Status: checked against official sources; automated independent review
GUIDE
How to search Star Alliance award space
Star Alliance award space is the seat inventory that the 26 Star Alliance member airlines release to frequent flyer programmes for award tickets, and it is searched inside the programme that holds your miles rather than through one alliance-wide award search. Star Alliance states that it does not have a frequent flyer programme of its own, so the member airline programmes are where a redemption is searched and issued. [5] [9]
Facts checked: 18 October 2026
Key takeaways
- Star Alliance award space is searched, priced and issued by one of the member airlines' frequent flyer programmes, because the alliance runs no programme of its own. [5]
- The search happens on your programme's website or app, and bookings must be made through that programme's booking channels. [5]
- Miles in two Star Alliance programmes cannot be pooled into one account, as each programme is operated independently by its airline. [5]
- For paid travel across several members, Star Alliance sells a Round the World fare on a single ticket through its own booking tool. [8]
Where is Star Alliance award space searched?
Star Alliance brings together 26 member airlines, and each of those airlines runs the frequent flyer programme that its members redeem through. [9] [5] The programmes the alliance lists include Aeroplan, ANA Mileage Club, KrisFlyer, Lifemiles, MileagePlus and Miles & More, alongside the programmes of the other member carriers. [5]
The redemption route the alliance sets out has three steps: log in to your own programme's website or app, review the miles or points you have collected and explore the award flight options offered across the network, then redeem online for a flight with any of the 26 member airlines. [5] Award availability is subject to seat availability on the flight you want, so the search is a check of what is open rather than a catalogue. [5]
The airline you fly does not have to be the airline whose programme you hold: miles can pay for an award ticket with any of the 26 member airlines, regardless of which programme they were earned through. [5] Upgrades follow the same logic but are a separate product — Star Alliance Upgrade Awards are requested through your programme or the alliance's upgrade page, subject to eligible booking classes and availability. [5]
| Searching award flights | Your programme's website or app [5] |
|---|---|
| Booking the award | Your programme's booking channels [5] |
| Redeeming on any member airline | Contact your frequent flyer programme [5] |
| Booking a Round the World fare | Star Alliance Book and Fly tool, a member airline reservation centre, or a travel agent [8] |
| Adding an infant to a Round the World fare | Star Alliance call centres [8] |
How do you build an itinerary that mixes member airlines?
A mixed-carrier award is still a single-programme transaction. The alliance's guidance is that collected miles or points can pay for an award ticket on any member airline subject to availability, and that to redeem miles for a flight on any Star Alliance member airline a member should contact their frequent flyer programme. [5]
An itinerary cannot be funded from two accounts at once: the alliance states that combining miles from different frequent flyer programmes, or transferring them all into one, is not possible because the programmes are operated independently by the member airlines. [5]
Paid travel works differently. Star Alliance sells a Round the World fare as one ticket across its 26 member carriers, with between 2 and 15 stops, up to 16 flight coupons, and access to more than 1,150 airports in over 190 countries. [8] It is available in Business, Premium Economy and Economy Class, and qualifying flights on it earn miles and status points under the rules of the traveller's own programme. [8] The ticket can be built online with the Star Alliance Book and Fly tool, or bought through any member airline reservation centre or a travel agent. [8]
Award levels, fees and routing rules differ by programme, because each programme is operated independently, so they are covered on the individual programme pages such as Aeroplan, KrisFlyer and MileagePlus rather than repeated here. [5]
When does a Star Alliance booking have to be made by phone?
Where the programme's online channels cannot finish the job, the alliance points members back to the programme itself: for a redemption on any member airline, the instruction is to contact your frequent flyer programme. [5]
Telephone handling is written into the Round the World product — online booking of infants is not supported, and the alliance asks travellers to make infant bookings with its call centres. [8]
Missing credit is a programme matter as well. If a flight in an eligible booking class does not post to the account, the traveller contacts their programme to retro-claim the miles, either online or by phone, and is advised to keep boarding passes for that claim. [5]
Exceptions and limits
- Connecting Partners sit outside the member list. Beyond the 26 member airlines, Star Alliance works with Connecting Partners — regional airlines that integrate with the wider network and offer smoother transfers and certain privileges on combined itineraries; Juneyao Air is listed as one. [9]
- Not every flight goes into a Round the World ticket. Flights marketed under a member carrier's flight number but operated by a different airline are not offered for that product. [8]
- Upgrade terms vary by airline. Star Alliance Upgrade Awards depend on eligible booking classes and availability, and the alliance notes that member airlines may have different policies and asks travellers to check with the airline or programme. [5]
- Earning has fare-class conditions. Miles and points are credited on eligible flights and fare classes as set by member airline policies, and single booking classes of very low and discounted fares might be exempted. [5]
- Single-account rule. Points earned in one Star Alliance programme cannot be consolidated with another programme's balance, so a search is always run inside one programme at a time. [5]
Frequently asked questions
Can I search all Star Alliance award space in one place?
There is no alliance-wide frequent flyer programme: Star Alliance says it does not have one, and each member airline programme provides its own website or app for reviewing miles and exploring award options across the network. [5]
Can I combine miles from two Star Alliance programmes for one ticket?
No. The alliance states that combining miles from different frequent flyer programmes, or transferring them all into one programme, is not possible because the programmes are operated independently by the member airlines. [5]
Do I have to call to book a Star Alliance award?
The alliance describes redeeming online through your programme, and also directs members to contact their frequent flyer programme to redeem miles for a flight on any Star Alliance member airline. [5]
Does a Star Alliance Round the World ticket cover every member flight?
No. The fare is valid on the flights of all 26 member carriers, but certain flights marketed under a member carrier's flight number and operated by a different airline are not offered for the product. [8]
How many stops can a Round the World itinerary have?
Between 2 and 15 stops in one itinerary on a single ticket, with a maximum of 16 flight coupons for the whole journey, including any later re-routing. [8]
Sources
Sources accessed on 18 October 2026. The individual member programmes' award charts, fees and routing rules are not covered here; Aeroplan, ANA Mileage Club, KrisFlyer, Lifemiles and MileagePlus each have their own pages.
- Star Alliance — Earn & Redeem Miles, checked 18 October 2026
- Star Alliance — Round the World fare and itinerary rules, checked 18 October 2026
- Star Alliance — Member airlines and Connecting Partners, checked 18 October 2026