The Oneworld alliance currently consists of 13 members, and soon there may be two more: Oman Air, whose entry is planned for 2024, and Fiji Airways, as reported by Bloomberg and Executive Traveller, citing the airline’s CEO.
Currently, Fiji Airways is connected to the alliance as an Oneworld Connect partner. This is a relatively complex arrangement and is not comparable to full membership. For instance, lounge access is only granted to frequent flyers of Cathay, BA, and Qantas if the flight to/from Fiji is booked as a corresponding codeshare. The exact conditions can be found on the Oneworld website.
According to media reports, Fiji Airways intends to submit its membership application in the third quarter of 2024. It will likely take another one to two years for the actual Oneworld membership to be finalized. Once it happens, numerous new benefits for travellers will emerge:
- All miles from Oneworld programs can be redeemed for flights with Fiji Airways.
- Frequent flyers with Oneworld Sapphire/Emerald status can access lounges on all Fiji Airways flights, not just (as it is now) in conjunction with corresponding codeshare connecting flights.
- Additional benefits such as extra baggage allowance will be granted across the alliance.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while Oneworld may be the smallest of the three alliances, it can be considered the most exciting, partly due to the unique Emerald status, which SkyTeam and Star Alliance cannot match. It’s great to see the alliance expanding.
Sources: Executive Traveller & Bloomberg (not public) | via One Mile at a Time
Cover Picture: Gastautor Phillip