SkyTeam Alliance
“Caring more about you.”
Founded: June 2000
Headquarters: Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, Haarlemmermeer, Netherlands
Website: skyteam.com
The Numbers / Statistics
- Annual Customers: 630+ million
- Daily Flights: 14,500+
- Destinations: 1,150+
- Countries: 175+
- Lounges: 750+
SkyTeam Partners
| Aeroflot (temporarily suspended) | ITA Airways |
| Aerolineas Argentinas | Kenya Airways |
| Aeromexico | KLM |
| Air Europa | Korean Air |
| Air France | Middle East Airlines |
| Delta Air Lines | Saudia Airlines |
| China Airlines | Tarom |
| China Eastern | Vietnam Airlines |
| Czech Airlines | Xiamen Airlines |
| Garuda Indonesia | |
How It Works
To achieve SkyTeam status, members must first accrue status through their respective partner airline of choice. Once this is achieved, an equivalent SkyTeam tier status is issued and travelers become a SkyTeam Elite frequent flyer which is recognized across all 20 SkyTeam carriers (see “Status Equivalents” below).
Miles earned through multiple different airline programs cannot be combined to reach the designation for SkyTeam status.
That being said, passengers traveling on eligible flights operated by SkyTeam member airlines will accrue miles/points, which can be redeemed across the entire SkyTeam network.
Status Levels
- SkyTeam Elite
- SkyTeam Elite Plus
Benefits
| SkyTeam Tier | Elite | Elite Plus |
| Priority Reservation Waitlist/Standby | ✓ | ✓ |
| Preferred Seating | ✓ | ✓ |
| Priority Check-In Counters | ✓ | ✓ |
| Priority Boarding | ✓ | ✓ |
| Extra Baggage Allowance | ✓ | ✓ |
| Priority Baggage Drop-Off | ✓ | ✓ |
| Priority Baggage Handling | | ✓ |
| Guaranteed Reservation on Sold-Out Flights | | ✓ |
| Airport Lounge Access | | ✓ |
| Priority Security Lanes (Select Airports) | | ✓ |
| Priority Immigration Lanes (Select Airports) | | ✓ |
| SkyPriority Recognition | | ✓ |
| Priority Transfer Desks | | ✓ |
Tier Breakdown
SkyTeam Elite: When your respective tier status is equivalent to SkyTeam Elite, you may take advantage of the following benefits, no matter which SkyTeam airline you are flying or cabin class you’re assigned.
Priority on Waitlists and When on Standby (Where Offered)
- This allows those with status to move ahead of other non-status flyers on reservation lists and standby lists, making it more likely to be granted a seat on the flight in question.
Access to Preferred/Pre-Reserved Seating (Where Offered)
- SkyTeam Elite/Plus members are allowed the opportunity to select seats which are available only to them, from the time of booking.
Access to Priority Check-In Counters
- This can significantly expedite time spent in line/at the airport ticket counter.
Access to Priority Boarding
- Priority boarding is usually called somewhere after pre-board travelers (passengers needing assistance, passengers with young children, etc.) and premium cabin passengers, but before general boarding.
Extra Baggage Allowance*
- Using the “weight” concept, Elite members are eligible for an additional 22 pounds (10 kg.) baggage weight.
- Using the “piece” concept, Elite members are eligible for 1 extra piece of luggage.
* Exclusions apply.
Access to Priority Baggage Drop-Off
- This can significantly expedite time spent checking and dropping off any baggage.
SkyTeam Elite Plus: When your respective tier status is equivalent to SkyTeam Elite Plus, you may take advantage of the following benefits, no matter which SkyTeam airline you are flying or cabin class you’re assigned.
Access to all of the above SkyTeam Elite benefits are included, with the following differences/additions:
Extra Baggage Allowance*
- Using the “weight” concept, Elite Plus members are eligible for an additional 44 pounds (20 kg.) baggage weight.
- Using the “piece” concept, Elite Plus members are eligible for 1 extra piece of luggage.
* Exclusions apply.
Priority Baggage Handling
- This ensures SkyTeam Elite Plus member baggage is given priority from aircraft to carousel when traveling on any cabin on any eligible SkyTeam flight.
Guaranteed Reservations on Sold-Out Flights
- Elite Plus members are eligible for guaranteed full-fare Y-class reservations on sold-out long-haul flights, at least 24 hours prior to departure.
Access to Over 750+ Airport Lounges When Traveling Internationally.*
- This includes premium first class, business and frequent flyer lounges, regardless of service class flown at the time of travel.
- This also includes 1 guest (must be traveling on a flight operated by a SkyTeam carrier, same flight not required); exceptions apply — more lounge details here.
- Lounge access is not permitted only on departures and transfers, not on arrival.
Access to Priority Security Lanes (At Select Airports, for Select Carriers)
- This can significantly decrease security wait times.
- Restrictions and local agreements cause significant variations in the ability to utilize this benefit. More information is available here.
Access to Priority Immigration Lanes (At Select Airports, for Select Carriers)
- This can significantly decrease immigration/customs wait times.
- Restrictions and local agreements cause significant variations in the ability to utilize this benefit. More information is available here.
Access to Priority Transfer Desks
- This can significantly decrease connection/transfer wait times.
- Restrictions and local agreements cause significant variations in the ability to utilize this benefit. More information is available here.
SkyPriority Recognition
- SkyPriority Recognition includes all of the services above. In addition, you may be recognized for your loyalty.
- SkyPriority is applicable for all flights operated by SkyTeam carriers including SkyTeam regional carriers and affiliates that fly under the same code of the SkyTeam carrier. More information is available here.
Status Equivalents
Aeroflot
- Aeroflot Bonus Silver = SkyTeam Elite
- Aeroflot Bonus Gold = SkyTeam Elite Plus
- Aeroflot Bonus Platinum = SkyTeam Elite Plus
Aerolíneas Argentinas
- Aerolíneas Plus Oro = SkyTeam Elite
- Aerolíneas Plus Platino = SkyTeam Elite Plus
- Aerolíneas Plus Diamente = SkyTeam Elite Plus
Aeroméxico
- Club Premier Gold = SkyTeam Elite
- Club Premier Platinum = SkyTeam Elite Plus
- Club Premier Titanium = SkyTeam Elite Plus
Air Europa
- SUMA Silver = SkyTeam Elite
- SUMA Gold = SkyTeam Elite Plus
- SUMA Platinum = SkyTeam Elite Plus
Air France/KLM, Kenya Airways, TAROM
- Flying Blue Silver = SkyTeam Elite
- Flying Blue Gold = SkyTeam Elite Plus
- Flying Blue Platinum = SkyTeam Elite Plus
China Airlines
- Dynasty Flyer Gold = SkyTeam Elite
- Dynasty Flyer Emerald = SkyTeam Elite Plus
- Dynasty Flyer Paragon = SkyTeam Elite Plus
China Eastern Airlines
- Eastern Miles Silver = SkyTeam Elite
- Eastern Miles Gold = SkyTeam Elite Plus
Czech Airlines
- OK Plus Silver = SkyTeam Elite
- OK Plus Gold = SkyTeam Elite Plus
- OK Plus Platinum = SkyTeam Elite Plus
Delta Air Lines
Garuda Indonesia
- Garuda Miles Gold = SkyTeam Elite
- Garuda Miles Gold EC+ = SkyTeam Elite
- Garuda Miles Platinum = SkyTeam Elite Plus
ITA Airways
Korean Air
- SKYPASS Morning Calm Club = SkyTeam Elite
- SKYPASS Morning Calm Premium Club = SkyTeam Elite Plus
- SKYPASS Million Miler Club = SkyTeam Elite Plus
Middle East Airlines
- Cedar Miles Silver = SkyTeam Elite
- Cedar Miles Gold = SkyTeam Elite Plus
- Cedar Miles Platinum = SkyTeam Elite Plus
Saudia
- Alfursan Silver = SkyTeam Elite
- Alfursan Gold = SkyTeam Elite Plus
Vietnam Airlines
- Golden Lotus Plus Titanium = SkyTeam Elite
- Golden Lotus Plus Gold = SkyTeam Elite
- Golden Lotus Plus Platinum = SkyTeam Elite Plus
XiamenAir
- Egret Club Silver = SkyTeam Elite
- Egret Club Gold = SkyTeam Elite
- Egret Club Platinum = SkyTeam Elite Plus
- Egret Club Diamond = SkyTeam Elite Plus
| Airline and Frequent Flyer Program | SkyTeam Elite | SkyTeam Elite Plus |
| Aeroflot | Aeroflot Bonus | Silver | Gold
Platinum |
| Aerolíneas Argentinas | Aerolíneas Plus | Oro | Platino
Diamente |
| Aeroméxico | Club Premier | Gold | Platinum
Titanium |
| Air Europa | SUMA | Silver | Gold
Platinum |
| Air France/KLM, Kenya Airways, and TAROM | Flying Blue | Silver | Gold
Platinum |
| China Airlines | Dynasty Flyer | Gold | Emerald
Paragon |
| China Eastern Airlines | Eastern Miles | Silver | Gold |
| Czech Airlines | OK Plus | Silver | Gold
Platinum |
| Delta Air Lines | SkyMiles | Silver | Gold
Platinum
Diamond |
| Garuda Indonesia | Garuda Miles | Gold
Gold EC+ | Platinum |
| ITA Airways | Volare | TBD | TBD |
| Korean Air | SKYPASS | Morning Calm Club | Morning Calm Premium Club
Million Miler Club |
| Middle East Airlines | Cedar Miles | Silver | Gold
Platinum |
| Saudia | Alfursan | Silver | Gold |
| Vietnam Airlines | Golden Lotus Plus | Titanium
Gold | Platinum |
| XiamenAir | Egret Club | Silver
Gold | Platinum
Diamond |
SkyTeam Hubs
SkyTeam offers transfer service centers at each of their high-traffic hubs (those that are not currently open are being developed). For assistance with transfer information, printing a boarding pass, or selecting a seat, SkyTeam members can receive assistance at these centers.
Similarly, the SkyTeam service center can assist members in the event of missing a connecting flight by re-booking on the next available flight.
Self-service kiosks are also available at the SkyTeam main hubs.
Global hub cities currently include:
- Aeroflot: Moscow (SVO), Pulkovo (LED)
- Aerolíneas Argentinas: Buenos Aires (EZE, AEP), Cordoba (COR)
- Aeroméxico: Guadalajara (GDL), Mexico City (MEX), Monterrey (MTY)
- Air Europa: Madrid (MAD)
- Air France: Lyon (LYS), Paris (CDG)
- China Airlines: Kaohsiung (KHH), Taipei (TPE), Taichung (TXG)
- China Eastern Airlines: Shanghai (PVG, SHA)
- Delta Air Lines: Atlanta (ATL), Detroit (DTW), Los Angeles (LAX), Minneapolis/St. Paul (MSP), New York (JFK), Salt Lake City (SLC), Seattle (SEA)
- Garuda Indonesia: Bali-Denpasar (DPS), Jakarta (CGK)
- ITA Airways: Milan (MXP), Rome (FCO)
- Kenya Airways: Nairobi (NBO)
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines: Amsterdam (AMS)
- Korean Air: Gimhae (PUS), Jeju (CJU), Seoul (ICN)
- Middle East Airlines: Beirut (BEY)
- Saudia: Jeddah (JED), Riyadh (RUH)
- TAROM: Bucharest (OTP)
- Vietnam Airlines: Hanoi (HAN), Ho Chi Minh City (SGN)
- Xiamen Air: Fuzhou (FOC), Xiamen (XMN)
Global Travel
Due to the number of cooperating airlines, providing travelers with opportunities for global travel is simplified within alliance networks.
With SkyTeam “Round the World,” members can choose a global journey with 2-15 stops. Itineraries must include at least 1 transatlantic flight, 1 transpacific flight, and 1 flight between Area 2 and Area 3. These trips must also start and end in the same country (same city not required).
Learn more about SkyTeam’s Round the World planning here.
SkyTeam Exclusive Lounges
SkyTeam provides “Exclusive Lounges” at the following airports:
- Beijing (PEK): Terminal 2, Mezzanine Level
- Dubai (DXB): Terminal 1, Concourse D
- Hong Kong (HKG): Terminal 1, close to Gate 15
- London-Heathrow (LHR): Terminal 4, opposite Gate 10
- Sydney (SYD): International Terminal, Pier B (East) next to gate 24
- Vancouver (YVR): West wing of the International Concourse D, near gate 53
Featured Image Credit:
SkyTeam
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