Understanding the three main airline alliances

Airline alliances are formed by several airlines to synergise and provide a better network of connectivity to travellers. The three main alliances that will be detailed in this post represent the largest ones in the world (which are pretty much all that matter). They are, in no particular order, Star Alliance, SkyTeam and Oneworld.

While airlines benefit via code-sharing agreements (airlines sharing planes), cost savings on sales offices, maintenance and operational functions, they are then able to pass these on in part to travellers. Some of the benefits that travellers get are lower air fares, more options of departure times, shorter travel times (as a result of shorter transits), more airport lounges and unified mileage rewards (accumulate miles from all the alliance airlines).