The idea behind an Airline Alliance is to build loyalty among passengers of different member airlines. The common sense of understanding is for a passenger to be treated the same no matter what airlines they fly. Mileage Plus, the frequent flyer program for United Airlines just changed this. It splits Star Alliance Network airlines in preferred and less preferred.
As of 2020 United Airlines, a member of the Frankfurt-based Star Alliance will create three tears meant to guide Mileage Plus members to consider Star Alliance Partners that are best friends with the airline over other Star Alliance partners.
Members of the Mileage Plus program will earn more miles flying with United, fewer miles when selecting a preferred Star Alliance partner and even less when flying a nonpreferred partner.
United Airlines is now calculating status and the miles a member can earn on the number of flights and the rate a passenger pays for a ticket.
The more you fly on the Star Alliance network, the faster you will earn sufficient miles or points to redeem for a reward ticket or upgrade. When flying some carriers it will take more flying and more money compared to other member carriers.
There is no single Star Alliance Frequent Flyer Program. Airlines have their own membership program. Star Alliance promises a membership in any program will give access to the whole Star Alliance network, with no need to register with any additional program. This may no longer be true because there is no longer one same treatment for all member airlines.
Today United told their Mileage Plus members: We’re taking a new approach to Premier® status qualification to better recognize our most loyal and frequent travelers — those who fly 200 miles several times a week, as well as those who fly 2,000 miles several times a year.
Someone traveling on Star Alliance carriers will earn more miles when flying Star Alliance carriers that are best friends with United Airlines. UA calls them preferred Star Alliance carriers.
Currently preferred Star Alliance Airlines are:
- Air Canada
- Air China
- Air New Zealand
- All Nippon Airways
- Austrian Airlines
- Avianca
- Azul Brazilian Airlines
- Brussels Airlines
- Copa Airlines
- Eurowings
- Lufthansa
- SWISS International Airlines
United Airlines treats the following Star Alliance Airlines as less important and lowered the miles Mileage Plus members would earn when flying them. United Airlines calls them Other Star Alliance Partners.
Other Star Alliance Partners include
- Aegean Airlines
- Air Dolomiti
- Air India
- Asiana Airlines
- Croatia Airlines
- Edelweiss
- EgyptAir
- Ethiopian Airlines
- EVA Air
- Juneyao Air
- LOT Polish Airlines
- Olympic Air
- SAS
- Shenzhen Airlines
- Singapore Airlines
- South African Airways
- TAP Air Portugal
- Thai Airways International
- Turkish Airlines
