I Tested All 3 Airline Alliances. Only One Is Worth It

Product reviewed (what the video is about)

This is not a single physical product review. It’s a comparison of three airline loyalty “clubs” (global airline alliances):

• Star Alliance
• Oneworld
• SkyTeam

The focus is on which alliance is best for travelers, especially from a UK/British perspective.

Key features of the alliances (common functionality)

The video says airline alliances are designed to provide:

• Earning miles on one airline and spending on others
• Status benefits (e.g., priority + lounge access) across member airlines
• Better connectivity through stitched/usable connection networks
• A single “map”/ticketing experience across the alliance network

  “One loyalty card, the whole world.”

Big differentiator: lounge access (pros/cons)

Star Alliance

• Gold tier lounge access: “over 1,000 lounges”
• Claim: Star’s lounge network is ~50% larger than either Oneworld or SkyTeam
• Stronger experience at secondary airports, where other alliances may route you to contract lounges or deny lounge access.

Oneworld

• Lounge tier equivalent around ~700 lounges
• Strong, but less extensive than Star.

SkyTeam

• Lounge tier equivalent around ~750 lounges
• Also smaller than Star, but still substantial.

Practical drawback (as framed in the video)

If you frequently travel through airports where your alliance status doesn’t unlock lounge access, the video presents this as a weakness—especially for Oneworld/SkyTeam in certain secondary airports.

Sponsor note: Yonder is presented as an alternative lounge solution, not part of any alliance (see below).

Premium cabin quality (which alliance “feels” best onboard)

The video’s premium cabin verdict:

• Oneworld wins for premium cabins “without much contest”
• Examples cited:
  • Qatar Airways Qsuite
  • Cathay Pacific business
  • Japan Airlines first
  • British Airways Club Suites

Conclusion: If the seat matters as much as the destination, Oneworld is best.

Potential limitation noted: seats only help if the alliance flies where you actually want to go, so network coverage matters.

Global network coverage: where each alliance is strongest (and weak)

Star Alliance

• “Dominates” Asia (examples include Singapore Airlines, ANA, EVA Air, etc.)
• Africa depth: Ethiopian Airlines gives Star strong coverage
  • The video contrasts this with Oneworld/SkyTeam having fewer options on the continent
• For East and Central Africa routes, Star is described as having the only credible answer
• Overall theme: strongest for Asia + Africa travelers

Oneworld

• Historically stronger in South America, especially via LATAM
• Problem: LATAM exited after bankruptcy (2020) and Oneworld has not replaced it
• The video criticizes this as leaving the reviewer feeling “stranded” when trying to redeem or recover travel in that region.

SkyTeam

• Gains ground in South America
  • Mentions Aeromexico and Aerolineas Argentina as creating more visible network presence than Oneworld currently offers
• Also benefits from Europe/continental coverage depending on routes

Europe (most contested)

No alliance “owns” Europe outright:

• Star: described as running through Germanic hubs (Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Vienna)
• SkyTeam: Paris and Amsterdam
• Oneworld: London and Madrid

Overall takeaway: Europe is a battleground among alliances.

Live “real-world change” example (major member switch)

• August 2024: SAS (Scandinavian Airlines) left Star Alliance for SkyTeam
• The video emphasizes this was dramatic because SAS was one of Star Alliance’s original 1997 founders
• Summary line from the video:

  “Star Alliance lost the Nordics; SkyTeam gained them.”

Important warning: alliances are not stable

The video claims that since 1997:

• Over 20 airlines have left, been absorbed, or gone bust mid-membership.

Notable negative example

• LATAM leaving Oneworld is described as the most damaging departure, linked to poor redemption/continuity in that region.

Examples of shifting membership/mergers

• Asiana (Star), but due to a Korean Air acquisition (SkyTeam), it’s expected to stop operating as a separate airline by ~2027, hurting Star again.
• Etihad:
  • joined SkyTeam in 2021
  • left in Feb 2025
  • rejoined Star Alliance in April 2026
  • the video attributes this partly to Lufthansa’s 41% ownership stake

Earning points: which alliance is easiest depends on where you live

The video stresses: what you can actually earn matters more than alliance size.

UK / British perspective (main speaker’s conclusion)

• Oneworld is unusually easy to earn in the UK, mainly via Avios
• Avios earning sources cited:
  • Amex
  • Barclaycard
  • HSBC Premier
  • Nectar at Sainsbury’s
  • BA credit card
  • Aer Lingus
  • Iberia
• The speaker notes SkyTeam still has strong options:
  • Virgin Atlantic Flying Club (praised as one of the best structured programs)
  • Delta transatlantic coverage is enormous
  • But earning is framed as slightly harder than Oneworld for most UK users.
• Star Alliance: framed as making less sense unless you have niche travel habits (and this depends on your location).

Other regions (high-level note)

The video says the analysis differs for five major audiences outside the UK, but the provided subtitles don’t include a detailed breakdown.

Big “outside the alliance” comparison (competitors not in alliances)

The video also mentions alternatives that don’t belong to alliance alliances:

• Emirates and Etihad
  • Never joined an alliance
  • Built connectivity through Dubai and a bilateral strategy
• Riyadh Air
  • Presented as pursuing “alliance independence”
  • Signs bilateral deals across all three alliance groups (examples listed in the video)
  • Claimed benefits: connectivity without alliance constraints
  • Scalability is described as unproven, but the industry signals suggest possible leverage shifts

Numerical / ratings included (from the video)

Alliance scale and share

• Total passengers per year (all three): ~2 billion
• Passengers per alliance:
  • Star Alliance: 762 million annually
  • SkyTeam: 624 million
  • Oneworld: 490 million
• Flights/day (approx.):
  • Star: 19,000+ flights daily
  • SkyTeam: 13,600 daily
  • Oneworld: 13,000 daily

Revenue share (as stated/partially stated)

• Star: 17.4%
• SkyTeam: 13.7%
• Oneworld: “are based on 22 million passenger surveys…” (the exact matching number for Oneworld revenue share is cut off in the subtitles)

Passenger share vs non-alliance

• All three alliances together: 43% of global passengers
• Other 57% fly with non-alliance airlines (e.g., Emirates, Ryanair, EasyJet)

Lounge counts

• Star Gold: over 1,000
• Oneworld: ~700
• SkyTeam: ~750

Awards (claimed)

• Star Alliance claimed as “world’s best alliance” 4 years running up to last year (exact source/score not provided).

Sponsor feature mentioned (separate from the alliances)

Yonder (sponsor)

Presented as:

• A UK rewards card (credit/debit) for booking lounges via an app
• Works without alliance status (“No status required”)
• Partnerships with Number One Lounges and Lounge Pass
• Points can be used for:
  • Flights on any airline/route
  • Hotels, dining, entertainment, wellness, etc.
• Claimed: no blackout dates for flight redemptions (as presented)
• No foreign exchange fees
• Offer/price:
  • £15/month
  • “Right now… 2 months free” (promo implied via link)

Pros and cons (as presented)

Star Alliance — Pros

• Strongest lounge footprint
• Best for travelers needing Asia + Africa depth
• Often enables more connectivity via members like Turkish/Ethiopian (as described)

Star Alliance — Cons

• For the UK speaker: harder to justify unless your earning patterns match specific niches (less favorable vs Avios for typical UK users)
• Alliance membership can shift—Star risks losing members (SAS switch example, future Asiana impact)

Oneworld — Pros

• Best premium cabin quality (multiple flagship examples)
• For most UK travelers: easiest points earning via Avios ecosystem
• British Airways dominance noted (“BA dominates”)
• More reliable “right answer” for the speaker’s typical long-haul redemption behavior (points-based)

Oneworld — Cons

• Network weakness in South America after LATAM exit
• Potential for “stranded” redemption experiences where members disappear

SkyTeam — Pros

• Serious option for:
  • US-heavy travelers
  • Frequent flyers tied to Air France/KLM
• Stronger current South America visibility
• Lounge network still robust (~750)

SkyTeam — Cons

• Lounge footprint smaller than Star
• Points earning can be “slightly harder” than Oneworld in the UK

Main comparisons made

The video compares alliances using:

1. Lounge network size (Star vs others)
2. Premium cabin quality (Oneworld best)
3. Geographic strength
   • Star: Asia/Africa
   • Oneworld: premium + historically South America (now weaker)
   • SkyTeam: improved South America + some Europe/US patterns
4. Alliance stability vs member volatility (alliances shift; examples include LATAM leaving, SAS switching)
5. Points earning ease by country (UK Avios favors Oneworld)

Overall verdict / recommendation (from the video)

• If you fly a lot across Asia and Africa and want the largest lounge footprint: Star Alliance is recommended.

• For most UK travelers, especially for converting everyday spend into long-haul redemptions: Oneworld is the right answer (with BA dominance and strong Avios earning).

• If you’re US-heavy or frequently fly within Europe via Air France/KLM: SkyTeam becomes a serious option.

Unique points mentioned (consolidated list)

1. Alliances decide whether loyalty turns into free flights/status/lounges
2. Historical context: deregulation led airlines to form alliances for global coverage
3. Alliances provide cross-airline miles, status, lounges, connections, and ticketing
4. Star Alliance: largest by passengers and over 1,000 lounges
5. Oneworld: best premium cabin consistency; lounge tier ~700
6. SkyTeam: strong lounge tier ~750; competitive in certain regions
7. Star lounge advantage especially at secondary airports
8. Sponsor: Yonder can book lounges in the UK without alliance status
9. Coverage territories:
   • Star: Asia + Africa depth
   • Oneworld: premium + historically South America (now weaker)
   • SkyTeam: improved South America network
10. Europe is heavily contested with different hub “textures”
11. SAS switching alliances (Star → SkyTeam) highlighted as a major shock
12. Alliances are not permanent: airlines leave/merge/bust frequently
13. LATAM exit from Oneworld framed as severely damaging to redemption continuity
14. Asiana/Korean Air merger likely reduces Star membership by 2027
15. Etihad joined SkyTeam, left, then rejoined Star (example of shifting loyalties)
16. Points earning depends heavily on where you live
17. UK: Oneworld/Avios ecosystem portrayed as unusually easy
18. SkyTeam has strong UK-ish alternatives (Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, Delta)
19. Some airlines don’t join alliances (Emirates/Etihad)
20. Riyadh Air: “alliance independence via bilateral deals” discussed as an emerging alternative
21. Numerical scale: passenger volumes, flights/day, revenue shares (partial), lounge counts, and award claims

Speakers/views

• Primary speaker (Jordan / Miles Head): delivers the main evaluation framework and verdict; emphasizes UK experience, lounge networks, premium cabins, geography, earning points, and alliance volatility.
• Sponsor (Yonder) voice/content (embedded): provides a workaround for lounge access and a points alternative; does not serve as an opinion on alliance quality.