member and associate airlines recognizes the elite statuses, with a few exceptions. The statuses have no specific requirements of their own; membership is based solely on the frequent flyer programs of individual member airlines.
[edit] SkyTeam Elite
SkyTeam Elite status is awarded to customers who have reached the premium level of a member carrier's frequent flyer program.
Benefits of SkyTeam Elite membership:
- Priority Reservations Waitlisting
- Priority Airport Standby
- Priority Boarding
- Priority Check In
- Preferred Seating
Membership tiers granting SkyTeam Elite:
- Aeroflot (Aeroflot bonus) - Silver
- Aeromexico (Club Premier) - Gold
- Air France-KLM (Flying Blue) - Gold (for residents of US), Silver
- Alitalia (MilleMiglia) - Ulisse
- Continental (OnePass) - Gold, Silver
- Czech (OK Plus) - Silver
- Delta (SkyMiles) - Gold Medallion, Silver Medallion
- Korean Air (SKYPASS) - Morning Calm
- Northwest (WorldPerks) - Gold, Silver
[edit] SkyTeam Elite Plus
SkyTeam Elite Plus status is awarded to customers who have reached the higher premium level of a member carrier's frequent flyer program.
Benefits of SkyTeam Elite Plus membership:
- Priority Reservations Waitlisting
- Priority Airport Standby
- Priority Boarding
- Priority Airport Check In
- Preferred Seating
- Priority Baggage Handling
- Additional Checked Luggage Allowance
- Airport Lounge Access
- Guaranteed Reservations on Sold-Out Flights
- Express Airport Security (in some hub airports)
Membership tiers granting SkyTeam Elite Plus:
- Aeroflot (Aeroflot bonus) - Gold
- Aeromexico (Club Premier) - Platinum
- Air France-KLM (Flying Blue) - Platinum, Gold (for non-US residents)
- Alitalia (MilleMiglia) - Freccia Alata
- Continental (OnePass) - Platinum
- Czech (OK Plus) - Gold
- Delta (SkyMiles) - Platinum Medallion
- Korean Air (SKYPASS) - Million Miler, Premium
- Northwest (WorldPerks) - Platinum
[edit] Destinations
See also Skyteam destinations
[edit] See also
- Wings Alliance replaced by SkyTeam
- oneworld
- Star Alliance
[edit] External links
| Members of SkyTeam | ||
| Aeroflot • Aeroméxico • Air France • Alitalia • Continental Airlines • Czech Airlines • Delta Air Lines • KLM • Korean Air • Northwest Airlines | ||
| Future members: China Southern Airlines | ||
| Future associate members: Air Europa • COPA • Kenya Airways • MEA • TAROM | ||
| See also: Air France-KLM (parent company of Air France and KLM) |
| This page uses content from Wikipedia. The original article was at Skyteam. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with the Frequent Fliers Wikia, the text of Wikipedia is available under the GNU Free Documentation License. |
