Oneworld Priority scheme helps frequent flyers spot status perks
By David Flynn, June 26 2015
Here's a quick quiz: what frequent flyer status do you hold with your favourite airline, what tier does that equate to in the global Oneworld alliance system and more importantly, what time-saving and headache-reducing benefits does this deliver at the airport?
The savviest travellers will be able to reel that off the top of their head, along with their passport number.
But the rest – which experience tells us is a vast majority compared to the clued-in minority – have surprisingly little idea of the worldwide perks which accrue from their status.
Oneworld's new Priority scheme is an attempt to set that to rights.
The initiative uses new Oneworld Priority signage to highlight premium check-in counters, fast-track security channels, airport lounges and priority boarding lines available to frequent flyers with Oneworld's Ruby, Sapphire or Emerald status.
"We know that identifying where to take advantage of those privileges in often cluttered airport environments, particularly in unfamiliar surroundings, can sometimes be a challenge, even for the most frequent traveller" says Oneworld CEO Bruce Ashby.
“The new Oneworld Priority signage is designed to overcome that. The message to our frequent flyers is simple – look for the oneworld Priority logo to see where your oneworld privileges are offered."
The Oneworld Priority logo incorporates the relevant Oneworld frequent flyer gemstones to provide colour-coded status cues.
Oneworld's style guide will also ensure a consistent approach to the signage, regardless of which member airline you're flying.
Oneworld aims to have all of its member airline's hubs and a superset of 125 of the top airports for business travellers sprouting Oneworld Priority signage by the middle of next year, and "across all 1,000 plus airports on the oneworld network within the following 12 months".
Of course, Oneworld's not alone in highlighting its branded benefits.
Star Alliance – the world's largest collection of airlines, with 27 members on the books – is busy rolling out its Gold Track priority lane at airport security checkpoints...
... with SkyTeam's SkyPriority program also covers check-in lanes, security checkpoints and aircraft boarding.
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David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
23 Oct 2013
Total posts 702
You'll often find that airlines will extend benefits to other frequent flyers from other oneworld programs
For example I am a lifetime silver ffq with qantas but when I fly cathay pacific I can use the business class checkin, they also tag my bags with business class bag tags and upon time for boarding I can use the prority boarding lane
The last two benefits are unexpected but I have been receiving them for many years of flying cathay as a QF silver
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
01 Apr 2015
Total posts 55
Much like Emirates treating Qantas frequent flyers better than Qanats itself
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
01 Apr 2015
Total posts 55
(In my experience anyway) *Qantas*
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
08 Feb 2015
Total posts 1
Maybe as for the one guest rule it was an issue in Malpensia Italy and on the way back through Dubai as they would only let one of my parents in and blamed Qantas policy. It was OK they gave my 80 year old father water while waiting in the reception as mum and I showered. How many times I fly on my own
Thai Airways International - Royal Orchid Plus
16 May 2011
Total posts 113
It looks like for once Star Alliance and oneworld are taking a leaf out of SkyTeam's book. I found SkyTeam's 'Sky Priority' is more consistent and more recognisable then what is proposed by Star Alliance with 'Gold Track' and oneworld's 'oneworld priority'. It must have something to do with the Sky Priorty logo.
12 Jun 2013
Total posts 735
One big problem with oneworld status is "Ruby", "Sapphire" and "Emerald". I'm not even sure whether the ordering in terms of value is correct, but it's certainly not obvious to anyone who doesn't buy gems in bulk.
I guess they were just trying to copy-without-copying the Star Alliance scheme, but it makes no sense. Just bite the bullet and go with bronze-silver-gold like everyone else, guys.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
29 Mar 2015
Total posts 94
the problem OW hs is that they cant use bronze/silver/gold/platinum as those labels mean different things around the one world network. so some heirachy had to be invented that airlines would match their own heirachy to. All I know is I'm emerald and that does me just fine!
21 Feb 2015
Total posts 68
That would be in ideal world but there are different meanings to Gold Silver and Bronze in oneworld to different people.
Let's put it this way. Gold isn't quite Gold. I'd rather be a BA Gold than an AA Gold :)
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer Platinum
07 Feb 2013
Total posts 548
Should hopefully make it clearer for those with no / low status who like to play dumb and take the piss as far as they can
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