One of the greatest strengths of airline frequent flyer programs is the scale of their global partnerships, allowing you to travel to hundreds of destinations worldwide on a single itinerary. These partnerships unlock reciprocal benefits across multiple carriers which can include additional baggage allowances, lounge access, priority check-in, and preferred seat selection. Many of these perks are delivered through one of three major airline alliances: Oneworld, Star Alliance, and SkyTeam.
For Australian travellers Star Alliance and SkyTeam don’t have any local airlines partners, while Virgin Australia’s Velocity program is not part of an alliance, it does maintain partnerships with several Star Alliance airlines, making it a solid option for earning points on occasional international trips. Read our in-depth guide to earning Velocity Points with selected Star Alliance partners.
There’s no single “best” frequent flyer program within Star Alliance, each of the strong 27 Airlines have their own frequent flyer program strengths and weaknesses, however some standing out better than others especially for Australian travellers.
The Best Star Alliance Frequent Flyer Programs for Australians
We’ve done the hard work of narrowing down 20+ Star Alliance frequent flyer programs to three contenders based on how often you travel with Star Alliance airlines.
|
Frequent Traveller Seeking Airline Status |
Semi-Regular Travellers Not Seeking Airline Status |
Infrequent Travellers Not Seeking Airline Status |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
Singapore Airlines – KrisFlyer
KrisFlyer is a strong choice for Australian travellers chasing Star Alliance status. Singapore Airlines offers unmatched connectivity from Australia’s major capital cities to destinations across Asia, Europe, and beyond.
In addition, KrisFlyer does not require a minimum number of Singapore Airlines flights or specific spend thresholds, offering greater flexibility. It’s also known for having some of the lowest taxes and surcharges on award redemptions compared to many other frequent flyer programs
| Strength | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| • Several Australian credit cards can transfer points into KrisFlyer program • Transfer points Krisflyer miles to Velocity + Virgin Lounge access with Krisflyer Status when flying Virgin Australia • Strong Star Alliance network across Australia, Asia, Europe & North America • Relatively low taxes and surcharges on many redemptions • Excellent value on Singapore Airlines-operated premium cabins if booking 10-12 months out • Can earn Star Alliance status without needing strict Singapore Airlines-only flying requirements | • Points expire after 36 months regardless of activity • Best value redemption on Singapore Airlines-operated flights, other airlines can be pricey • Limited award availability in premium cabins, especially Suites and Business Class if booking last minute |
Air Canada – Aeroplan
Aeroplan’s biggest advantage is its redemption flexibility, with access to over 50 partner airlines it allows complex itineraries and stopovers making the most of your hard earned points Aeroplan is best suited to travellers who expect to take at least one Star Alliance flight per year which ensure your points don’t expire.
| Strength | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| • Large Star Alliance and Non Star Alliance partners network for flight redemptions • Allows stopovers and multi-city itineraries to be booked online • Reasonable taxes compared to many other programs • Access a range of points transfer options from Australian rewards programs. Join our Points Mastery Course to learn how | • Status is difficult for Australians unless regularly flying Air Canada • Dynamic award pricing leads to inconsistent redemption costs • Points expire after 18 months of no account earning activiey |
United – MileagePlus
United MileagePlus is ideal for travellers who fly Star Alliance airlines infrequently, as your miles earned never expire which is the main perk. The program provides an easy-to-use online booking system for award travel, with both dynamic pricing and fixed redemption options across certain partners. While opportunities for strong value exist, they are not always obvious and typically require detailed analysis of each redemption.
| Strength | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
|
• Your Miles never expire, making it one of the most flexible long-term programs • Great online tools for searching and booking Star Alliance award flights • No fuel surcharges on most award bookings • Access a range of points transfer options from Australian rewards programs. Join our Points Mastery Course to learn how |
• Status is difficult for Australians to achieve, as it heavily rewards flying and spending on United-operated flights. • Award pricing is dynamic, meaning redemption costs can vary significantly and become expensive during peak demand. |
Star Alliance Airlines Flying to Australia: Route Overview
There are 10 Star Alliance airlines that operate regular or seasonal flights to and from Australia, connecting the Australia to four continents. This creates a strong global network of earning and redemption opportunities across multiple carriers and hubs.
Given this level of connectivity, it is important to credit paid flights to a Star Alliance frequent flyer program, rather than letting those miles go unclaimed.
| Australian City | Airline | Route |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney | Air Canada | Vancouver |
| Air China | Beijing | |
| Air India | Delhi | |
| All Nippon Airways (ANA) | Tokyo | |
| Asiana Airlines | Seoul | |
| EVA Air | Taipei | |
| Singapore Airlines | Singapore | |
| Thai Airways | Bangkok | |
| Turkish Airlines | Kuala Lumpur / Istanbul | |
| United Airlines | Los Angeles / San Francisco / Houston | |
| Melbourne | Air Canada | Vancouver |
| Air China | Beijing | |
| Air India | Delhi | |
| Asiana Airlines | Seoul | |
| EVA Air | Taipei | |
| Singapore Airlines | Singapore | |
| Thai Airways | Bangkok | |
| Turkish Airlines | Singapore / Istanbul | |
| United Airlines | Los Angeles / San Francisco | |
| Brisbane | Air Canada | Vancouver |
| Asiana Airlines | Seoul | |
| EVA Air | Taipei | |
| Singapore Airlines | Singapore | |
| Thai Airways | Bangkok | |
| United Airlines | Los Angeles / San Francisco | |
| Perth | All Nippon Airways (ANA) | Tokyo |
| Singapore Airlines | Singapore | |
| Thai Airways | Bangkok | |
| South African Airways | Johannesburg | |
| Adelaide | Singapore Airlines | Singapore |
| Cairns | Singapore Airlines | Singapore |
| Darwin | Singapore Airlines | Singapore |
Learn how your everyday expenses can be used to secure Business Class flights with a range of Star Alliance partners around the world. While Australia does not have a Star Alliance member airline, we explore a range of practical scenarios in our three-level online Points Mastery course, showing you how to effectively use multiple Star Alliance frequent flyer programs to achieve premium travel.
Start today and unlock unforgettable luxury travel experiences at a fraction of the retail price by deepening your knowledge with our Australia-focused points course.
