Imagine if your Starbucks rewards points could also buy you a burger at Shake Shack. Sounds awesome, right? Well, in the world of flying, that’s exactly how an airline alliance works.

What is SkyTeam?

SkyTeam is a group of 19 different airlines from all over the world that decided to become “besties.” Instead of competing for every single flight, they share resources. They share planes, airport gates, and even “frequent flyer” points.

The “Squad” Members

You’ve definitely heard of some of these, but others might be new to you:

• The Big Names: Delta Air Lines, Air France, KLM, and Virgin Atlantic.
• The Global Experts: Korean Air, Middle East Airlines (MEA), and Kenya Airways.
• The New Kids: SAS (Scandinavian Airlines) recently joined the squad in late 2024!

Why Should You Care?

SkyTeam has “hacks” that make economy travel feel way better:

1. The “One Ticket” Rule: You can fly from New York to Paris on Delta, then hop on an Air France flight to Rome, and finally a KLM flight to Amsterdam—all on one single ticket. If your first flight is delayed, the other airlines must assist you because they’re on the same team.
2. Point Sharing: This is the big one. If you fly Delta to visit your grandma, you earn “SkyMiles.” You can then use those same miles to book a trip to Seoul on Korean Air.
3. Sky Priority (The VIP Life): If you travel a lot and earn “Elite” status, you get to use the fast lanes at security, board the plane first, and sometimes even hang out in airport lounges with free food and Wi-Fi.
4. Lounge Access
   • SkyTeam lounge locations worldwide (600+ lounges)
   • Access rules for each elite tier
   • Best SkyTeam lounges (Air France La Premiere, Delta Sky Clubs, Korean Air)
   • Day pass options and credit card lounge access

The Bottom Line

SkyTeam makes the world feel smaller. It means you can go almost anywhere—from the beaches of Mexico (Aeromexico) to the streets of Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam Airlines)—using the same loyalty program and the same app.

Next time you’re looking at flights, look for the little SkyTeam ribbon logo. It’s basically a sign that says, “We’ve got your back, no matter where you land.”