SkyTeam Complete Guide: Elite Plus, Lounges, Airlines & Award Travel
What Is SkyTeam?
SkyTeam is a global airline alliance founded in 2000. Its network connects major airlines across North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and South America.
For U.S. travelers, the most familiar member is Delta Air Lines, but the alliance also includes Air France, KLM, Korean Air, China Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, SAS, Vietnam Airlines, and other international carriers.
Each airline keeps its own loyalty program, elite status structure, and award pricing. However, SkyTeam cooperation allows travelers to receive alliance-wide elite benefits and redeem miles across participating partner airlines.
For points and miles travelers, the basic relationship is:
Credit Card Points → Airline Mileage Program → SkyTeam Airlines
For example, Flying Blue is the loyalty program of Air France and KLM, but Flying Blue miles can also be used for eligible partner awards.
This leads to one of the most important award travel strategies:
Choose the flight first, then compare which mileage programs can book it.
Which Airlines Are SkyTeam Members?
SkyTeam includes airlines across most major international travel regions.
| Airline | Loyalty Program | Primary Market |
|---|---|---|
| Aerolíneas Argentinas | Aerolíneas Plus | Argentina / South America |
| Aeromexico | Aeromexico Rewards | Mexico / North America |
| Air Europa | SUMA | Spain / Europe |
| Air France | Flying Blue | France / Europe |
| China Airlines | Dynasty Flyer | Taiwan / Asia |
| China Eastern | Eastern Miles | China / Asia |
| Delta Air Lines | SkyMiles | United States / North America |
| Garuda Indonesia | GarudaMiles | Indonesia / Asia |
| Kenya Airways | Asante Rewards | Kenya / Africa |
| KLM | Flying Blue | Netherlands / Europe |
| Korean Air | SKYPASS | South Korea / Asia |
| Middle East Airlines | Cedar Miles | Lebanon / Middle East |
| SAS | EuroBonus | Scandinavia / Europe |
| Saudia | AlFursan | Saudi Arabia / Middle East |
| TAROM | Flying Blue | Romania / Europe |
| Vietnam Airlines | Lotusmiles | Vietnam / Asia |
| Virgin Atlantic | Flying Club | United Kingdom / Europe |
| XiamenAir | Egret Club | China / Asia |
There is usually no reason to earn miles in every SkyTeam loyalty program.
A more flexible strategy is to focus on programs that are easy to fund with transferable credit card points and useful for the flights you actually want to book.
What Are SkyTeam Elite and Elite Plus?
SkyTeam does not directly issue elite status.
Instead, travelers earn elite status through an individual SkyTeam airline loyalty program. Qualifying airline status levels are then recognized across the alliance as:
SkyTeam Elite
or
SkyTeam Elite Plus
For example, eligible status levels from Delta SkyMiles, Flying Blue, Korean Air SKYPASS, China Airlines Dynasty Flyer, and other member programs can provide SkyTeam alliance status.
This means two travelers can both hold SkyTeam Elite Plus while earning that status through completely different airlines.
It is also important to separate:
Airline-specific elite benefits
from
SkyTeam alliance-wide benefits
An airline may provide its own upgrades, bonus miles, fee waivers, or other benefits. SkyTeam Elite and Elite Plus provide a common set of benefits when traveling with participating SkyTeam airlines.
SkyTeam Elite vs. Elite Plus Benefits
| Benefit | SkyTeam Elite | SkyTeam Elite Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Priority Check-in | ✅ | ✅ |
| Preferred Seating | ✅ | ✅ |
| Priority Boarding | ✅ | ✅ |
| Extra Baggage Allowance | ✅ | ✅ |
| Priority Reservation Waitlist | ✅ | ✅ |
| Priority Baggage Handling | ❌ | ✅ |
| SkyPriority | ❌ | ✅ |
| Eligible International Lounge Access | ❌ | ✅ |
SkyTeam Elite already provides several useful airport priority benefits.
SkyTeam Elite Plus adds the more valuable international travel benefits, including lounge access, SkyPriority, and priority baggage handling.
For frequent international travelers, Elite Plus is the more important alliance status to understand.
SkyTeam Elite Plus Lounge Access
Lounge access is one of the most useful SkyTeam Elite Plus benefits.
Eligible Elite Plus members traveling on or connecting to qualifying same-day international SkyTeam flights can access participating lounges regardless of cabin class.
Eligible members can generally bring:
1 Guest
This means an Elite Plus member may be able to access an eligible lounge even when traveling in Economy Class.
For U.S. travelers flying internationally with Delta, Air France, KLM, Korean Air, Virgin Atlantic, SAS, China Airlines, or other SkyTeam airlines, this can be one of the most valuable alliance-wide benefits.
Actual access depends on the operating airline, itinerary, airport, and lounge rules.
What Is SkyPriority?
SkyPriority is SkyTeam's airport priority service for eligible passengers.
Depending on the airline and airport, SkyPriority services may include:
- Priority Check-in
- Priority Baggage Drop
- Priority Security
- Priority Immigration
- Priority Boarding
- Priority Baggage Handling
- Priority Transfer Desk
Not every service is available at every airport.
For SkyTeam Elite Plus travelers, the most noticeable alliance benefits can often be summarized as:
Lounge Access + SkyPriority + Extra Baggage
SkyTeam Elite Plus Extra Baggage
Eligible SkyTeam Elite Plus members receive additional checked baggage allowance.
| Baggage System | Elite Plus Additional Allowance |
|---|---|
| Weight Concept | +20 kg |
| Piece Concept | +1 Piece |
Exceptions may apply depending on the airline, route, fare, and baggage policy.
Which SkyTeam Mileage Programs Are Worth Knowing?
SkyTeam has many loyalty programs, but U.S. travelers do not need to actively earn miles in all of them.
Several programs are particularly useful to understand:
| Mileage Program | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Flying Blue | Air France / KLM program with access from multiple U.S. transferable points currencies |
| Delta SkyMiles | Major U.S. airline mileage program |
| Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | Useful partner award opportunities |
| Korean Air SKYPASS | Important program for Korean Air and Asia travel |
| China Airlines Dynasty Flyer | Useful for China Airlines awards |
| SAS EuroBonus | Major Scandinavian loyalty program |
| Vietnam Airlines Lotusmiles | Vietnam Airlines and Asia-focused mileage program |
When comparing mileage programs, do not look only at the number of miles required.
A better comparison is:
Miles Required + Taxes & Fees + Award Space + Transfer Partners + Transfer Bonuses + Change/Cancellation Rules
A program requiring fewer miles is not necessarily more useful if those miles are difficult to earn.
Why Is Flying Blue Important for U.S. Travelers?
Flying Blue is the loyalty program shared by Air France and KLM, and it is particularly relevant to U.S. points and miles travelers because it can be funded by several major transferable credit card points programs.
Flying Blue miles can also be used for eligible partner awards, so the program is not limited to Air France and KLM flights.
Instead of transferring points before you need them, a more flexible strategy is:
Earn Transferable Credit Card Points
↓
Find Award Space
↓
Compare Mileage Programs
↓
Check Miles and Taxes
↓
Transfer Points
↓
Book the Award
This keeps your points flexible until you know exactly which mileage program you need.
The Same SkyTeam Flight May Be Bookable With Different Miles
Suppose you want to fly:
Air France Business Class
The obvious option may be Flying Blue.
However, that does not necessarily mean Flying Blue is the only mileage program capable of booking the flight.
When partner award space is available, the same flight may sometimes be accessible through multiple airline mileage programs.
The same principle applies to flights operated by airlines such as:
- Delta Air Lines
- KLM
- Korean Air
- China Airlines
- Vietnam Airlines
- Virgin Atlantic
- SAS
Different mileage programs can have different:
- Award prices
- Taxes and fees
- Award availability
- Change rules
- Cancellation rules
Instead of asking:
“What can I book with these miles?”
a more useful question is:
“Which miles can book the flight I want?”
How to Book SkyTeam Award Flights
1. Choose Your Route
Start with your origin, destination, travel dates, and preferred airlines.
2. Search for Award Space
Check whether the airline has released seats that can be booked with miles.
3. Compare Mileage Programs
Determine which mileage programs can access the flight.
4. Compare Miles and Taxes
Do not compare only the mileage requirement. Taxes, fees, and carrier-imposed surcharges can significantly change the total cost.
5. Check Your Transferable Credit Card Points
Determine which of your credit card points can transfer to the mileage program you want to use.
6. Transfer Points Last
Once you confirm the award space and booking cost, transfer the necessary points.
The process is:
Choose Flight → Find Award Space → Compare Mileage Programs → Compare Miles & Fees → Transfer Points → Book
How U.S. Credit Card Points Can Be Used for SkyTeam Awards
One of the biggest advantages of the U.S. credit card market is access to multiple transferable points ecosystems.
The five major programs are:
- American Express Membership Rewards
- Chase Ultimate Rewards
- Citi ThankYou Points
- Capital One Miles
- Bilt Rewards
Instead of earning only one airline currency, U.S. travelers can keep points inside these flexible programs until they find the award they want.
| U.S. Transferable Points | Major SkyTeam-Related Mileage Options |
|---|---|
| American Express Membership Rewards | Flying Blue, Delta SkyMiles, Virgin Atlantic |
| Chase Ultimate Rewards | Flying Blue, Virgin Atlantic |
| Citi ThankYou Points | Flying Blue, Virgin Atlantic |
| Capital One Miles | Flying Blue, Virgin Atlantic |
| Bilt Rewards | Flying Blue |
This creates a much more flexible strategy:
Credit Card Spending
↓
Earn Transferable Points
↓
Find Award Space
↓
Choose the Mileage Program
↓
Transfer Points
↓
Book the Flight
For a complete comparison of the five U.S. transferable points ecosystems:
👉 Top 5 U.S. Transferable Credit Card Points Programs: MR, UR, TYP, Capital One Miles & Bilt Rewards
How Japan Credit Card Points Can Be Used for SkyTeam Awards
For Americans and other foreign residents living in Japan, Japanese credit cards provide another way to earn miles for SkyTeam award travel.
The main options include:
- American Express Membership Rewards
- Marriott Bonvoy Points
Japan-issued American Express cards can transfer Membership Rewards points to several airline mileage programs, while Marriott Bonvoy points provide access to a broad range of airline transfer partners.
Japan also has airline co-branded credit cards that earn specific airline miles directly. These can be useful for travelers who frequently use a particular mileage program, but flexible points generally provide more options when searching for award flights across multiple airlines.
For a complete guide to earning airline miles with Japanese credit cards:
👉 Japan Credit Card Points to Airline Miles Guide
Star Alliance vs. SkyTeam vs. oneworld
The three major global airline alliances are Star Alliance, SkyTeam, and oneworld. Each alliance has its own member airlines, alliance elite status benefits, and mileage program ecosystem.
| Airline Alliance | Major Airlines | Mileage Programs Worth Knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Star Alliance | United, Air Canada, ANA, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines | MileagePlus, Aeroplan, ANA Mileage Club, LifeMiles, KrisFlyer |
| SkyTeam | Delta, Air France, KLM, Korean Air, Virgin Atlantic | Flying Blue, SkyMiles, Flying Club, SKYPASS |
| oneworld | American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, JAL, Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways | AAdvantage, Atmos Rewards, JAL Mileage Bank, Asia Miles, Avios |
For points and miles travelers, there is no need to limit yourself to a single airline alliance.
A more flexible approach is:
Destination → Best Flight → Available Mileage Programs → Miles & Taxes → Transfer Credit Card Points → Book
Conclusion
SkyTeam connects Delta Air Lines with major international airlines including Air France, KLM, Korean Air, Virgin Atlantic, China Airlines, SAS, and Vietnam Airlines.
For frequent international travelers, SkyTeam Elite Plus provides valuable alliance-wide benefits including eligible lounge access, SkyPriority, additional baggage allowance, and other airport priority services.
For award travelers, the airline operating the flight does not necessarily determine which miles you should use. The same flight may be available through different mileage programs with different award prices, taxes, fees, and transfer options.
U.S. travelers can use transferable credit card points to access several SkyTeam-related mileage programs:
👉 Top 5 U.S. Transferable Credit Card Points Programs
Travelers living in Japan can also use Japanese credit card points and airline co-branded cards:
👉 Japan Credit Card Points to Airline Miles Guide
The overall strategy is simple:
Find Award Space → Compare Mileage Programs → Transfer Points → Book the Award
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