There are three major global airline alliances — Star Alliance, SkyTeam, and oneworld — and each offers some level of reciprocal elite recognition. In this post, I’d like to talk about the benefits of Star Alliance Gold status. The Star Alliance is the world’s largest airline alliance, and Gold is Star Alliance’s highest reciprocal elite tier.
In this post:
What is Star Alliance elite status?
One of the major benefits of the global alliances is reciprocal elite recognition across airlines. While you’ll generally be treated the best when flying “your” airline, there are certain perks you can expect regardless of which member airline you fly.
You don’t earn elite status directly with Star Alliance, but rather you earn status with a Star Alliance member airline, and that status maps over to an alliance elite tier. In other words, if you’re a Star Alliance Gold member through United MileagePlus, you can expect some level of recognition, regardless of whether you fly Air Canada, Brussels Airlines, EgyptAir, Singapore Airlines, SWISS, or many more airlines.
What are the benefits of Star Alliance Gold status?
Every Star Alliance airline offers frequent flyers the opportunity to earn Star Alliance Gold status. This can typically be earned with somewhere around 50,000 elite miles per year (though the qualification requirements can vary considerably across airlines).
Gold status is Star Alliance’s highest elite tier, and most Star Alliance frequent flyer programs offer this status somewhere around their middle elite tier (for programs with three or more tiers). For example, in the case of United MileagePlus, you earn Star Alliance Gold status when you earn Premier Gold, Premier Platinum, or Premier 1K status. It’s just Premier Silver members who don’t receive Star Alliance Gold.
Below I’d like to share the benefits of Star Alliance Gold status, roughly in the order in which I value them.
Star Alliance Gold lounge access perks
The biggest perk of Star Alliance Gold status is lounge access — you get access to over 1,000 Star Alliance member lounges around the world when flying a Star Alliance member airline the same day. You can even bring a guest with you for free.
Lounges accessible by Star Alliance Gold passengers will typically have the Star Alliance Gold logo at the entrance. The quality of these lounges varies significantly:
- In some cases, airlines have a dedicated Star Alliance Gold lounge that’s worse than the business class lounge (for example, this is the case with Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer Gold lounges)
- In most cases, the Star Alliance Gold lounge is the same as the business class lounge
- In some cases, airlines have a dedicated Star Alliance Gold lounge that’s better than the standard business class lounge (for example, this is the case with Lufthansa Senator lounges)
There’s one important exception with this lounge access perk — if you’re a Star Alliance Gold member through United MileagePlus, you can only access United Clubs when flying internationally the same day, and not when exclusively flying United domestically.
In other words, a Star Alliance Gold flyer through Air Canada Aeroplan could use a United Club when flying United from Los Angeles to San Francisco, while a Star Alliance Gold flyer through United MileagePlus couldn’t.
Star Alliance Gold extra baggage allowance
Star Alliance Gold members receive an extra baggage allowance:
- Receive an extra 20kg (44 pounds) of checked baggage where the weight concept applies
- Receive an extra piece of checked baggage where the piece concept applies
Note that this benefit isn’t offered on all ticket types. For example, it doesn’t apply on:
- “Light” fares offered by Lufthansa, Austrian, and SWISS
- “Check&Go” fares on Brussels Airlines
- “Seat” fares on Air New Zealand
Star Alliance Gold priority check-in
Star Alliance Gold members receive priority check-in when flying with all Star Alliance airlines. Always be on the lookout for the Star Alliance Gold logo at check-in counters. In most cases Star Alliance Gold members can check-in with business class passengers, while some airlines will allow Star Alliance Gold members to check-in with first class.
Star Alliance Gold priority boarding
Star Alliance Gold members get priority boarding when flying with Star Alliance airlines. Each airline has a different policy when it comes to when Star Alliance Gold members can check-in, so make sure you listen to the announcements at the gate.
While it’s most common that you can board with business class, there are some exceptions. For example, United only lets Star Alliance Gold members board immediately after first and business class.
Star Alliance Gold priority baggage handling
If you have Star Alliance Gold status, your checked bags will receive priority tags. In theory these should be among the first bags out on the baggage claim belt, though the execution of that varies — some airlines are great about getting priority tags out first, while on other airlines it doesn’t seem to make much of a difference.
Star Alliance Gold fast track security
Star Alliance Gold members receive priority airport security screening at Gold Track priority lanes. These are available at select airports around the world.
Star Alliance Gold priority waitlist & standby
While the exact terms vary, as a general rule of thumb Star Alliance Gold members receive priority for waitlisting on sold out flights, as well as standby when trying to change flights same day.
Individual airline policies vary surrounding when standby is allowed, as it can vary based on the market, type of fare you booked, etc.
How does Star Alliance elite status compare to others?
Star Alliance is the world’s largest airline alliance, so there’s big value to having reciprocal perks on all member airlines. That being said, how does the status as such compare to status with oneworld and SkyTeam?
- I’d say Star Alliance Gold is better than SkyTeam Elite Plus (the equivalent status with the SkyTeam alliance), as there’s more consistent and generous recognition; for example, SkyTeam Elite Plus members don’t consistently get lounge access when traveling within the United States
- I’d say Star Alliance Gold is marginally better than oneworld Sapphire status, which is oneworld’s mid-tier elite status
- However, I love how oneworld has a higher elite tier, oneworld Emerald, which I consider to be the best alliance elite status; this offers access to many oneworld international first class lounges, and Star Alliance doesn’t have anything equivalent
- One thing I find frustrating about Star Alliance Gold status is that preferred seats on partner airlines aren’t a perk
Bottom line
Star Alliance Gold status is the top reciprocal status offered by the world’s largest airline alliance. Star Alliance Gold offers perks like lounge access, extra baggage allowance, priority check-in, boarding, baggage handling, and more.
Star Alliance Gold status can be incredibly valuable, especially when flying a partner airline on which you wouldn’t otherwise have status.
If you’re a Star Alliance Gold member, what has your experience been like?
Every year Marriott elite members have so much difficulty receiveing United Silver status on the share between the two companies.
Its like no one in management tells their people this exists and Marriott members will be applying for it.
We used to get it automatically every February, but now its a hassle. Shouldn't be.
Unfortunately some of the Star Alliance gold lounges are far inferior to the relevant airline's business class lounges at the same airport. This is particularly true of Singapore Airlines' execrable offering in Singapore, and Turkish Airlines' over-crowded and ill-designed Miles and More lounge in Istanbul (although it does have good food, if you can accept the long lines).
The seat assignment aspect is one major thing that airline partners do not give Gold benefits on, I suppose to be able to monetize. You still have to pay for any economy seat assignments (generally) when traveling on *A partners as Gold.
The websites are surprisingly silent on explaining this topic. I suppose it's not something they would go out of their way to point out, as it only would pointing out what they're not giving you.
In the real world, this can often be resolved by walking up to the business/first class check in desk (the wording in the post is slightly inaccurate as *G does grant access to first class check-in facilities wherever they exist, and in fact that's the entire point of the new premium check in area at FRA which won't be available to non-status pax flying in C) and asking the agent to give you a better...
In the real world, this can often be resolved by walking up to the business/first class check in desk (the wording in the post is slightly inaccurate as *G does grant access to first class check-in facilities wherever they exist, and in fact that's the entire point of the new premium check in area at FRA which won't be available to non-status pax flying in C) and asking the agent to give you a better seat. There's no guarantee, but a lot of the time they'll be happy to help.
"Gold is Star Alliance’s highest reciprocal elite tier."
@Ben, what about Hon Circle Status?! It opens all doors!
It's not valid outside of Lufthansa and friends.
Hon status is for super flyers within LH grp. If you have status, you can enter FC lounge, even if flying economy
Unlike most programs, it is based upon number of flights taken per year. Many FF have Senator status, but Hon Circle takes three times as many flts per year.
For my wife and I, Star Gold gets us three checked bags each, along with two overhead bins each and two carry on.
I think Star Gold is great program.
I got my *G from Asiana, had it for 5 yrs now and I actually really love it! Asiana Miles is/was super underrated IMO. Since Asiana got acquired, can anyone recommend another Star A program that's pretty good and kinda relatively easy to acquire *G?
I don't really travel A LOT, probably once every 3-4 months or so and I travel mostly international. Mostly economy. US based, but I don't like United's.
I appreciate any input, thanks!
I'm just guessing, but rather than start from scratch, I would wait until Asiana and Korean Air merge their FFP programs. You'll likely map to some equivalent *G on SkyPass. Once you do, then use that status to try and get a matching status on another Star Program. Typically, they don't allow same alliance matching so it's best to wait. As for which one to use, I'll let other experts weigh in. But if you...
I'm just guessing, but rather than start from scratch, I would wait until Asiana and Korean Air merge their FFP programs. You'll likely map to some equivalent *G on SkyPass. Once you do, then use that status to try and get a matching status on another Star Program. Typically, they don't allow same alliance matching so it's best to wait. As for which one to use, I'll let other experts weigh in. But if you are US based, there are benefits to using MileagePlus, especially since United is now restricting partner access to premium cabins. But now that I'm a 3 Million miler with United with 1K for life, I'm out of the game.
The convoluted move of Miles and More to pseudodynamic award pricing has resulted in some interesting sweet spots. The unfortunate thing is that you need to fly LHG airlines in order to achieve status, but there are optimisation strategies out there which show that it can be done pretty cheaply (ca. €2k from scratch, obviously if you're already doing a couple of paid long haul business trips you'll only need to spend a rather small amount on top of it).
The major difference, which you didn't seem to highlight is that Star Gold gets domestic lounge access, even with United status, as long a it's not a United Club. For example, the various TK, LH, AC lounges in the US are all accessible with United Gold.
Also true with OW status. I use BA etc lounges in AA domestic tickets all the time if they v are open at the time of my travel.
There is one potentially significant unlisted perk that has come up quite a few times in my travels with and without *G. If you have *G and you run into a trip irregularity (missed connection due to delays most commonly), the front line airline agents seem to have more options in reaccomodating you, especially when transiting where neither the arriving or departing airline have a formal presence at the transit airport, and rely upon the...
There is one potentially significant unlisted perk that has come up quite a few times in my travels with and without *G. If you have *G and you run into a trip irregularity (missed connection due to delays most commonly), the front line airline agents seem to have more options in reaccomodating you, especially when transiting where neither the arriving or departing airline have a formal presence at the transit airport, and rely upon the hubs *G partner for support and assistance (Germany is most common for this in the Star Alliance Network). With *G, I was almost instantly accommodated. Without *G, was basically trapped in Frankfurt for 6+ hours because no one at the airport could figure out how to issue a ticket change when it wasn't booked on the hub's metal.
Ben, I think the information on the Star Gold baggage allowances and the Light Fares is incorrect, at least as far as intercontinental flights are concerened. From LH's website: "For HON Circle Members, Senators and Star Alliance Gold customers on intercontinental flights, the first item of baggage on the Economy Light fare is free of charge and can only be declared at the check-in counter. If the first item of baggage on the Economy Light...
Ben, I think the information on the Star Gold baggage allowances and the Light Fares is incorrect, at least as far as intercontinental flights are concerened. From LH's website: "For HON Circle Members, Senators and Star Alliance Gold customers on intercontinental flights, the first item of baggage on the Economy Light fare is free of charge and can only be declared at the check-in counter. If the first item of baggage on the Economy Light fare is booked online, at the Service Center or via a travel agency, corresponding charges will apply."
This is in contrast to BA, which does not allow any free luggage on its corresponding Economy light fares for OW Emerald Customers.
… and LO even on basic fares on domestic flights. It’s inconsistent across star alliance carriers though.
The lounge access is the big one for me. I don't do much international travel, but I do like having access (as a United 1K) to other lounges. I've used the Maple Leaf Lounges at YYZ Pre-Clearance and LGA with their superior food and booze service as well as the Singapore and New Zealand lounges at BNE, as well as the small and cozy Lufthansa lounge at DTW. It's great to have a lounge available when there's no United Club.
The lack of free seat assignments across partners makes it the worst of the lounge-access eligible alliance statuses, IMO.
Tbh, even on OW, where you have that benefit, it’s a hit and miss. It works flawlessly on BA, for instance, it’s hopeless on Iberia (you have to call in, given how dysfunctional the website is).
I always thought it wasn't fair that LH has Senator lounges but AC just has the Maple Leaf lounges. It would make more sense for Senator lounges to be only for Senators. Anyway, when you only fly J/F status, it doesn't change much. Sure if you fly Y, status can make a difference but then again, its kind of hard to get a decent status if you only fly Y.
As with any airline tier status, the question is: tier status provides what benefits that a premium cabin ticket does not? (Whether paying with cash or points.) For some, there will be no incremental benefits.
100% agree.
I stopped chasing status a number of years ago, as now I fly first class exclusively (and business when necessary), and there's just about nothing I can really use with the status benefits. So while I have highest/high statuses with Air France, Emirates, and Singapore, there's really not much benefit for me to have it.
You're absolutely right (for the most part), but to be fair, most people travel in Econ and don't have the job opportunity or financial means to always book J or F. For years I was traveling long haul J and F and reaped the benefits and didn't worry about status or FF mileage. Once I changed to a domestic based travel job, those perks of status mattered a lot more.
Lastly, I can think...
You're absolutely right (for the most part), but to be fair, most people travel in Econ and don't have the job opportunity or financial means to always book J or F. For years I was traveling long haul J and F and reaped the benefits and didn't worry about status or FF mileage. Once I changed to a domestic based travel job, those perks of status mattered a lot more.
Lastly, I can think of one perk, at least on United, that gives value of loyalty over purchasing a First Class ticket, 1K status gets to board ahead of First Class/Group 1. It's something.
The ENTIRE point of status is having access to the premium ground benefits without needing to buy a premium cabin ticket.
Unless you're the type of person that's wealthy enough to travel on private planes, it's not easy to justify (to an employer, spouse, or even oneself) spending e.g. €600 on a 90-minute flight.
An outlay of a couple of thousand is evidently more sensible when you're travelling halfway across the world and...
The ENTIRE point of status is having access to the premium ground benefits without needing to buy a premium cabin ticket.
Unless you're the type of person that's wealthy enough to travel on private planes, it's not easy to justify (to an employer, spouse, or even oneself) spending e.g. €600 on a 90-minute flight.
An outlay of a couple of thousand is evidently more sensible when you're travelling halfway across the world and it helps you arrive in reasonable condition.
Obviously the best alliance status because you have access to Lufthansa Senator Lounges and first class check in
Pity that LH is a basket case of an airline and that many airlines' business class lounges are far superior to LH Senator ones.