How oneworld Wound Up As The Smallest Airline Alliance
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- Опубліковано 7 лют 2025
- Despite the future additions, oneworld is STILL the smallest alliance of the big three. Why is this? We take a look, in today’s video…
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As someone who lives in a Star Alliance hub city, one thing respect about oneworld is the great proportion of reliably high-quality carriers they have (Qatar, Cathay, Malaysia, JAL, BA, etc.). Star has your Singapore, Thai, ANA, Asiana, but there are just as many airlines that may not have the best reputation and attractive passenger offering. If I were a oneworld guy, I’d certainly appreciate the relative consistency I’d enjoy.
I mean while I agree with you, the big 3 alliances all have reliable high quality airlines. Skyteam has AF KLM Korean Air Delta, OneWorld has BA Cathay Japan American Airlines, Star has Singapore ANA Turkish Swiss etc.
Star and Skyteam gives a range of different options (at different price point) to choose from. With oneworld, you are stuck with one or two expensive options.
I feel like that also hurts them quite a bit. In Star Alliance you can get some pretty cheap flights to Europe on TAP. Generally I just avoid the airlines I don’t prefer as most routes can be done with the good ones
You are correct but In my case KEWR which itself is Star Alliance hub for UA there is a one world Alliance option I have to reach RPLL it's using AS to the West Coast and AA to ORD/DFW where I will then transfer to CX,QF,JL for RPLL via their hubs NRT/HND/SYD/HKG. SkyTeam Alliance KEWR to RPLL it's AF63 to AF208 +2 days if you don't want to deal with that +2 days you use DL/KE JV via ATL MSP/BOS/DTW and the last leg ICN-MNL on KE. The easiest is Star Alliance TK via IST during DST months UA189/190 EWR-MNL via SFO or UA/NH JV and lastly the most popular option SQ21/918. This one you can have a passenger from Perth in Western Australia take SQ224 then SQ918 for MNL. If you chose UA/NH JV miss the LAX/SFO-NRT/HND-MNL connection that can be replaced with this LAX/SFO-TPE-MNL the last leg uses the same time zone as MNL GMT+8.
BA is reliable 😂
Oneworld is small, but the number of premium carriers is high (Cathay, Japan Airlines and Qatar; AA, BA, Finnair and Qantas also not far away). Therefore the quality on intercontinental trips is more consistent. While the Star Alliance is certainly larger, most larger carriers offer midrange products (Air China, Lufthansa, Turkish), such as the 2-3-2/2-2-2 business configuration.
The feeder network is also decent. Oneworld's big problems are some specific regions like South America (especially after LATAM left in 2020), Africa (OK-ish coverage by Qatar) and India.
I think Qatar is investing in Rwandair as well, which could see them joining oneworld (and IAG for that matter).
I do believe India is quite well covered via SriLankan’s hub at Colombo VCBI (it being the largest international carrier to India) - and ofc most other OW carriers fly to India as well
Do correct me if I am wrong :)
AA, BA, and Finnair are NOT premium at ALL. Don’t even utter them in the same sentence as Cathay and Jal.
@@SFAvgeeklong haul wise they’re actually pretty good
@@BernardBailey-ri2to Long haul? Look at any long haul reviews of American, they are a solid 6/10 at max.
You forgot Iberia’s presence conecting South American market with Europe
2:38 ❤ Nice transition
Quality over Quantity
There were also rumors about China Southern (left Skyteam) and Starlux to join, but of course certain routes may overlap with Cathay Pacific's in the area, which may deny their applications for membership.
OneWorld actually has a great portfolio in my opinion. The other alliances have MAJOR holes Star has Nordic Europe missing, and Skyteam is non existent in my favorite region of travel, Oceania.
Hawaiian is also very likely to join in the coming months given their acquisition by Alaska.
Star Alliance had a presence in nordic Europe with SAS, but they left and joined SkyTeam, after Air France-KLM brought a stake in it.
@c.t.8614 I know, I'm saying they no longer do since Skyteam snatched SAS from them.
The smallest Alliance but with some Powerful Carriers (Qatar, Cathay, Japan Airlines), hence i like them!
Wouldn't Vanilla Alliance be the smallest?
The weakness of One World is not just gaps in its markets. The two largest members, AA and BA, have taken a large hit to their reputations in the last few years. Both have suffered from poor reputations as far as their service (both ground and inflight), on time record and financial stability. Attracting customers can prove difficult when service issues arise with key members as far as customers and key frequent flyers being put off by the experience. On a typical routing not directly served from you home airport, would you choose an AA/BA connection through LHR or a UA/LH connection through FRA or MUC?
BA first class & business class is nothing like it once was.
@@iceman9678 And BA has to deal with London Heathrow being their primary hub. I really feel sorry for them.
tbf weren’t the alliances started so American, United and Delta could have a bigger influence on the aviation world in the late 90s when their lobbying of congress no longer gave them a leg up in US airspace, it’s understandable why Emirates has absolutely no interest in joining one given that it would prevent them from growing their network in America.
With the prices EK can afford to charge in cash and miles rates nowadays (especially compared to QR), I don't think they need to worry about their strategy anytime soon.
If Emirates wants to get a bigger foothold in North America, why don’t they use their A380s to fly JFK-YVR or JFK-MEX (they can’t sell tickets on domestic fifth freedom routes)?
As someone who almost exclusively flies oneworld carriers, I do wonder: why haven’t Star and SkyTeam introduced a third level of alliance status that offers similar perks to oneworld Emerald?
Is it because that would scare off certain members? The most prestigious lounges in oneworld’s portfolio generally don’t let Emerald status holders in (BA’s Concorde room, AA’s Chelsea lounge, and QR’s Al Safwa lounge all come to mind).
I don’t understand why Aer Lingus (being BA owned) is not in One World… So weard, I think it would be easy to integrate Aer Lingus into One World and it would suit them 😇
I think it’s because (as was said in the video) they had to do some things for their own survival as an airline that meant they couldn’t uphold their oneworld requirements.
@@jwil4286 I can understand that however that was over 15 years ago. I think there a solid airline that can keep up those standards nowadays
Aer Lingus used to be a member. They pulled out when JAL (and some other airlines that aren't around anymore) joined because they didn't want to pay to upgrade their IT systems to allow the required connections to the new members.
would like to have videos about other alliances too
0:44 pretty sure star alliance has had more than just united on their alliance
Same with SkyTeam back then (DL, NW, CO at one point).
I suppose the main reason is to do with a lack of hubs in Europe. I've only flown on BA, Cathay and JAL. Also Russian airspace being closed has damaged Finnair's raison d'etre.
Yes and S7's departure from One World.
4:54 2026 HA is in the alliance if they need help in Southeast Asia since they only have MH why not have PR join the alliance but there's a problem with it RPLL proximity to VHHH. Followed by Fleet similarity
Oneworld is the smallest, but also the most upmarket with Qatar, Cathay, and Japan Airlines. Lately they've dominated my itineraries, I just wish AA had bank transfer partners to really take advantage of premium upgrades at the lowest points spend.
Hawaiian? Owned by Alaska
As an Australian I find it bizarre that QANTAS and Qatar are a part of the same alliance when they are strong competitors in the Australian market.
Being so big, I don't know why LATAM doesn't join OneWorld again, or why they left.
Delta Air Lines bought a large share of the company.
Lan Chile was arguably the best airline in America
But it was forced to merge with TAM Brazil
Today it would have been the best One World partner in South America...
I am a very naive person when it comes to fixating at an alliance: oneworld has many high-quality carriers, and 2 carriers in US (I am assuming Hawaiian to be joining at some point, given its merge with Alaska, so this might become 3). I am not a frequent flyer, so that's good enough. The lack of coverage in Europe is not a big concern imo; there is this thing called codeshare.
oneworld needs an airline in south america
considering how avianca is in star alliance and aerolineas argentinas is in skyteam
there's some options (gol, azul, latam was a member but could rejoin)
also this is a hot take but american should kind of get on delta and uniteds level (the new oasis cabins on narrowbodies actually look like a ripoff southwest cabin)
Aer Lingus was very shortsighted to leave OneWorld and for what it is worth has left itself open to the tag of an also ran airline . In view of it's relatively small foot print it's place within the alliance would have been niche namely providing a European feeder service to it's relatively extensive N. American network .
Aer Lingus charged a LOT of points to get first class and business class seats but at least they offered them.
I don’t really see what Aer Lingus could offer that BA and IB can’t.
But I would agree that they should’ve remained in the alliance.
One World isn't half bad but using rewards for business class or first class on many of the partners is a real pain.
JAL is clearly the crown jewel of this alliance, IMO.
Yeah obviously. Their new a350k absolutely destroys Qatar airways and Cathay.
I don’t understand what you’re saying.
Qatar were the launch customer of the A350, both variants. They have 34 -900 and 24 -350K. The latest only 2/3 years old. One of the best airlines in the world.
Cathay also operate the A350, 30 -900 and 18 350K, the latest ones delivered in 22.
@@Rasscasse no once cares about fleet size, but rather overall product. Even Qatar’s best products are behind Japan airlines a350-1000 with 33+ inches of seats pitch in ECONOMY. Qatar has a measly 31 inches. Legroom is not the only thing tho, JAL has one of the best cabin crew and good ife.
@SFAvgeek
Oh I know JAL has a fantastic product and loads of passenger space and great service.
I haven’t come here to talk them down.
I was just curious as to what measures you were using.
You only mentioned the 350K in your comment, that’s why I responded talking about the other 350ks.
Thanks for the info.
No views in 39 seconds? Bro fell off
No one is interested in one world 😂
One small world
The Sky Team Alliance would dominate if they had a presence in Australia. That is really the only place they are lacking. The Star Alliance benefits from the Lufthansa Group of airlines.
Quality over quantity. Oneworld has largest presence by far in Australia and the US, while having best airline in the world Qatar airways. Not to mention some of the best in Asia like Cathay and Japan airlines. However Europe market is weak compared to Skyteam and Star Alliance, but still a respectable presence with British Airways.
You should review the cebu pacific fleet
Aren't there smaller alliances than Oneworld like Vanilla Alliance?
OW has premium players but poorer connection such as China, India, Europe and South Americas.
You forgot to mention MALEV who got difunct in 2012.
Why alliances even exist? Whats the pros for that
The alliances exist to protect monopoly routes.
Will ITA switch to Star Alliance now they're owned by Lufthansa?
Scandinavian has switched to SkyTeam from StarAlliance so nothing is immutable .
@@tigersharkzh they already have they left sky alliance or will leave in the end of April and is set to join in 2026 in Star alliance
ITA CEO has said recently that the Alitalia brand will be used again.
Be interesting to see how and when.
Oneworld does not have coverage in mainland China either
Probably because American Airlines sucks
American Airlines is better than United
One World > Star > Skyteam
One World have Qatar. They are the gem!
Star was created by Air Canada and United
Angry German sounds coming from the Lufthansa corner
And Lufthansa, Thai, and Scandinavian.
Yea, too much world class players in aviation have it’s downside. Look at how much rivalry is created regarding Qatar airways versus American and Qantas(Probably explained why Emirates and Etihad don’t join alliance). When it’s about business bottom line, no one give in.
Oneworld needs a Mainland China member. This is obviously behind the other two.
Cathay is a great member as HKG is the gateway, but China is too big to only be covered by Cathay.
Would China Southern be a good contender or would their hub be too close to Cathay's (Guangzhou and Hong Kong)?
I can venture a guess why is it less popular than Star Alliance and Skyteam. Because of American Airlines and British Airways.
Edit: Also I think that because Cathay Pacific doesn’t allow any Mainland China and Taiwan airlines to join oneworld for fear of losing their Hong Kong hub to other airports in China and Taiwan.
They should let Starlux join OneWorld. The other two major Taiwanese airlines are both in the other two alliances, and those alliances are able to work with multiple hubs in East Asia. Cathay should be able to make it work too. Star Alliance has a whole swath of airlines covering the entire East/Southeast Asia (ANA, Asiana (formerly), EVA, Air China, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways), and SkyTeam has Korean Air, China Airlines, China Eastern, and Vietnam Airlines. I feel like an additional East Asia member for OneWorld would not hurt Cathay or JAL that badly
Good guess. My usual travel pattern is between Germany and the US. Under no circumstance would I even consider looking at options offered by AA or BA. Lufthansa is a slight maybe if I can get at least Premium Eco (where they get beaten in price by Delta, so sorry, not happening) and maybe United (their biggest disadvantage for me is where I would have to connect when I want to get to my final destination. Either terrible airports or WAY out of the way). But Nah, I rather go for Delta, even if it means I have to connect through the SkyTeam hub at Amsterdam Schiphol (not a bad airport at all, the hike to the gate can just be long), since I unfortunately live within earshot of a big Star Alliance hub.
Cathay would NOT like starlux in one world, but they would not suffer as much as CI or BR, which would be 100% against it.
There are no one world airline in east Europe. Only Qatar but it’s not European carrier
LOT
@AtlasAirwayslot is part of star alliance
Oneorld needs IndiGo
A good airline from personal experience when compared to Air India .
To be honest oneworld can focus on Asia for now, getting Cathay's support on Chinese Southern and Starlux can help oneworld. Hence, Starlux quality is quite nice and Chinese Southern's network is also humongous.
how come delta and Alaska are friends but they are in 2 different alliances
Alaska is mad at Delta for making a hub and moving into Seattle so they broke up and Alaska left the skyteam alliance
@@ameaningfullife ohhh thx for the info
ITA has started the process of moving to Star!
Yay. They need better European carriers after SAS left.
What do you mean small..they have American, Alaska, Iberia, British, Finnair, Qatar, JAL, Cathay, Malaysia and Qantas.... They are missing India, Chinese, Africa and South America.
The largest is STAR United, Air Canada, Avianca, COPA, Lufthansa, Swiss, ITA, Austrian, Eurowing, Turkish, Ethiopa, South African, Emirates, Air India, Air China, ANA, Asiana, Singapore, Thai, Air New Zealand