I’m primarily a oneworld flyer, given that I live in Miami, and it’s kind of hard not to fly American when living here. I’ve written about how oneworld Emerald is my favorite airline alliance status, but in this post, I’d like to take a look at oneworld Sapphire status, which is the tier immediately below that.
While not quite as valuable as oneworld Emerald, it still offers some incredible perks that can enhance your travels on over a dozen airlines. So let’s take a look at oneworld Sapphire status benefits, and how it compares to other alliance tiers.
In this post:
How airline alliance elite status works
There are three major global airline alliances — oneworld, Star Alliance, and SkyTeam — and combined they have dozens of member airlines. 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.
You’ll typically get the best recognition when flying with the airline that you have elite status with, since perks like upgrades are often reserved for those kinds of flyers. However, there are all kinds of other perks, ranging from priority services to lounge access, which you can get through alliance status.
The oneworld alliance has three elite tiers — Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald — and here’s how those status levels map over:
- Emerald is the top-tier status, and is typically earned by having high level status in a oneworld frequent flyer program; you get this with American AAdvantage Executive Platinum and Platinum Pro, and Alaska Atmos Rewards Titanium and Platinum
- Sapphire is the mid-tier stats, and is typically earned by having middle level status in a oneworld frequent flyer program; you get this with American AAdvantage Platinum and Alaska Atmos Rewards Gold
- Ruby is the low-tier status, and is typically earned by having low level status in a oneworld frequent flyer program; you get this with American AAdvantage Gold and Alaska Atmos Rewards Silver
Benefits & perks of oneworld Sapphire status
What are the perks of oneworld Sapphire status? Let’s go over each of the perks, roughly in the order that I value them (admittedly this is pretty subjective, and depends on your travel patterns).
Business class lounge access
The most valuable perk of oneworld Sapphire status is the lounge access benefit, as members receive access to most oneworld 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 Sapphire status through American AAdvantage or Alaska Atmos Rewards only get lounge access when traveling outside of North America, while other oneworld Sapphire members get lounge access even when traveling domestically; in other words, non-AAdvantage and Atmos Rewards oneworld Sapphire members can even use American Flagship Lounges when traveling within the US
- Certain business class lounges are excluded from this benefit, including the Al Mourjan Lounge Doha and Qatar Airways Premium Lounges outside of Qatar
There are some really great oneworld Sapphire lounges, ranging from the Greenwich Lounge JFK…
Priority check-in & boarding
As a oneworld Sapphire member you can generally check-in and board with business class passengers. If you’re traveling in a lower cabin, this can save you time and help ensure that there’s room for your carry-on bags.
Note that the exact policy of each airline differs. For example, American Airlines only lets Sapphire members board after business class passengers.
Preferred & pre-reserved seating
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 charges for seat assignments in business class on discounted fares and when redeeming points
While many people would probably otherwise usually book away from airlines with policies like this, oneworld Sapphire status makes this a non-issue, as you can continue to select seats in advance for free.
Do note that each airline has a different policy when it comes to assigning oneworld Sapphire members preferred economy seats. Some will assign extra legroom economy seats for free, while others won’t.
Extra baggage allowance & priority handling
While many frequent flyers prefer to travel hand luggage only, for those times where you do check luggage, the extra oneworld Sapphire baggage allowance comes in handy:
- For tickets that have a weight limit, you get an extra 15kg of luggage
- For tickets that have a piece system, you get one additional bag
In addition to the additional allowance, you also receive priority handling for your bags, so that they hopefully come out early.
Priority on waitlists & for standby
If you find yourself on a standby list or a waitlist for a flight, this is generally prioritized by status. You can expect that oneworld Sapphire status will give you priority on this list. This is useful in situations where you’re trying to stand by for a flight or score an upgrade, but there aren’t many seats left.
How do oneworld Emerald & Sapphire compare?
What are the differences between oneworld’s top-tier Emerald status and mid-tier Sapphire status? Here are the incremental perks of Emerald over Sapphire:
- Emerald gets you access to most oneworld first class lounges, ranging from the Qantas First Lounge LAX, to the Japan Airlines First Lounge HND, to the Cathay Pacific First Lounge HKG
- Emerald gets you higher priority check-in and boarding, often with first class
- Emerald gets you a slightly bigger baggage allowance, as you get an extra 20kg of baggage
- Emerald gets you fast track security
So the differences are definitely noticeable, though it also depends on which airports you frequently travel to, which airlines you fly with, and what you value most.
How does oneworld status compare to others?
The oneworld alliance is the only one of the big three global alliances to have three tiers. So I think oneworld Emerald is a competitive advantage, since other alliances don’t have a comparable top-tier status level. How does mid-tier oneworld Sapphire compare to Star Alliance Gold and SkyTeam Elite Plus?
- I’d say Star Alliance Gold is a little more valuable, since it’s the top-tier status for the alliance; while perks can’t compare to oneworld Emerald, you do sometimes get check-in with first class, and sometimes get access to better-than-business-class lounges
- I find SkyTeam Elite Plus is just not competitive with other tiers; for example, SkyTeam Elite Plus members with non-US airlines only get lounge access when traveling domestically in limited circumstances, while elite members with oneworld and Star Alliance get that on a much more widespread basis
Bottom line
Status with an alliance can be extremely valuable, especially if you don’t always fly with the same airline. While it can’t compete with top-tier Emerald status, I find that mid-tier Sapphire status with oneworld is still valuable. It offers business class check-in, lounge access, and boarding, plus an extra baggage allowance, priority baggage delivery, and priority on waitlists.
If you live in the US, the ideal situation is to have oneworld Sapphire with a foreign frequent flyer program, so that you can use Flagship Lounges even when traveling domestically.
If you’re a oneworld Sapphire member, what has your experience been with the status?
The sentence about AAdvantage Sapphire: "...when traveling outside of North America..." is confusing. I will fly SFO-DFW-GIG next month, with a Main Cabin ticket, and I have AAdvantage Platinum status. So, I have a ticket to travel outside of USA. My access will include any One World SFO lounge, such as Qantas and BA, or I will be limited to use the Admirals Club in SFO? Also, during the connection time in DFW, apart from...
The sentence about AAdvantage Sapphire: "...when traveling outside of North America..." is confusing. I will fly SFO-DFW-GIG next month, with a Main Cabin ticket, and I have AAdvantage Platinum status. So, I have a ticket to travel outside of USA. My access will include any One World SFO lounge, such as Qantas and BA, or I will be limited to use the Admirals Club in SFO? Also, during the connection time in DFW, apart from the Flagship lounge, Could I use other (non AA) lounges also?
How can this status be better than Elite Plus when it doesn't even offer access to fast-track security (when SkyTeam don't just provide said access but have clear SkyPriority signage plastered all over airports and even work on getting pax access to fast-track passport control as at CDG) and baggage allowance/priority benefits don't apply across the alliance?
Star Alliance (which also offers fast track and makes an effort with the Gold Track signage at hubs)...
How can this status be better than Elite Plus when it doesn't even offer access to fast-track security (when SkyTeam don't just provide said access but have clear SkyPriority signage plastered all over airports and even work on getting pax access to fast-track passport control as at CDG) and baggage allowance/priority benefits don't apply across the alliance?
Star Alliance (which also offers fast track and makes an effort with the Gold Track signage at hubs) obviously is the best alliance out there by virtue of its vast network (any status benefits are preferable to getting no benefits because there aren't any flights to where you're going), but the love for oneworld and bias against SkyTeam are not restricted to this blog and simply don't make any sense to me.
For Star Alliance, fast track is not a universal benefit. I guess Gold Track is when designated as such, but there are many airports where fast track is not available to *G pax flying economy. Reminds me of my experience flying LO from ARN to WAW…
You are correct, Gold Track is basically a *A hub service that's available at a few other 'strategically important' airports like LHR. It works well but it's not everywhere. On the other hand, Skypriority is available everywhere but the benefits within it aren't consistent - it might just be a logo on a check in desk screen without a separate queue, making pax feel awkward about asking to jump the queue, followed by priority boarding...
You are correct, Gold Track is basically a *A hub service that's available at a few other 'strategically important' airports like LHR. It works well but it's not everywhere. On the other hand, Skypriority is available everywhere but the benefits within it aren't consistent - it might just be a logo on a check in desk screen without a separate queue, making pax feel awkward about asking to jump the queue, followed by priority boarding into the bus making you the last person to get on the plane.
@Lucky, Besides the difference between +15 and +20kg between Emeralds and Sapphires on weight-concept itineraries, there's also the difference that the max pieces are capped to 2 for Sapphires on piece-concept itineraries, while for Emeralds it is 1pc extra always. See the footnotes at https://www.oneworld.com/travel-benefits#benefits
An anyone explain how priority luggage handling works? Is it an airport thing at the origin? Destination? Is it an airline thing? All of the above?
I have run a few tests over the years, flying with a partner, that suggested to me that in Kat cases the priority luggage makes zero difference. My bag and my travel partner’s bag would show up together, usually last I often check in early. The only airlines...
An anyone explain how priority luggage handling works? Is it an airport thing at the origin? Destination? Is it an airline thing? All of the above?
I have run a few tests over the years, flying with a partner, that suggested to me that in Kat cases the priority luggage makes zero difference. My bag and my travel partner’s bag would show up together, usually last I often check in early. The only airlines that consistently get priority luggage out first are Emirates and Singapore, as well as JAL and ANA in their own hubs.
Curious if someone has inside information on how it works .
And apologies an out the typos.
Aegean are amazing at it when flying to their hubs, they put the priority bags on a separate tug. Lufthansa also tend to be pretty successful at speedily delivering priority bags. I believe that the process for narrowbodies is as simple as ensuring that the priority bags are loaded last so they're on top of the others. Not sure whether it's the same for bigger planes.
In theory the priority bags should be loaded in their own containers on larger aircraft, which are unloaded first. In theory.
Ben, I think this is incorrect:
“Those earning oneworld Sapphire status through American AAdvantage or Alaska Atmos Rewards only get lounge access when traveling outside of North America”.
With AA status, you get lounge access when traveling to Canada or Mexico (which are in North America). Not sure about Alaska.
@Voian, @Ben, or anyone else, can AA/AS OWS access non-AA/AS lounges within North America if they're on a domestic or short-haul flight? For example, UA *G can use AC, LH, and TK lounges within the USA, as long as they can physically access them. Not sure if there are lounges that apply for OW (maybe QF or OW lounge at LAX?).
I am AA Platinum. How do I get another One World airline such as Alaska or BA to recognize my Sapphire status?
If you add your AAdvantage number to your itinerary when you book, your status should be flagged for all.
I’ve got sapphire with Alaska which has given mea few perks when I’ve flown on American. But I’m thinking of switching FF programs since Alaska’s 787 planes have no real premium economy. So surprised they would order new planes without a true premium economy package
This benefit is a joke: "priority handling for your bags, so that they hopefully come out early." The key word here is "hopefully" cause my bags never come out early as an AAdvantage Platinum.
False, Richard.
Imitation is the highest form of flattery …. don’t you just love it when a plan comes together, yes?
To all of the AeroB’s I’ve spawned, welcome to my family, keep on posting because posts mean clicks.
Clicks mean cents and cents mean points, now we all know what points mean, yes?
Absolutely, little AeroB’s, points mean flights.
So my little children, keep on clicking and posting so the grownups can read the odd flight review, yes?
Why not take a long walk and argue with a sandwich?
AERO "LITTLE D" B13
Clearly an AI bot. Sadly.
"Those earning oneworld Sapphire status through AA or Alaska Atmos Rewards only get lounge access when traveling outside of North America..."
I think to be precise about it, the wording should be, "when their itinerary includes a flight to/from a destination outside of North America". Because you do get access to domestic USA lounges when you are on an international itinerary. As it is worded this implies only being allowed to use lounges outside the...
"Those earning oneworld Sapphire status through AA or Alaska Atmos Rewards only get lounge access when traveling outside of North America..."
I think to be precise about it, the wording should be, "when their itinerary includes a flight to/from a destination outside of North America". Because you do get access to domestic USA lounges when you are on an international itinerary. As it is worded this implies only being allowed to use lounges outside the US, or the wording could be taken in a confusing way.
Thank you, I was wondering about that exact scenario.
That’s not true, of course, you can still access other OW carriers lounges in US airports if flying domestic on AA and if you have the right status on the airline.
Doesn’t Mexico now get lounge access? That’s North America.
Last time I flew LAX-PVR, yes I got lounge access as Sapphire. But it was only for the Admirals Club Lounge, not Flagship (for Flagship you need longer-haul such as Europe, Australia, deep South America...)
Wrong, Chuck!
I have QR Sapphire. In the US with international ticket I was allowed to use the Flagship lounge, with domestic ticket I was allowed to use the Admirals Club. So you are allowed to use a lounge, the question is, which one. I can test it again in 3 weeks :)
In your opinion/experience, what is the best/fastest way to get oneworld Sapphire status with a foreign airline (for Flagship Lounge access)?
I'm curious about this angle, too. If I normally fly through airports with Admirals Clubs or Flagship lounges, and if I'm just interested in lounge access, would it be worthwhile to, for example, get a BA credit card and credit all my flights to them (or another foreign Oneworld member)? I know generally crediting a partner may not credit full miles, but if I all I need is to get to Sapphire...
Opininon: crediting 30 AA segments to Royal Jordanian FFP during 12 months. To retain, only 26 segments needed.
Whoever would have thought it? ….
The wet, woke, loony, luvvy lefties in Hollywood, have been misrepresenting English Literature yet again. They have taken the writing of George Orwell, his book Animal Farm, changing the Pigs from communists into capitalists. This could only happen in America, yes?
What this situation graphically implies is that America, as you patriots know it, is doomed by the hands of your own countrymen and women. However could a thinking...
Whoever would have thought it? ….
The wet, woke, loony, luvvy lefties in Hollywood, have been misrepresenting English Literature yet again. They have taken the writing of George Orwell, his book Animal Farm, changing the Pigs from communists into capitalists. This could only happen in America, yes?
What this situation graphically implies is that America, as you patriots know it, is doomed by the hands of your own countrymen and women. However could a thinking person ever believe that America, American aircraft manufacturers or American Airline Companies, can be made good again, yes?
What are you smoking?
Now, now, B14, you know only too well that daddy does not smoke and never has, yes?
Really B14, you know only too well that daddy does not smoke and never has. Daddy has never found it necessary to fill his body with chemical substances just to keep up appearances, yes?
Also, as per the internet:
“Animal Farm is primarily a critique of totalitarianism and the corruption of socialist ideals, using the Russian Revolution as its main allegory, but it also touches on capitalist exploitation through its depiction of the exploitative farmer, Mr. Jones. While its core focus is the betrayal of revolutionary principles by power-hungry leaders (like Stalin), Orwell, a democratic socialist, criticized both authoritarian communism and exploitative capitalism, viewing both systems' potential for oppression...
Also, as per the internet:
“Animal Farm is primarily a critique of totalitarianism and the corruption of socialist ideals, using the Russian Revolution as its main allegory, but it also touches on capitalist exploitation through its depiction of the exploitative farmer, Mr. Jones. While its core focus is the betrayal of revolutionary principles by power-hungry leaders (like Stalin), Orwell, a democratic socialist, criticized both authoritarian communism and exploitative capitalism, viewing both systems' potential for oppression as dangerous to workers.”
Well done little B14a, your time in the county correctional centre was not wasted. You have learnt how to operate one of those inferior windows contraptions. So much so, you have been able to ask Mr TikTok about Mr George Orwell. Not only that but how to use the copy and paste facility too. Well done son, grab yourself a Mars Bar, yes?
I did say as per the internet, you doofus lol
Well done little B14a, your time in the county correctional centre was not wasted. You have learnt how to operate one of those inferior windows contraptions. So much so, you have been able to ask Mr TikTok about Mr George Orwell. Not only that but how to use the copy and paste facility too. Well done son, grab yourself a Mars Bar, yes?