How Airline Alliance Status Gets You Into the World's Best Airport Lounges for Free

How Airline Alliance Status Gets You Into the World's Best Airport Lounges for Free

From Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways by NerdWallet Travel

April 23, 2026 · 46 min

About this episode

This episode discusses how airline alliance status can provide access to airport lounges and elite perks across multiple airlines.

Learn how earning status with one airline can unlock lounges and elite perks on more than a dozen other airlines worldwide. First, host Meghan Coyle breaks down the week’s top travel headlines with producer Tess Vigeland (filling in for Sally French), including a new Google Hotels feature that lets you track prices on a specific hotel (not just a city), Wells Fargo adding Wyndham Rewards as a transfer partner, Air New Zealand’s controversial new Skynest bunk bed cabin, Chase expanding its Plum Guide vacation rental program to Sapphire cardholders, Hilton’s new apartment-style properties, and Norse Atlantic canceling Los Angeles flights amid rising fuel costs. Then, Sally joins Meghan for a conversation with Gilbert Ott, Director of Loyalty at the OneWorld Airline Alliance. They explore how airline alliance membership can elevate every trip you take, with tips and insights on how OneWorld’s Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald elite status tiers work across all 15 member airlines, which world-class airport lounges you can access as a OneWorld elite member, and what Hawaiian Airlines’ new membership in the Alliance means for your miles and travel experience. Card benefits, terms and fees…

People in this episode

Hosts: Meghan Coyle, Sally French

Guest: Gilbert Ott

Topics covered

  • airline alliances
  • airport lounges
  • travel perks
  • travel news
  • elite status
  • OneWorld

Keywords

  • airline alliance
  • airport lounges
  • travel rewards
  • OneWorld
  • elite status
  • travel news
  • Chase Sapphire
  • Wells Fargo
  • Air New Zealand
  • Google Hotels

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: OneWorld Airline Alliance, Google Hotels, Wells Fargo, Air New Zealand, Chase, Hilton, Norse Atlantic

Products: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Places: Los Angeles

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