Some of the lesser-known airline partners and how to use them to your advantage
The best feature of the three major airline alliances — Star Alliance, SkyTeam and Oneworld — is that you can earn points or miles on any carrier within a given alliance by flying on any other. Likewise, you can use points or miles from any carrier in that alliance for award travel on a flight operated by another. These reciprocal arrangements are easy to understand, even if they don't always work out so well in practice.
In addition to the major alliances, airlines also have nonalliance partners that passengers can use in a similar fashion. However, many of the nonalliance partners restrict which flights you can earn or redeem miles on, so it’s important to review the requirements on the airline’s website before you book any flights. Below, we'll go through some of the lesser-known airline partnerships and highlight a few sweet spots to take advantage of them.
Air Canada
Air Canada is part of the Star Alliance. Its Aeroplan program is a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy.
Nonalliance partners for earning and redeeming include:
- Air Creebec
- Air Dolomiti
- Air Mauritius
- Air Serbia
- Azul Brazilian Airlines
- Bamboo Airways
- Calm Air
- Canadian North
- Cathay Pacific
- Discover Airlines
- Edelweiss Air
- Emirates
- Etihad Airways
- Eurowings
- Flydubai
- Gol Airlines
- Gulf Air
- Juneyao Airlines
- Lufthansa
- Olympic Air
- Oman Air
- PAL Airlines
- SunExpress
- Virgin Australia
Nonalliance partners for earning only include:
- Aer Lingus
- Central Mountain Air
- Middle East Airlines
- SriLankan Airlines
Related: You can now use Aeroplan points for Emirates first class, but it isn't cheap
Air France and KLM
Air France and KLM are both part of the SkyTeam alliance. The miles you earn from flights on Air France and KLM — along with nonalliance partner Transavia — go to Flying Blue, the loyalty program shared among these three airlines.
Flying Blue is a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Wells Fargo Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy.
Nonalliance partners for earning and redeeming include:
- Air Corsica
- Air Mauritius
- AirBaltic
- Aircalin
- Chalair Aviation
- China Southern Airlines
- Copa Airlines
- El Al
- Etihad Airways
- Gol Airlines
- Japan Airlines
- Malaysia Airlines
- Oman Air
- Qantas
- Transavia
- WestJet
- Winair
Flying Blue also has a partnership with Bangkok Airways, but only redemptions are allowed. You cannot earn miles from paid Bangkok Airways flights.
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines is part of the Oneworld alliance. Its Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan program is a transfer partner of Bilt Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy.
Nonalliance partners for earning and redeeming include:
- Aer Lingus
- Air Tahiti Nui
- Cape Air
- Condor
- Hainan Airlines
- Icelandair
- Korean Air
- LATAM
- Oman Air
- Porter Airlines
- Singapore Airlines
- Starlux Airlines
Nonalliance partners for earning only include:
- Aleutian Airways
- Bahamasair
- Cape Air
- Contour Airlines
- Kenmore Air
- Mokulele Airlines
- Southern Airways Express
Related: On board Condor's inaugural Airbus A330neo to NYC — in a swanky new business-class product
All Nippon Airlines
ANA is a Japanese-based airline and a member of Star Alliance. Its ANA Mileage Club program is a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy.
Nonalliance partners for earning and redeeming include:
- Air Dolomiti
- Air Macau
- Etihad Airways
- Eurowings
- Garuda Indonesia
- Olympic Air
- Philippine Airlines
- Virgin Atlantic
- Vietnam Airlines
- Virgin Australia
American Airlines
American Airlines is part of the Oneworld alliance. Its American Airlines AAdvantage program is not part of any credit card transfer programs, but it is a transfer partner of Marriott Bonvoy.
Nonalliance partners for earning and redeeming include:
- Air Tahiti Nui
- Cape Air
- China Southern Airlines
- Etihad Airways
- Fiji Airways — joining Oneworld in 2025
- Gol Airlines
- Hawaiian Airlines — in the process of merging with Alaska Airlines
Nonalliance partners for earning only include:
- Aer Lingus
- IndiGo
- JetSmart — currently earning only but with redemptions coming soon
British Airways and Iberia
British Airways and Iberia are both Oneworld member airlines. They are two of the six airlines that use Avios as rewards currency; the other airlines are Oneworld members Finnair and Qatar Airways and nonalliance members Aer Lingus and Vueling. Though each airline has an individual program, you can freely move your Avios at a 1:1 ratio between all six airlines.
British Airways and Iberia are both transfer partners of American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Wells Fargo Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy. The former is also a transfer partner of Capital One miles. Because you can move your Avios between the six participating airlines, any Avios you have in these programs can be used to book multiple nonalliance partners.
British Airways’ nonalliance partners for earning and redeeming include:
- Aer Lingus
- LATAM
- Sun-Air
The carrier also has a partnership with China Southern Airlines, but you can only earn Avios for paid flights. You cannot redeem Avios for China Southern flights.
Iberia’s nonalliance partners for earning and redeeming include:
- Avianca
- Binter Canarias
- LATAM
- Level
- Vueling
Cathay Pacific
Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific is part of the Oneworld alliance. Its Asia Miles program is a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One miles, Citi ThankYou Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy.
Nonalliance partners for earning and redeeming include:
- Air Canada
- Air China
- Air New Zealand
- Austrian Airlines
- Bangkok Airways
- Fiji Airways
- Gulf Air
- HK Express
- LATAM
- Lufthansa
- Shenzhen Airlines
- Swiss
Delta Air Lines
Delta is a member of the SkyTeam alliance. Its Delta SkyMiles program is a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy.
Nonalliance partners for earning and redeeming include:
- AirBaltic
- Cape Air
- China Southern
- El Al
- Hawaiian Airlines
- LATAM
- WestJet
Redemptions on AirBaltic are limited to connections from a transatlantic award flight on Delta, Air France or KLM. Earning and redeeming on Hawaiian Airlines is limited to flights only within Hawaii.
Nonalliance partners for redeeming only include:
- Air Tahiti Nui
- Mandarin Airlines
- Shanghai Airlines
Related: 5 things you need to know about the Delta-LATAM joint venture
United Airlines
United is a Star Alliance carrier. Its United MileagePlus program is a transfer partner of Bilt Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy.
Nonalliance partners for earning and redeeming include:
- Aer Lingus
- Air Dolomiti
- AirLink
- Azul Brazilian Airlines
- Cape Air
- Discover Airlines
- Edelweiss Air
- Emirates
- Eurowings
- Flydubai
- Hawaiian Airlines — flights only within Hawaii
- JSX
- Juneyao Airlines
- Lufthansa
- Olympic Air
- Silver Airways
- Virgin Australia
For Emirates and Flydubai, you can only redeem miles on select routes between Dubai and Africa, the Middle East and the South Asian subcontinent as part of an award reservation that includes a United flight between Newark and Dubai, all on the same ticket. Earning and redeeming on Hawaiian Airlines is limited to flights only within Hawaii.
Virgin Atlantic
Virgin Atlantic is part of the SkyTeam alliance. Its Virgin Atlantic Flying Club program and the Virgin Red rewards program — which you can link to Flying Club — are transfer partners of American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy.
Nonalliance partners for earning and redeeming include:
- Air New Zealand
- All Nippon Airways
- El Al
- Hawaiian Airlines
- LATAM
- Singapore Airlines
- South African Airways
Virgin Atlantic also has a partnership with IndiGo, but you can only earn points for paid flights. You cannot redeem Virgin points for IndiGo flights.
Sweet spots among the nonalliance partners
Many airlines have moved to fluctuating award rates, known as dynamic pricing, for redemptions on their own airline. However, most programs still have an award chart for partner redemptions at fixed rates.
Some programs offer zone-based redemptions, where the award rate is determined by what regions you’re traveling between. Other programs have distance-based redemptions, where the award rate is based on the number of miles between the airports you’re traveling.
Reviewing an airline's partner award charts can help you target redemptions that may be particularly useful or noteworthy. Here are a few sweet spots of the nonalliance partners.
Alaska redemptions for Starlux business class
Alaska is the only airline partner of Taiwan-based Starlux Airlines. Starlux has an impressive business-class product between the U.S. and Taiwan, and award rates start as low as 75,000 Alaska miles each way.
Virgin Atlantic redemptions for ANA business or first class
This redemption is not as sweet as it used to be after several devaluations over the past few years. However, it’s still one of the best uses of Virgin points for premium cabin travel — particularly if you can book The Room business class or The Suite first class as opposed to the airline’s older products. One-way business class between the U.S. and Japan is available for as few as 52,500 Virgin points; first class is available for as few as 72,500 points.
Using Virgin points offers more flexibility than ANA’s own miles; this is because Virgin allows for one-way redemptions while ANA only allows round-trip redemptions. Virgin also has many more options for transfers from credit card points and miles programs.
Bottom line
Airline partners make award travel much easier since they expand the network of carriers and routings available when redeeming your points and miles. It’s not just the partners within the airline's alliance that may offer good value for earning or redeeming your miles. Keep in mind the nonalliance partners as well.
Related reading:
- Credit card transfer partners: Guide to transferring points and miles to airlines and hotels
- How to credit miles to a partner airline program
- Practical Pointers: Avoid this mileage mishap when flying with partner airlines
- Maximize your points and miles earning: How to choose where to credit your next flight
- 6 mistakes to avoid when booking with partners
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.