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 wanted 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 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 wanted 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
- “Go light” fares on SAS
- “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 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?
Thanks for this article, very helpful. I just want to clarify if my understanding is correct: "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."
1. Is this free guest access only for international flights and true for...
Thanks for this article, very helpful. I just want to clarify if my understanding is correct: "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."
1. Is this free guest access only for international flights and true for all Star Alliance airlines, including United?
2. Currently, if I fly United domestically, I have no access to lounge as a gold member. My understanding from what you wrote is that I can have access to other airline lounge (except United) even if I fly domestic?
People who have Star Alliance Gold through only get access to the United Club on international itineraries. If you have Star Alliance Gold from a different airline (not United), you can access the United Club on domestic itineraries too. In contrast, this doesn't apply to members SkyTeam wrt Delta Sky Club. That's what the article is trying to say.
I’m lifetime Million Miler lifetime Gold Staus through United.
I find it brilliant not just the worldwide lounge access but also through their priority phone line for sorting out any issues which they are top class in dealing with!
I think Skyteam is actually much better, a Flying Blue gold status gets a free luggage even on partners' light fares, plus you can select almost any seat you like in economy.
a recent Star Alliance survey had a multiple choice section with "extra hand baggage allowance as a benefit of Star Alliance Gold status" as a reason for me to having chosen *A for my flight, but I don't see that in any other official documentation. Any ideas why?
Four most important things you get for the weary seafarer.
1. Cut the security line in Istanbul. it’s the farthest left open line. best way to describe.
2. Lufthansa lounge in Frankfurt will bring you notices for ur flight if you tell them and decide to nap.
3. thai lounge bkk will let you into the nicer lounge.
4. there’s actually a lounge for south china sea jobs in guam. just make sure you have thai or ana onward ticket. they have powerade in the soda fountain.
It would be nice if Star Alliance Gold status showed up on your boarding pass regardless of where you earned it. Was once flying from Toronto to LAX on Air Canada, using my Aeroplan number and presented my boarding pass and my Star Alliance Gold card from United. Lounge agent would not give me access to the lounge, saying that my UA* had to be on the boarding pass in order to gain access (she...
It would be nice if Star Alliance Gold status showed up on your boarding pass regardless of where you earned it. Was once flying from Toronto to LAX on Air Canada, using my Aeroplan number and presented my boarding pass and my Star Alliance Gold card from United. Lounge agent would not give me access to the lounge, saying that my UA* had to be on the boarding pass in order to gain access (she was wrong). No sense arguing too much, so I just had her enter my UA* into my reservation, print me another boarding pass and away I went.
I am a million miler in United and American programs, but with United I get lifetime gold (as does my husband) and of course Star Alliance gold. With American, I get no lounge access with gold and nor does my husband get gold status. That's why I love United.
Gold members should get full availability of seats free of charge in ALL members, regardless of the kind of fare or cabin.
In terms of the definition of "domestic" US trips, how does United define Puerto Rico? PR is a US territory, but in the case of American Airlines, for purposes of lounge access, they define PR as "international" so therefore lounge access applies. Does United define Puerto Rico the same as AA does, or does United define PR as "purely" domestic US just like if you were flying between San Francisco and Houston? In other words,...
In terms of the definition of "domestic" US trips, how does United define Puerto Rico? PR is a US territory, but in the case of American Airlines, for purposes of lounge access, they define PR as "international" so therefore lounge access applies. Does United define Puerto Rico the same as AA does, or does United define PR as "purely" domestic US just like if you were flying between San Francisco and Houston? In other words, if instead you were flying from San Francisco to Houston to San Juan (SJU) on the same day/ticket, does that mean Star Alliance Gold gets you lounge access or does it not?
So per the United Club terms, Puerto Rico is defined as an international destination similar to Canada. So if you are on a paid First ticket on United you do get access to the clubs, if you are long segment it might be well tricky.
It should give you access if you have star gold on an economy ticket but I would have the united club terms and conditions on your phone ready to...
So per the United Club terms, Puerto Rico is defined as an international destination similar to Canada. So if you are on a paid First ticket on United you do get access to the clubs, if you are long segment it might be well tricky.
It should give you access if you have star gold on an economy ticket but I would have the united club terms and conditions on your phone ready to go just in case you get a gate dragon, I have hard some horror stories at the houston club in flyertalk
Let's say I have Star Alliance Gold via Turkish Airlines. I'm on a regular United coach ticket - paid or award - from San Francisco via Houston to San Juan (SJU) in Puerto Rico. Am I able to access the United lounges at SFO as well as at IAH on my way to SJU.
Totally agree that OneWorld Emerald is way above the competition.
One quick question as I’m about to become “Star Alliance Homeless” : I used to be with Asian and switched to SAS when Asiana announced the merger with Korean Air…. 2 years later SAS gets acquired by AF and also leaves Star Alliance :’(
Where should I go next ? I’m aiming for an airline that offers lifetime status - I’m already Platinum...
Totally agree that OneWorld Emerald is way above the competition.
One quick question as I’m about to become “Star Alliance Homeless” : I used to be with Asian and switched to SAS when Asiana announced the merger with Korean Air…. 2 years later SAS gets acquired by AF and also leaves Star Alliance :’(
Where should I go next ? I’m aiming for an airline that offers lifetime status - I’m already Platinum for life on AF and well on my way to reaching Lifetime Gold on BA but except for Lufthansa I don’t see a lot of good options on Star Alliance now that SAS is gone. Even with Lufthansa their concept of “intercontinental vs. continental” flights is totally undervaluing long haul flights between Europe and Asia with connections so it’s quite uncompetitive. Any thoughts ?
Hi Daniel,
Lufthansa is currently offering SAS gold card member status match
You could submit your application here
https://lufthansa.statusmatch.com/track/index.php
Star alliance gold boards with business/first on United. I’ve always had group one, traveling always in basic economy. Internationally you even get two free checked bags on United. However, free intercontinental baggage allowance on LHG airlines is unofficial not always granted.
Partner Star Alliance Gold boards with Group 2. Only MileagePlus Gold gets Group 1.
In terms of checked bag, Star Alliance is the weakest among all three major alliance.
Star Alliance Silver gets nothing while flying other airlines but the entry tiers, OneWorld Ruby and SkyTeam Elite can receive one free checked bag flying other airlines within their alliance. Two bags if on SA Gold equivalent OW Sapphire and SkyTeam Elite Plus.
Also, other Star Alliance Gold flying United only gets a free checked bag up to 50lbs, while...
In terms of checked bag, Star Alliance is the weakest among all three major alliance.
Star Alliance Silver gets nothing while flying other airlines but the entry tiers, OneWorld Ruby and SkyTeam Elite can receive one free checked bag flying other airlines within their alliance. Two bags if on SA Gold equivalent OW Sapphire and SkyTeam Elite Plus.
Also, other Star Alliance Gold flying United only gets a free checked bag up to 50lbs, while United Silver gets 70 lbs while flying United.
This depends. As a Gold member with SK I get extra fre luggage on ALL Star A flights. But how much is a little different. With most airlines I get one extra bag of 23kg if in eco and 1 of 32 kg if in business. With SK I get 2 extra. With TK I get 20 kg extra in eco and 2x 20 kg in business.
I think the buggest value is travelling economy on partner airlines. If you alrady travel business the only perk are some star gold lounges. I've never needed extra luggage as I like to travel light.