The Ultimate Guide to SkyTeam for Canadian Travellers

Welcome aboard, Canadian globetrotters! If you’ve ever dreamed of soaring through the skies to far-flung destinations, then you’re about to embark on an exciting journey through the world of airline alliances. In this comprehensive guide, we’re set to unveil the inner workings of SkyTeam, unravel its fascinating history, and present you with an array of member airlines that span the continents. Whether you’re a seasoned jetsetter or a novice explorer, understanding how SkyTeam operates and how Canadians can seamlessly integrate into this global alliance will undoubtedly enhance your travel experience. So, fasten your seatbelts and get ready for takeoff!

An Overview of SkyTeam

SkyTeam is a prominent global airline alliance renowned for its extensive network and seamless travel experiences. Comprising 19 member airlines, it provides travellers with unparalleled connectivity to over 1,150 destinations across the globe. This alliance unites carriers from various corners of the world, offering travellers a wide array of flight options, enhanced benefits, and a streamlined journey.

With its vast network, SkyTeam members serve an impressive number of airports, connecting major hubs and lesser-known locations alike. This extensive reach ensures that travellers can easily access a diverse range of destinations, fostering both business and leisure travel opportunities.

SkyTeam’s commitment to passenger comfort extends to its collection of airport lounges, strategically positioned in numerous key airports. These lounges offer an oasis of relaxation, where passengers can unwind, work, or refresh before their flights. Catering to a range of needs, these lounges epitomise the alliance’s dedication to elevating the travel experience.

Each year, over 630 million travellers choose SkyTeam for its expansive network, seamless connections, and access to various airport lounges. This alliance continues to play a pivotal role in enhancing global travel, fostering cultural exchanges and business opportunities across the world. Now, let’s take a look at SkyTeam’s intriguing history.

The History of SkyTeam

SkyTeam, a prominent global airline alliance, traces its roots back to the late 1990s when the need for enhanced collaboration between airlines became apparent. The alliance was founded on June 22, 2000, with a vision to provide seamless travel experiences, extensive connectivity, and shared benefits for both travellers and member airlines.

SkyTeam was founded by four initial members: Delta Air Lines, Air France, Aeromexico, and Korean Air. These airlines recognized the potential of collaborative efforts to provide passengers with a wider range of destinations, smoother connections, and enhanced loyalty programs. The alliance aimed to facilitate code-sharing, joint marketing, and operational cooperation among member airlines to achieve economies of scale and improved customer service.

The headquarters of SkyTeam is located in Amsterdam, Netherlands, a strategic hub that aligns with the alliance’s global reach. Over the years, SkyTeam has expanded its membership to include various other reputable airlines, such as China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, and Saudia, among others. These additions have further strengthened the alliance’s presence in different regions, extending its network and benefits to a larger base of travellers.

KLM, who is a prominent member of SkyTeam, holds a distinguished status as the world’s oldest airline, with roots dating back to 1919. KLM plays an instrumental role within the alliance and offers five direct flight routes from Amsterdam to Canada, showcasing the comprehensive connectivity that SkyTeam offers across continents.

SkyTeam’s history is one of collaboration, innovation, and evolution. The alliance has grown from its original four members to encompass a global network of airlines, catering to the needs of modern travellers. As it continues to adapt to the changing dynamics of the aviation industry, SkyTeam remains committed to providing a seamless and efficient travel experience for passengers around the world.

Which Airlines Are SkyTeam Members?

Now that you know all about SkyTeam’s history, it’s time to explore all the airlines that make up the SkyTeam alliance. In the table below, we have listed the airlines, their country of origin, their individual rewards programs, and which popular Canadian route they offer.

Airline	Country of Origin	Reward Program	Canadian Route
Aeroflot (Inactive)	Russia	Aeroflot Bonus	None
Aerolineas Argentinas	Argentine	Aerolineas Plus	None
Aeromexico	Mexico	Aeromexico Rewards	Mexico City – Toronto
Air Europa	Spain	SUMA	None
Air France	France	Flying Blue	Paris – Quebec
China Airlines	China	Dynasty Flyer	Taipei – Vancouver
China Eastern	China	Eastern Miles	Shanghai – Toronto
Czech Airlines	Czech Republic	OK Plus	None
Delta Air Lines	United States	SkyMiles	New York – Toronto
Garuda Indonesia	Indonesia	GarudaMiles	None
ITA Airways	Italy	Volare	None
Kenya Airways	Kenya	Asante Rewards	None
KLM	The Netherlands	Flying Blue	Amsterdam – Toronto
Korean Air	South Korea	SKYPASS	Seoul – Vancouver
Middle East Airlines	Lebanon	Cedar Miles	None
Saudia	Saudi Arabia	Alfursan	None
TAROM	Romania	Flying Blue	None
Vietnam Airlines	Vietnam	Lotusmiles	None
Virgin Atlantic	United Kingdom	Flying Club	None
XiamenAir	China	Egret Club	Xiamen – Vancouver

Regrettably, there are no Canadian airlines that belong to the SkyTeam alliance. This can create difficulties for Canadians who primarily fly with domestic airlines and want to engage with SkyTeam. To make the most of the advantages offered by a potential SkyTeam membership, Canadians should opt for one of the member airlines listed in the table whenever they travel internationally. Luckily, KLM offers flights from five Canadian cities: Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal. From these cities, you can fly across the pond to Amsterdam and hop on a connecting flight to anywhere else in the world with KLM or one of the SkyTeam member airlines.

SkyTeam Membership in Canada: All You Need to Know

The SkyTeam membership program is a strategic alliance of various global airlines, aimed at providing seamless travel experiences to passengers across an extensive network of destinations. Like the other airline alliances, SkyTeam doesn’t operate its own distinct frequent flyer program. Instead, member airlines maintain their individual frequent flyer programs, enabling travellers to earn and redeem miles across a diverse range of carriers.

SkyTeam offers two distinct status tiers for its loyal customers: SkyTeam Elite and SkyTeam Elite Plus. SkyTeam Elite status is typically achieved by accumulating a certain number of qualifying miles on member airlines within a calendar year. Benefits include priority check-in, preferred seating, and access to airport lounges. SkyTeam Elite Plus status offers enhanced privileges, such as extra baggage allowances, priority boarding, and access to more exclusive lounges.

One highlight of the SkyTeam experience is its array of lounges located around the world, which offer a sanctuary of comfort and amenities for travellers. Canada boasts several SkyTeam lounges at key airports, including Toronto Pearson International Airport and Vancouver International Airport. These lounges provide a retreat for passengers to relax, work, and enjoy premium services before their flights.

SkyPriority is another feature that enhances the travel experience for SkyTeam Elite and Elite Plus members. It provides a suite of priority services, including expedited check-in, security screening, baggage handling, and boarding. This ensures a smoother and more efficient journey through various touchpoints at the airport, minimising stress and enhancing overall travel comfort. In the next part of this article, we’ll take a closer look at these benefits.

SkyTeam Membership Benefits for Canadians

As mentioned before, SkyTeam has two different membership tiers: SkyTeam Elite and SkyTeam Elite Plus. Unlocking each tier offers travellers different benefits when flying with SkyTeam member airlines. Let’s explore these benefits in the table below.

SkyTeam Membership Benefit	Elite	Elite Plus
Priority Reservation Waitlist/Standby	Yes	Yes
Preferred Seating	Yes	Yes
Priority Check-In Counters	Yes	Yes
Priority Boarding	Yes	Yes
Extra Baggage Allowance	Yes	Yes
Priority Baggage Drop-Off	Yes	Yes
Priority Baggage Handling	No	Yes
Guaranteed Reservation on Sold-Out Flights	No	Yes
Airport Lounge Access	No	Yes
Priority Security Lanes	No	Yes
Priority Immigration Lanes	No	Yes
SkyPriority Recognition	No	Yes
Priority Transfer Desks	No	Yes

How to Gain SkyTeam Membership as a Canadian

Becoming a SkyTeam member and attaining status is a beneficial journey for Canadian travellers seeking enhanced travel experiences. To embark on this path, Canadians can start by selecting a SkyTeam member airline and enrolling in their frequent flyer program. This typically involves creating an account on the airline’s website and providing personal details. Accumulating miles or segments by flying with any of the SkyTeam member airlines will contribute to earning status.

For SkyTeam Elite status, travellers usually need to accrue a specified number of miles or segments within a period of one year. This tier provides benefits such as priority check-in, boarding, and access to exclusive lounges. SkyTeam Elite Plus, the higher tier, requires more extensive travel and provides additional perks like enhanced baggage allowances and priority baggage handling.

Frequent flyers can accelerate their status progression by concentrating their travel within the SkyTeam network. This entails booking flights with member airlines and strategically choosing routes to maximise miles or segments. For instance, if your travels primarily involve flying to and from the United States, opting for Delta Air Lines would be a logical decision. Conversely, if your journeys frequently take you abroad, KLM and Air France become the clear choices. With that being said, let’s take a look at which individual SkyTeam airline status leads to its corresponding SkyTeam status.

SkyTeam Airline	SkyTeam Elite	SkyTeam Elite Plus
Aeroflot (Inactive)	Silver	Gold/Platinum
Aerolineas Argentinas	Oro	Platino/Diamente
Aeromexico	Gold	Platinum/Titanium
Air Europa	Silver	Gold/Platinum
Air France	Silver	Gold/Platinum
China Airlines	Gold	Emerald/Paragon
China Eastern	Silver	Gold
Czech Airlines	Silver	Gold/Platinum
Delta Air Lines	Silver	Gold/Platinum/Diamond
Garuda Indonesia	Gold/Gold EC+	Platinum
ITA Airways	TBA	TBA
Kenya Airways	Silver	Gold/Platinum
KLM	Silver	Gold/Platinum
Korean Air	MC Club	MC Premium Club
Middle East Airlines	Silver	Gold/Platinum
Saudia	Silver	Gold
TAROM	Silver	Gold/Platinum
Vietnam Airlines	Titanium/Gold	Platinum
Virgin Atlantic	Silver	Gold
XiamenAir	Silver/Gold	Platinum/Diamond

How Canadians Can Participate with SkyTeam

Many Canadians typically consider Air Canada or WestJet first when booking flights. However, there are alternatives. When travelling internationally, Canadians have the option to select SkyTeam airlines and become a member of the SkyTeam alliance. Despite the absence of Canadian partners within the alliance, Canadians can still become SkyTeam members. In the following part, we will explore several methods through which Canadians can make the most of their SkyTeam membership and collect numerous points for the frequent flyer programs offered by SkyTeam airlines.

Collecting Points With SkyTeam Member Airlines

Collecting points with SkyTeam member airlines is a rewarding strategy for Canadian travellers. The process involves two primary methods, both designed to enhance the flying experience and provide travellers with valuable benefits.

Firstly, travellers can accumulate points by booking flights with prominent SkyTeam carriers like KLM, Air France, and Delta Air Lines. With an extensive network connecting destinations around the world, Canadians can earn points by choosing these reputable airlines for their travel needs. These points can subsequently be used for various travel perks, including upgrades, lounge access, and discounted flights.

Another effective way for Canadians to amass points is by using one of the best American Express credit cards. By leveraging Amex Membership Rewards points, cardholders can later transfer these points to Flying Blue Miles or Delta SkyMiles at a conversion ratio of 1:0.75. This innovative approach allows travellers to build up their points balance through everyday spending, transforming regular expenses into valuable rewards for future travels.

Even though SkyTeam has no Canadian airline, Canadians can still enjoy multiple avenues to collect points with SkyTeam member airlines. Whether through direct flights or one of the best travel credit cards in Canada, these methods offer an accessible and advantageous way to enhance travel experiences, making each journey not only more efficient but also more rewarding.

Booking Trips With SkyTeam Member Airlines

Being a part of the SkyTeam alliance opens up a world of convenience and benefits for Canadians, allowing them to seamlessly explore the globe through a network of world-class airlines. One of the remarkable advantages is the ability to book flights, hotels, and car rentals with SkyTeam member airlines, providing a comprehensive and unified travel experience.

For instance, KLM, a prominent SkyTeam member, has forged partnerships that enhance the travel journey. Canadians can relish the perks of KLM’s collaboration with Booking.com, wherein members of the Flying Blue frequent flyer program earn 2 Flying Blue Miles for every euro spent on hotel reservations. This not only enriches their loyalty rewards but also simplifies the process of booking accommodations.

Furthermore, KLM extends its benefits to car rentals through a special partnership with Hertz. Flying Blue members are entitled to earn up to 12 Flying Blue Miles per euro spent when renting a car, accompanied by a guaranteed 15% discount on all car rentals worldwide. This combination of mileage accumulation and cost savings amplifies the appeal of choosing SkyTeam member airlines like KLM for all facets of travel.

Incorporating these partnerships into their travel planning, Canadians can optimise their experiences, accumulate rewards, and foster memorable journeys with the SkyTeam alliance. Whether it’s booking flights, arranging accommodations, or securing transportation, the alliance enriches the travel endeavour for Canadian explorers.