Glossary
SkyTeam
Definition: SkyTeam is a global airline alliance of 19 member airlines including Delta Air Lines, Air France-KLM, Korean Air, and China Airlines, connecting passengers to over 1,000 destinations worldwide.
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Term at a glance
SkyTeam — quick reference
| Term | SkyTeam |
|---|---|
| One-liner | SkyTeam is a global airline alliance of 19 member airlines including Delta Air Lines, Air France-KLM, Korean Air, and China Airlines, connecting passengers to over 1,000… |
| Where it matters | Premium-cabin booking decisions, fare-rules interpretation, airline-product comparison. |
| Related concepts | Oneworld Alliance · Star Alliance · Frequent Flyer Miles · Elite Status · Codeshare |
| Last verified | 2026-05-07 |
Background
Founded in 2000, SkyTeam is the second-largest airline alliance by passenger count. The alliance is particularly strong in the Americas (Delta), Europe (Air France-KLM), and Asia (Korean Air, China Airlines, Vietnam Airlines, Garuda Indonesia).
How it works in modern business class
Key members include: Delta Air Lines, Air France, KLM, Korean Air, China Airlines, Aeromexico, Aerolineas Argentinas, Vietnam Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, ITA Airways, Middle East Airlines, and Saudi Arabian Airlines.
Why it matters when you book
SkyTeam offers the SkyPriority service for premium passengers and elite members, providing priority check-in, boarding, baggage handling, and dedicated airport lanes. For business class travellers, SkyTeam lounges are available at major airports worldwide. Delta One, Air France La Premiere, and Korean Air Prestige Suite are among the alliance’s standout premium products. BookMyBusinessClass offers competitive consolidator fares on all SkyTeam carriers.
In booking practice
How SkyTeam comes up when you book
Where this term appears in the booking flow
- In fare quotes and itineraries. When a consolidator agent quotes a premium-cabin fare on skyteam-relevant routes or aircraft, this term may appear in the carrier's rules text, fare-class designator, or aircraft / cabin description. Knowing what it means helps you compare quotes apples-to-apples.
- In airline-product reviews and seat maps. Premium-cabin reviews (Skytrax, AirlineRatings.com, individual long-form reviews) reference skyteam when relevant. Seat-map sites (SeatGuru, AeroLOPA) use the term when classifying hardware or service tiers.
- In loyalty-program redemption rules. Frequent-flyer programs use this and related terms in their award-chart rules, partner-redemption tables, and elite-tier benefits documentation. Misreading the term can mean booking the wrong fare class or missing a sweet-spot redemption.
- In carrier alliance and codeshare documentation. Star Alliance, oneworld, and SkyTeam each reference this concept where it affects partner-flight booking, lounge access policies, or status-recognition rules across alliance members.
At a Glance
Related concepts
| Term | Quick definition | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Seat Pitch | Seat pitch is the distance between a point on one seat and the same point on the seat in front, measured in… | Read |
| Special Meal Codes (SPML) | Special meal codes are 4-letter IATA designators for non-standard in-flight meals, ordered in advance to… | Read |
| Seat Map | A seat map is a graphical layout of an aircraft cabin showing seat positions, numbering, lavatories, galleys,… | Read |
| Staggered Configuration | A staggered configuration is a business class seat layout where seats in adjacent rows are positioned at… | Read |
| Schengen Visa | A short-stay visa valid for travel within the 27-country Schengen Area in Europe. Visa-required nationalities… | Read |
| Star Alliance | Star Alliance is the world’s largest airline alliance with 26 member airlines including Lufthansa, United… | Read |
Related Terms
You might also want to know
- Seat Pitch
Seat pitch is the distance between a point on one seat and the same point on the seat in front, measured in inches. It is the primary indicator of legroom in an aircraft cabin.
- Special Meal Codes (SPML)
Special meal codes are 4-letter IATA designators for non-standard in-flight meals, ordered in advance to accommodate dietary, religious, or medical needs. Common codes include VGML (vegetarian), KSML (kosher), HNML (Hindu non-vegetarian), GFML (gluten-free), and DBML (diabetic).
- Seat Map
A seat map is a graphical layout of an aircraft cabin showing seat positions, numbering, lavatories, galleys, and emergency exits. Used during booking to select a specific seat, particularly important in business class where seat configuration varies dramatically (window vs aisle, facing forward vs reverse, throne seats, paired vs solo).
- Staggered Configuration
A staggered configuration is a business class seat layout where seats in adjacent rows are positioned at different distances from the aisle, creating a diagonal pattern that provides direct aisle access and varied seat widths.
- Schengen Visa
A short-stay visa valid for travel within the 27-country Schengen Area in Europe. Visa-required nationalities must obtain a Schengen visa before travel; visa-exempt nationalities can enter without a visa for stays up to 90 days within any 180-day period. Connecting through a Schengen airport and staying airside does not require a Schengen visa for most visa-required nationalities.
- Star Alliance
Star Alliance is the world’s largest airline alliance with 26 member airlines including Lufthansa, United Airlines, Singapore Airlines, ANA, and Turkish Airlines, serving over 1,200 destinations.
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Delta SkyMiles on Air France flights?
Yes. As SkyTeam partners, Delta and Air France allow reciprocal mileage earning and redemption. You can earn SkyMiles on Air France flights and redeem them for award tickets on Air France, and vice versa with Flying Blue miles on Delta.
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