With international travel having more or less fully resumed, the value of airline alliance status has once again increased significantly. When I think of my international flying memories, the perks I’ve received on account of my oneworld Emerald status are among my favorites. I wanted to dedicate this post to why I love oneworld Emerald status so much, as I’m sure I’m not alone.
In this post:
What is airline alliance status?
There are three major global airline alliances — oneworld, Star Alliance, and SkyTeam — and combined they have dozens of airline members. Not all airlines belong to a global alliance, though many major airlines do.
One of the benefits of these alliances for frequent flyers is that there’s a certain level of reciprocity when it comes to elite perks.
You don’t earn elite status directly with an alliance, but rather you earn status with a member airline, and that status maps over to an alliance elite tier. Just to give some examples:
- American AAdvantage Executive Platinum and Platinum Pro, and Alaska Mileage Plan MVP Gold 100K and MVP Gold 75K, gets you oneworld Emerald
- Delta SkyMiles Diamond Medallion, Platinum Medallion, and Gold Medallion, gets you SkyTeam Elite Plus
- United MileagePlus Premier 1K, Premier Platinum, and Premier Gold, gets you Star Alliance Gold
Personally I think oneworld Emerald status is the most valuable of those by far, so let me share why.
What are the benefits of oneworld Emerald status?
The oneworld alliance has three elite tiers — Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald. Emerald is the top tier status, and is typically earned with having high level status in a oneworld frequent flyer program.
What are the perks of oneworld Emerald status? Here are the high-level benefits, roughly in the order that I value them:
- Access to first & business class lounges
- Access to preferred and pre-reserved seating
- Priority boarding
- Extra baggage allowance
- Access to first class check-in
- Fast track at select security lanes
- Priority baggage handling
- Priority on waitlists and when on standby
Below I wanted to go into a bit more detail on the benefits above that I value most.
Lounge access with oneworld Emerald
The single best perk of oneworld Emerald status is the lounge access benefit, as members receive access to oneworld first & business class lounges when traveling on a oneworld flight the same day in any cabin. They’re allowed to even bring one guest with them (also traveling on a oneworld flight).
Now, there are a few things to be aware of:
- Those earning oneworld Emerald status through American AAdvantage or Alaska Mileage Plan only get lounge access when traveling outside of North America, while other oneworld Emerald members get lounge access even when traveling domestically; in other words, non-AAdvantage and Mileage Plan oneworld Emeralds can even use American Flagship Lounges when traveling within the US
- Certain lounges are excluded from this benefit, including the Chelsea Lounge New York, British Airways Concorde Room, and Qatar Airways Al Safwa Lounge Doha, Al Mourjan Lounge Doha, and Qatar Airways Premium Lounges outside of Qatar
As far as I’m concerned this leaves some really phenomenal oneworld Emerald lounges, including some that I’d rank among the best first class lounges around the world.
This ranges from Cathay Pacific’s The Pier First Class Lounge Hong Kong (which is expected to reopen in the coming months)…
…to Qantas’ First Lounge Singapore.
Preferred & pre-reserved seating with oneworld Emerald
I wish this weren’t actually a benefit that I valued, but unfortunately some airlines in oneworld charge for seat assignments, even in business class. For example:
- British Airways charges for seat assignments in business class
- Qatar Airways sells unbundled business class fares, which don’t allow seat assignments in advance for non-elite members
While I’d probably otherwise usually book away from airlines with policies like this, oneworld Emerald status makes this a non-issue, as I can continue to select seats in advance for free.
Do note that each airline has a different policy when it comes to assigning oneworld Emerald members priority economy seats. Some will assign extra legroom economy seats for free (for example, American gives oneworld Emerald members with joint venture partners free Main Cabin Extra seats), while others won’t.
Priority check-in & boarding with oneworld Emerald
As a oneworld Emerald member you can generally check in with international first class, and also board with international first class. Personally I love this perk, because when I review flights it’s handy to be able to board business class when first class boards, so I can snap pictures of the cabin before it gets too full.
Note that the exact policy of each airline differs. For example:
- While British Airways and Cathay Pacific let oneworld Emeralds board with international first class, American only lets oneworld Emeralds board after all premium cabin passengers
- Those who earn oneworld Emerald through American AAdvantage or Alaska Mileage Plan can only use American’s Flagship First check-in facility when flying on select international flights
Extra baggage allowance with oneworld Emerald status
While I only travel with hand luggage a majority of the time, for those times where I check luggage, the extra oneworld Emerald baggage allowance comes in handy:
- For tickets that have a weight limit, you get an extra 20kg of luggage
- For tickets that have a piece system, you get one additional bag
For example, while American Airlines domestic first class passengers get two free checked bags up to 70 pounds each, as an Executive Platinum member (oneworld Emerald) I get a third free checked bag with the same weight limit.
How does oneworld status compare to others?
Why do I prefer oneworld Emerald status to top tier status with Star Alliance or SkyTeam? First of all, the oneworld alliance is the only one to have a true “top tier” alliance-wide status. For example, Star Alliance Gold is the highest Star Alliance status, and you generally get that with mid-tier airline status.
Big picture:
- Star Alliance Gold doesn’t get you access to international first class lounges with any airlines, while I consider that to be the single best oneworld Emerald perk (and please, no one tell me that Lufthansa Senator Lounges are in fact first class lounges)
- SkyTeam Elite Plus is just generally uncompetitive; for example, SkyTeam Elite Plus members with non-US airlines don’t even get lounge access when traveling domestically within the US, while elite members with oneworld and Star Alliance do
Bottom line
While there’s huge value to airline status in general, I find that reciprocal alliance perks really shine with oneworld Emerald. Any time I consider giving up on status with American Airlines, I’m reminded of how much I’d miss oneworld Emerald status. There’s something about the peak experiences that the status allows that makes me really value it.
It sure is nice to fly American business class out of LAX and use the Qantas First Lounge. With Hong Kong now having fully reopened, and all of Cathay Pacific’s lounges expected to reopen in the coming months, I can’t wait to enjoy my oneworld Emerald status at Hong Kong Airport again.
Anyone else love oneworld Emerald as much as I do? And anyone disagree with my take, and prefer status with Star Alliance and/or SkyTeam?
OW Emerald status does not get you free seat selection on the unbundled business class fares. I have been on the phone with several agents about this and was told that the OW seat benefits only apply to coach tickets and not business fares. Would be interested to see if others have experienced this.
I agree for the most part, except that British Airways (even though nowadays a second rate airline in my book) won’t recognize other airlines Emerald status and calls them silver in its system. It seems they give preference to their own and push back on the other ratings. A shame as it professes to be all about Oneworld
Hi, I have a 60min connection in LHR (both flights in T5) and wanted to ask you if being an emerald member (IB Platino) would grant my family fast pass/fast track through security and not only me....that would allow us to save potentially a lot of time trying to make our second flight.
Gracias from Argentina!
Late to the convo, but I am Oneworld Emerald with Qatar (Platinum). I live in Asia, but come back to the US 2-3 times a year on business. The Emerald perks when flying on AA as a Qatar Platinum/OW Emerald are amazing.
- Flagship/Admirals Club access, no matter my class of ticket (coming off a 14-hr DOH-JFK flight, getting a shower is a lifesaver).
- 3x 70 lbs bags (I had one checked bag...
Late to the convo, but I am Oneworld Emerald with Qatar (Platinum). I live in Asia, but come back to the US 2-3 times a year on business. The Emerald perks when flying on AA as a Qatar Platinum/OW Emerald are amazing.
- Flagship/Admirals Club access, no matter my class of ticket (coming off a 14-hr DOH-JFK flight, getting a shower is a lifesaver).
- 3x 70 lbs bags (I had one checked bag at 65 lbs on an economy ticket, this alone saved me $100).
- Main Cabin Extra for free
I've been using Chase UR points to buy my AA tickets on their portal, but I just saw that Qatar is also allowing you to search/book for AA tickets using Avios on their website. Might give that a shot next time.
Re: the interlining comment below, I can confirm that AA wouldn't do this for me either. I had a trip all on AA with 2 PNRs (YUL-LGA, LGA-CLT), and they wouldn't check my bag through. To be fair, their website does state clearly that they will only check your bags through if all the flights have the same locator. Wasn't a big deal with Pre-Clearance in YUL, priority baggage arrival, First Class AA checkin, and Pre-Check at LGA.
May beige and I had the OneWorld Sapphire level for years and it was excellent just about everywhere we went. The Emerald has always been just out of reach for us. So hard to get even travelling long hauls all the time (non-for-profit travel doesn’t allow for expensive tickets)
Emerald is not worth it for lounges as you will find out once flying with the little one. 3 people will not be allowed and particularly if one is a kid. Star Alliance gold has a better policy for families. Oneworld policy stinks. Unless your husband has Emerald as well he or kid will be odd one out. I had to suffer through this too many times so I gave up on Oneworld and as soon as all my remai I g miles are done, I am back full time at Staralliance.
We don't want your children in a first class lounge just because you happen to have racked up miles from paying rent with some credit card. Shoo.
Funny, have not paid rent ever. Lol
I agree. No kids.. unless parents agree that they can be sedated if necessary.
Good review article for Oneworld Emerald, I live in the UK so has been BA Gold/Oneworld Emerald for several years now. As you say I really like the perks. I agree compare with other alliances I do feel the perks are better with Oneworld. In particular the seat reservation, if you want to sit somewhere you want then the cost easily adds up quite a lot if there are a few connecting flights. This is...
Good review article for Oneworld Emerald, I live in the UK so has been BA Gold/Oneworld Emerald for several years now. As you say I really like the perks. I agree compare with other alliances I do feel the perks are better with Oneworld. In particular the seat reservation, if you want to sit somewhere you want then the cost easily adds up quite a lot if there are a few connecting flights. This is the case for most of the Oneworld airlines charging for seat reservation. The only thing in your article I would say is, you mentioned about the Qatar light fare the same is true for Finnair, they have a light fare also with practically nothing comes with the ticket not even luggage allowance, no lounge, no priority at security etc. I have recently booked Finnair again and with my Oneworld Emerald I have free seat reservation, 1 hold luggage and with the reopening of the Finnair Platinum 'First class' lounge with the Finnish sauna all perks that comes with the frequent flyer status. Finnair doesn't have first class so the amazing lounge could only be access with Oneworld Emerald status. I am looking forward to trying the new Finnair business class seat. My favourite lounges are mostly Cathay Pacific especially the First Class at Hong Kong.
One important point not mentioned and that can be problematic is that with Oneworld interlining of baggage is not assured, especially with BA, which may not even transfer bags if you have two PNRs on BA! This can cause significant issues, including for planning your trip.
If you have two tickets on different Oneworld airlines and you are connecting internationally, this could be a big issue if you need to pick up your bags...
One important point not mentioned and that can be problematic is that with Oneworld interlining of baggage is not assured, especially with BA, which may not even transfer bags if you have two PNRs on BA! This can cause significant issues, including for planning your trip.
If you have two tickets on different Oneworld airlines and you are connecting internationally, this could be a big issue if you need to pick up your bags and re-check them. You might need a visa. You might not have enough time to go through immigration, even if you would have enough time for a transfer. You might have too much time and you will not be allowed to check in until approximately three hours before your flight and will be stuck landside. Interlining is often at the discretion of the ground staff and one will not know until check-in if your bags will be interlined. Yes, you could check if the airlines have interlining agreements, but that does not mean the ground staff has to or will check your bags through.
This greatly affected me on some recent flights as I did not know if my wife would be stuck landside at a foreign airport overnight at an airport without hotels nearby, when I would be airside at the airside hotel. I had to take her bag with me as I was traveling on a single ticket originating in a different city, but connecting on the same airline.
If you want to call it an alliance, at least interline bags.
Ben, what would you rank as the best non US oneWorld program to get Emerald?
Has anyone else had issues with their AS status not properly being recognized? I have been 75k since last fall, yet on BA boarding passes it keeps on saying "sapphire", no such issue when flying AA. Any idea how to resolve this?
Same thing happened to me on Japan Airlines this week with my Alaska number on my boarding pass. They said the system showed sapphire although I have been 75K for several years. I had to show them my American emerald status to get me into the First Class lounge at Haneda. Bottom line: it's not only BA.
Did you enter in your AS number when you were still Sapphire? I had the opposite - entered in my AS number as an Emerald then dropped to Sapphire by the flight date. Still came up as Emerald and got lounge access and Group 1 boarding.
Occasional access to First Class Lounges is not worth being loyal to American Airlines imo. I'll steer clear thank you very much
I personally don't think any particular alliance is so different than the other. It more depends on where you live and the routes you frequent. As an example, being DC based, I was Emerald for two decades. This worked fine at the start given AA's domestic operations at DCA. But I did pay the price often to Asia or Europe in having much more limited options (BA, with high fuel surcharges, or connecting on AA...
I personally don't think any particular alliance is so different than the other. It more depends on where you live and the routes you frequent. As an example, being DC based, I was Emerald for two decades. This worked fine at the start given AA's domestic operations at DCA. But I did pay the price often to Asia or Europe in having much more limited options (BA, with high fuel surcharges, or connecting on AA was often my only option to Europe as an example, and, quite frankly it was less than stellar). Switching to United and Star Alliance has been far better as in recent years my travel has swung to being far more international. It's a world of difference as to options and frequency and I personally love it.
Being based in MIA though I can see where Emerald is better. So it goes, where you are living and your routes are all that really matters. Anything else is pretty much the same as to what you get.
Correct me if I m wrong, but SkyTeam Elite Plus from non-US airlines do get lounge access flying domestically in the US. I am FB Gold and flew economy flight Delta and got into a Sky Club.
Did you connect on an international itinerary or use an American Express Platinum card to get in? If its solely a domestic trip, I don’t think you can get in, but you might have been lucky somehow.
This is where SkyTeam's terms and conditions come in. Irrespective of whether one's tier status is with a US-based or non-US-based carrier, the rules are the same.
If a leg has an international segment, then tier status alone will be afforded lounge access on all segments.
If a leg has no international segment and is entirely domestic -- that is, entirely domestic in ANY country -- then tier status *alone* does not afford lounge access...
This is where SkyTeam's terms and conditions come in. Irrespective of whether one's tier status is with a US-based or non-US-based carrier, the rules are the same.
If a leg has an international segment, then tier status alone will be afforded lounge access on all segments.
If a leg has no international segment and is entirely domestic -- that is, entirely domestic in ANY country -- then tier status *alone* does not afford lounge access on any segment.
Outside the US, irrespective of tier status, premium cabins afford lounge access.
And, in the US, irrespective of tier status, holders of certain Amex cards receive access to Delta SkyClubs.