{"id":2784,"date":"2026-03-26T18:48:04","date_gmt":"2026-03-26T18:48:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.happyfares.in\/airline-alliances-codeshare-interline-explained\/"},"modified":"2026-04-22T18:32:32","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T18:32:32","slug":"airline-alliances-codeshare-interline-explained","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.happyfares.in\/airline-alliances-codeshare-interline-explained\/","title":{"rendered":"Airline Alliances, Codeshare &#038; Interline Agreements Explained for Indian Travellers"},"content":{"rendered":"<div><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@graph\": [\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"BlogPosting\",\n      \"headline\": \"Airline Alliances, Codeshare & Interline Agreements Explained for Indian Travellers\",\n      \"description\": \"What are airline alliances, codeshare flights, and interline agreements? Learn how Star Alliance, oneworld, and SkyTeam work \u2014 and what they mean for your next booking.\",\n      \"author\": { \"@type\": \"Organization\", \"name\": \"HappyFares\" },\n      \"publisher\": { \"@type\": \"Organization\", \"name\": \"HappyFares\", \"url\": \"https:\/\/happyfares.in\" },\n      \"datePublished\": \"2026-03-23\",\n      \"url\": \"https:\/\/blog.happyfares.in\/airline-alliances-codeshare-interline-explained\"\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n      \"mainEntity\": [\n        {\n          \"@type\": \"Question\",\n          \"name\": \"What is a codeshare flight?\",\n          \"acceptedAnswer\": { \"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"A codeshare flight is when two airlines sell tickets for the same flight. One airline operates the aircraft (operating carrier), while the other markets and sells seats under its own flight number (marketing carrier). You may book with one airline but fly on another airline's plane.\" }\n        },\n        {\n          \"@type\": \"Question\",\n          \"name\": \"What is the difference between codeshare and interline?\",\n          \"acceptedAnswer\": { \"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Codeshare means two airlines share the same flight \u2014 one operates, the other sells tickets under its own code. Interline is a broader agreement that lets two airlines issue tickets on each other's routes and transfer baggage, even on different flights. Codeshare is tighter integration; interline is a simpler cooperation.\" }\n        },\n        {\n          \"@type\": \"Question\",\n          \"name\": \"Which airline alliance is Air India part of?\",\n          \"acceptedAnswer\": { \"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Air India is a member of Star Alliance, the world's largest airline alliance. Air India joined Star Alliance in July 2014. This gives Air India passengers access to Star Alliance benefits including lounge access, frequent flyer mile earning across member airlines, and seamless connections.\" }\n        },\n        {\n          \"@type\": \"Question\",\n          \"name\": \"Is IndiGo part of any airline alliance?\",\n          \"acceptedAnswer\": { \"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"No, IndiGo is not a member of any airline alliance. However, IndiGo has codeshare and interline agreements with several international carriers including Turkish Airlines, American Airlines, Qantas, British Airways, KLM, and others, giving passengers connecting options beyond IndiGo's own network.\" }\n        },\n        {\n          \"@type\": \"Question\",\n          \"name\": \"What are the three major airline alliances?\",\n          \"acceptedAnswer\": { \"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"The three major airline alliances are Star Alliance (founded 1997, 26 member airlines), oneworld (founded 1999, 13 member airlines), and SkyTeam (founded 2000, 19 member airlines). Together they cover over 80% of the world's air traffic.\" }\n        },\n        {\n          \"@type\": \"Question\",\n          \"name\": \"Can I earn frequent flyer miles on a codeshare flight?\",\n          \"acceptedAnswer\": { \"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Yes, you can usually earn frequent flyer miles on codeshare flights, but the earning rate and rules depend on which airline's frequent flyer programme you are crediting miles to, and the fare class of your ticket. Check the specific earning rules before booking.\" }\n        },\n        {\n          \"@type\": \"Question\",\n          \"name\": \"Does my baggage transfer automatically on interline flights?\",\n          \"acceptedAnswer\": { \"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"If you have an interline itinerary on a single ticket (one PNR), your baggage is typically checked through to your final destination. If you booked separate tickets, you will need to collect and re-check your baggage at the connecting airport.\" }\n        },\n        {\n          \"@type\": \"Question\",\n          \"name\": \"How do airline alliances benefit passengers?\",\n          \"acceptedAnswer\": { \"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Airline alliances benefit passengers through seamless connections across member airlines, earning and redeeming frequent flyer miles on any member airline, access to airport lounges, priority check-in and boarding, through-checked baggage across connecting flights, and coordinated schedules at hub airports.\" }\n        }\n      ]\n    }\n  ]\n}\n<\/script><\/div>\n<div style=\"background:#f0f7ff;border-left:4px solid #0066cc;padding:16px 20px;margin-bottom:28px;border-radius:4px;\">\n  <strong>TL;DR<\/strong> \u2014 Airlines don&#8217;t operate in isolation. They form alliances (Star Alliance, oneworld, SkyTeam), sign codeshare deals (two airlines sharing one flight), and establish interline agreements (ticketing and baggage transfer across carriers). For Indian travellers, this means smoother connections, more route options, and better loyalty rewards \u2014 even when flying multiple airlines. <a href=\"https:\/\/happyfares.in\" style=\"color:#0066cc;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Search multi-airline itineraries on HappyFares \u2192<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Why Do Airlines Cooperate?<\/h2>\n<p>No single airline flies everywhere. Even the world&#8217;s largest carriers cover only a fraction of the routes travellers need. Instead of building new routes from scratch \u2014 which takes years and enormous capital \u2014 airlines cooperate. They share flights, sell each other&#8217;s tickets, transfer passengers and baggage, and coordinate schedules.<\/p>\n<p>This cooperation happens at three levels, each progressively tighter:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Airline Alliances<\/strong> \u2014 large groups of airlines that coordinate on everything from schedules to frequent flyer programmes<\/li>\n<li><strong>Codeshare Agreements<\/strong> \u2014 two airlines share the same physical flight under different flight numbers<\/li>\n<li><strong>Interline Agreements<\/strong> \u2014 airlines agree to issue tickets and transfer bags across each other&#8217;s flights<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Understanding these three forms of cooperation helps you make smarter booking decisions \u2014 especially when flying internationally from India, where connections through hubs like Dubai, Singapore, Frankfurt, or Istanbul are common.<\/p>\n<h2>The Three Major Airline Alliances<\/h2>\n<p>An airline alliance is a group of carriers that agree to cooperate on a broad scale \u2014 coordinating schedules, sharing airport lounges, aligning frequent flyer programmes, and offering seamless connections. There are three global alliances:<\/p>\n<h3>Star Alliance<\/h3>\n<table style=\"width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;margin:16px 0;\">\n<tr style=\"background:#f5f5f5;\">\n<th style=\"padding:10px;text-align:left;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Detail<\/th>\n<th style=\"padding:10px;text-align:left;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Info<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Founded<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">1997 \u2014 the world&#8217;s first and largest airline alliance<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background:#f9f9f9;\">\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Members<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">26 member airlines<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Indian Member<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\"><strong>Air India<\/strong> (joined July 2014)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background:#f9f9f9;\">\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Key Members<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Lufthansa, United Airlines, Singapore Airlines, ANA, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines, Swiss, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Key Hubs<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Frankfurt, Singapore, Tokyo Narita, Istanbul, Chicago O&#8217;Hare, Zurich, Mumbai, Delhi<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background:#f9f9f9;\">\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Destinations<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">1,200+ airports in 190+ countries<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>Why it matters for Indian travellers:<\/strong> Air India&#8217;s Star Alliance membership means your Air India frequent flyer miles (Flying Returns) can be earned and redeemed on flights operated by any Star Alliance member. Flying Delhi to Munich on Lufthansa? You can credit those miles to your Air India account. You also get access to Star Alliance lounges at airports worldwide when flying on eligible tickets.<\/p>\n<h3>oneworld<\/h3>\n<table style=\"width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;margin:16px 0;\">\n<tr style=\"background:#f5f5f5;\">\n<th style=\"padding:10px;text-align:left;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Detail<\/th>\n<th style=\"padding:10px;text-align:left;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Info<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Founded<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">1999<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background:#f9f9f9;\">\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Members<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">13 member airlines<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Indian Member<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">None currently. IndiGo is not an alliance member.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background:#f9f9f9;\">\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Key Members<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">British Airways, Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific, American Airlines, Qantas, Japan Airlines, Finnair, Malaysia Airlines, SriLankan Airlines<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Key Hubs<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">London Heathrow, Doha, Hong Kong, Dallas, Tokyo Haneda, Helsinki, Colombo<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background:#f9f9f9;\">\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Destinations<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">900+ airports in 170+ countries<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>Why it matters for Indian travellers:<\/strong> oneworld includes Qatar Airways (Doha hub) and British Airways (London Heathrow hub) \u2014 two of the most popular connecting airlines for Indians flying to Europe, the US, and Australia. SriLankan Airlines (Colombo hub) also provides convenient connections for southern India.<\/p>\n<h3>SkyTeam<\/h3>\n<table style=\"width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;margin:16px 0;\">\n<tr style=\"background:#f5f5f5;\">\n<th style=\"padding:10px;text-align:left;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Detail<\/th>\n<th style=\"padding:10px;text-align:left;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Info<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Founded<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">2000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background:#f9f9f9;\">\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Members<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">19 member airlines<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Indian Member<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">None currently<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background:#f9f9f9;\">\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Key Members<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Delta Air Lines, Air France, KLM, Korean Air, Vietnam Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Kenya Airways<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Key Hubs<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Amsterdam, Paris CDG, Atlanta, Seoul Incheon, Jakarta<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background:#f9f9f9;\">\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Destinations<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">1,000+ airports in 170+ countries<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>Why it matters for Indian travellers:<\/strong> SkyTeam covers strong routes to Europe (Air France\/KLM via Amsterdam or Paris), the Americas (Delta), and Southeast Asia (Vietnam Airlines, Garuda). KLM operates direct flights from multiple Indian cities to Amsterdam \u2014 a major European gateway.<\/p>\n<h2>What Airline Alliance Membership Means for You<\/h2>\n<p>When airlines are part of the same alliance, passengers benefit in several practical ways:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Earn miles across airlines:<\/strong> Fly on any alliance member airline and credit miles to your preferred frequent flyer programme. Example: Fly Singapore Airlines (Star Alliance) and credit miles to Air India Flying Returns.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Redeem miles across airlines:<\/strong> Use your Air India miles to book a reward flight on Lufthansa, United, or any Star Alliance carrier.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Lounge access:<\/strong> Gold-tier frequent flyer members typically get lounge access at any alliance member lounge worldwide.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Through-checked baggage:<\/strong> When connecting across two alliance member airlines on the same ticket, your bags transfer automatically. No need to collect and re-check at the connecting airport.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Coordinated schedules:<\/strong> Alliance partners adjust flight timings at shared hubs to create convenient connections.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Priority services:<\/strong> Elite status on one airline is often recognised across the alliance \u2014 priority boarding, extra baggage, preferred seating.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Codeshare Flights: One Flight, Two (or More) Flight Numbers<\/h2>\n<p>A codeshare is a specific arrangement where two airlines sell seats on the same physical flight. One airline <strong>operates<\/strong> the flight (puts the aircraft, crew, and catering). The other airline <strong>markets<\/strong> the flight \u2014 selling it under its own flight number and brand.<\/p>\n<h3>How It Works \u2014 An Example<\/h3>\n<p>Let&#8217;s say you search for a Delhi to London flight. You might see:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Air India AI 111<\/strong> \u2014 Delhi to London Heathrow (operated by Air India)<\/li>\n<li><strong>United Airlines UA 8285<\/strong> \u2014 Delhi to London Heathrow (operated by Air India)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Both are the <strong>same physical flight<\/strong> \u2014 same aircraft, same crew, same departure time, same gate. The only difference is the flight number. If you book UA 8285, you board an Air India plane. United is the &#8220;marketing carrier&#8221; and Air India is the &#8220;operating carrier.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h3>Why Airlines Codeshare<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>For airlines:<\/strong> The marketing carrier can offer routes it doesn&#8217;t operate, expanding its network without the cost of running additional flights.<\/li>\n<li><strong>For passengers:<\/strong> More booking options. Your preferred airline might not fly a specific route, but through codeshare, you can book it under their flight number, earn their miles, and have a seamless itinerary.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>What to Watch Out For on Codeshare Flights<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>The operating carrier matters:<\/strong> The aircraft, cabin, in-flight service, seat configuration, and meal quality depend on the <em>operating<\/em> carrier, not the airline you booked with.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Baggage rules:<\/strong> Baggage allowance is typically governed by the marketing carrier&#8217;s rules on the ticket, but in-flight service follows the operating carrier. Always check your booking confirmation for which airline operates the flight.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Delays and cancellations:<\/strong> If the flight is disrupted, the operating carrier handles rebooking and compensation. But your refund claim goes through whoever sold you the ticket.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Check-in:<\/strong> You may need to check in with the operating carrier at the airport, not the airline you booked through. Confirm beforehand.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Indian Airlines and Their Codeshare Partners<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Air India<\/strong> has extensive codeshare agreements, especially after joining Star Alliance and the Tata Group restructuring. Key codeshare partners include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian (Star Alliance family)<\/li>\n<li>United Airlines (US routes)<\/li>\n<li>Singapore Airlines (Southeast Asia and Oceania)<\/li>\n<li>ANA \u2014 All Nippon Airways (Japan)<\/li>\n<li>Ethiopian Airlines (Africa)<\/li>\n<li>Air Canada (Canada)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>IndiGo<\/strong> \u2014 though not part of any alliance \u2014 has been actively signing codeshare agreements to connect its domestic network with international carriers:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Turkish Airlines<\/li>\n<li>American Airlines<\/li>\n<li>Qantas<\/li>\n<li>British Airways<\/li>\n<li>KLM<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This means you can book a flight from, say, Hyderabad to Istanbul with IndiGo handling the domestic leg (Hyderabad to Delhi) and Turkish Airlines flying Delhi to Istanbul \u2014 all on one ticket.<\/p>\n<h2>Interline Agreements: The Simpler Form of Cooperation<\/h2>\n<p>An interline agreement is a broader, simpler arrangement between two airlines that allows them to:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Issue a <strong>single ticket<\/strong> covering flights on both airlines<\/li>\n<li><strong>Transfer baggage<\/strong> between their flights without the passenger needing to collect and re-check<\/li>\n<li>Handle <strong>rebooking<\/strong> if a connection is missed due to the first airline&#8217;s delay<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Unlike codeshare, interline does <strong>not<\/strong> involve sharing the same flight. Each airline operates its own separate flight. The cooperation is about ticketing and baggage handling \u2014 making it easy for a passenger to connect between the two carriers.<\/p>\n<h3>How Interline Works \u2014 An Example<\/h3>\n<p>You want to fly from Kolkata to Rome. No airline flies this direct. With an interline agreement:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Leg 1:<\/strong> IndiGo \u2014 Kolkata to Delhi (IndiGo flight number)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Leg 2:<\/strong> Turkish Airlines \u2014 Delhi to Rome via Istanbul (Turkish flight number)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If these airlines have an interline agreement and you book through a travel agent or OTA like HappyFares that issues interline tickets, you get:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A single booking reference (PNR)<\/li>\n<li>Baggage checked through from Kolkata to Rome<\/li>\n<li>If the IndiGo flight is delayed and you miss the Turkish connection, the airlines coordinate to rebook you<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>When Interline Doesn&#8217;t Apply<\/h3>\n<p>If you book two separate tickets \u2014 one for IndiGo and one for Turkish Airlines \u2014 you do <strong>not<\/strong> get interline benefits. Your baggage will not transfer automatically. If you miss your connection, the second airline has no obligation to rebook you. This is called a &#8220;self-connection&#8221; and carries more risk.<\/p>\n<p><strong>This is why booking through an OTA like HappyFares matters.<\/strong> When you search for a multi-leg international itinerary on HappyFares, the system checks interline and codeshare availability. If your itinerary can be issued as a single interline ticket, it will be \u2014 giving you baggage transfer and connection protection automatically.<\/p>\n<h2>Codeshare vs Interline: A Clear Comparison<\/h2>\n<table style=\"width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;margin:16px 0;\">\n<tr style=\"background:#f5f5f5;\">\n<th style=\"padding:10px;text-align:left;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Feature<\/th>\n<th style=\"padding:10px;text-align:left;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Codeshare<\/th>\n<th style=\"padding:10px;text-align:left;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Interline<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\"><strong>Same physical flight?<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Yes \u2014 two flight numbers, one aircraft<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">No \u2014 each airline operates its own flight<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background:#f9f9f9;\">\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\"><strong>Single ticket?<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Yes<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Yes (when booked correctly through OTA or airline)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\"><strong>Baggage transfer?<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Yes \u2014 automatic<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Yes \u2014 when on a single ticket<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background:#f9f9f9;\">\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\"><strong>Miles earning?<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Usually earn miles with marketing carrier<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Miles earned on each airline separately<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\"><strong>Connection protection?<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Yes<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Yes (single ticket) \/ No (separate tickets)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background:#f9f9f9;\">\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\"><strong>Service standards?<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Operating carrier&#8217;s service<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Each airline provides its own service<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\"><strong>Level of integration<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">High \u2014 airlines share the same flight<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Moderate \u2014 airlines cooperate on ticketing and bags<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<h2>How This Affects Your International Flight Booking from India<\/h2>\n<p>When you search for an international flight on <a href=\"https:\/\/happyfares.in\" style=\"color:#0066cc;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HappyFares<\/a>, you will often see itineraries that involve codeshare or interline flights \u2014 especially for destinations that don&#8217;t have direct flights from your city.<\/p>\n<h3>Tips for Booking Codeshare and Interline Flights<\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Always check the &#8220;operated by&#8221; line.<\/strong> Your booking confirmation will say something like &#8220;Marketing Carrier: United | Operated by: Air India.&#8221; The operated-by airline determines your in-flight experience.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Book through a single ticket.<\/strong> If you&#8217;re connecting across two airlines, ensure it&#8217;s issued as one ticket with one PNR. Separate tickets mean no baggage transfer and no connection protection. When you book on HappyFares, multi-airline itineraries are issued as single tickets wherever interline\/codeshare agreements exist.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Check baggage rules for both carriers.<\/strong> If you&#8217;re flying IndiGo domestic + Turkish Airlines international on a codeshare ticket, your checked baggage allowance follows the ticket&#8217;s rules \u2014 but cabin baggage may differ between the two carriers.<\/li>\n<li><strong>For frequent flyer miles \u2014 check before you book.<\/strong> Not all codeshare fares earn the same miles. Deeply discounted codeshare tickets sometimes earn fewer (or zero) miles. Check the earning chart of your loyalty programme for the specific fare class.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Allow sufficient connection time.<\/strong> Even with codeshare and interline protection, tight connections are risky \u2014 especially at busy airports. A minimum of 2\u20133 hours for international connections is wise.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2>Indian Airlines \u2014 Alliance and Partnership Summary<\/h2>\n<table style=\"width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;margin:16px 0;\">\n<tr style=\"background:#f5f5f5;\">\n<th style=\"padding:10px;text-align:left;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Airline<\/th>\n<th style=\"padding:10px;text-align:left;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Alliance<\/th>\n<th style=\"padding:10px;text-align:left;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Key Partnerships<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Air India<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Star Alliance<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Codeshare with Lufthansa, United, Singapore Airlines, ANA, Swiss, Air Canada, and others<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background:#f9f9f9;\">\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">IndiGo<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">None<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Codeshare with Turkish Airlines, American Airlines, Qantas, British Airways, KLM; interline with 100+ carriers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">SpiceJet<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">None<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Interline agreements with select carriers; codeshare with Emirates (select routes)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background:#f9f9f9;\">\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Akasa Air<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">None<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Early-stage carrier; limited interline partnerships being developed<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Air India Express<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">None (part of Air India Group)<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #ddd;\">Benefits from Air India&#8217;s Star Alliance membership for some connecting itineraries<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<h2>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n<h3>What is a codeshare flight?<\/h3>\n<p>A codeshare flight is when two airlines sell tickets for the same flight. One airline operates the aircraft (called the operating carrier), while the other sells seats under its own flight number (the marketing carrier). You board the operating carrier&#8217;s plane regardless of which airline you booked with.<\/p>\n<h3>What is the difference between codeshare and interline?<\/h3>\n<p>Codeshare means two airlines share the same physical flight \u2014 one operates, one markets. Interline is different: each airline operates its own separate flight, but they agree to issue single tickets covering both flights and transfer baggage between them. Codeshare is tighter integration; interline is simpler cooperation for connecting itineraries.<\/p>\n<h3>Which airline alliance is Air India in?<\/h3>\n<p>Air India has been a member of Star Alliance since July 2014. This is the world&#8217;s largest airline alliance with 26 member airlines. Through this membership, Air India passengers can earn and redeem Flying Returns miles on all Star Alliance carriers.<\/p>\n<h3>Is IndiGo part of any airline alliance?<\/h3>\n<p>No. IndiGo operates independently and is not a member of Star Alliance, oneworld, or SkyTeam. However, IndiGo has been aggressively signing codeshare and interline agreements \u2014 including partnerships with Turkish Airlines, American Airlines, Qantas, British Airways, and KLM \u2014 to connect its domestic network with international destinations.<\/p>\n<h3>Can I earn miles on a codeshare flight?<\/h3>\n<p>In most cases, yes. You can earn frequent flyer miles on codeshare flights, but the earning rate depends on the fare class and the specific agreement between the airlines. Some deeply discounted codeshare fares may earn reduced or zero miles. Always check the earning rules for your specific loyalty programme and fare class.<\/p>\n<h3>Does my baggage transfer on interline flights?<\/h3>\n<p>If your entire journey is booked on a single ticket (one PNR) under an interline agreement, your baggage is typically checked through to your final destination. If you booked two separate tickets independently, you will need to collect your bags at the connecting airport and check in again for the next flight.<\/p>\n<h3>How do I know if my flight is a codeshare?<\/h3>\n<p>Your booking confirmation or e-ticket will indicate the operating carrier. Look for the phrase &#8220;operated by [airline name].&#8221; If the operating carrier is different from the airline you booked with, it&#8217;s a codeshare flight. On HappyFares, this information is shown clearly during the booking process.<\/p>\n<h3>What happens if my codeshare flight is cancelled?<\/h3>\n<p>If a codeshare flight is cancelled, both the operating and marketing carriers are involved. The operating carrier manages the actual rebooking and alternate arrangements on the ground. Your refund or compensation claim is typically handled by whichever entity sold you the ticket \u2014 if you booked through HappyFares, our support team coordinates this for you. Visit <a href=\"https:\/\/help.happyfares.in\" style=\"color:#0066cc;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">help.happyfares.in<\/a> for assistance.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background:#e6f4ea;border:1px solid #34a853;padding:16px 20px;border-radius:6px;margin:24px 0;\">\n  <strong>Book Your Next Flight on HappyFares<\/strong><br \/>\n  Whether it&#8217;s a codeshare itinerary, an interline connection, or a direct flight \u2014 HappyFares shows you all available options with transparent pricing. Search, compare, and book flights across alliance partners and codeshare carriers in one place.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/happyfares.in\" style=\"background:#0066cc;color:#fff;padding:10px 20px;border-radius:4px;text-decoration:none;font-weight:bold;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Search Flights on HappyFares \u2192<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>Looking for cheap flights?<\/strong> Compare and book on HappyFares \u2014 zero convenience fee:<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.happyfares.in\/flights\/delhi-to-dubai-cheap-airtickets\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Delhi to Dubai flights<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.happyfares.in\/flights\/mumbai-to-dubai-cheap-airtickets\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mumbai to Dubai flights<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.happyfares.in\/flights\/bangalore-to-dubai-cheap-airtickets\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bangalore to Dubai flights<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.happyfares.in\/flights\/chennai-to-dubai-cheap-airtickets\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Chennai to Dubai flights<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>TL;DR \u2014 Airlines don&#8217;t operate in isolation. They form alliances (Star Alliance, oneworld, SkyTeam), sign codeshare deals (two airlines sharing one flight), and establish interline agreements (ticketing and baggage transfer across carriers). For Indian travellers, this means smoother connections, more route options, and better loyalty rewards \u2014 even when flying multiple airlines. Search multi-airline itineraries [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2804,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[53],"tags":[250,244,245,24,21,246,248,249,247],"class_list":["post-2784","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-flight-tips","tag-air-india","tag-airline-alliances","tag-codeshare","tag-flight-booking-tips","tag-indigo","tag-interline","tag-oneworld","tag-skyteam","tag-star-alliance"],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/blog.happyfares.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/airline-alliances.jpg",1200,767,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/blog.happyfares.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/airline-alliances-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/blog.happyfares.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/airline-alliances-300x192.jpg",300,192,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/blog.happyfares.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/airline-alliances-768x491.jpg",768,491,true],"large":["https:\/\/blog.happyfares.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/airline-alliances-1024x655.jpg",1024,655,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/blog.happyfares.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/airline-alliances.jpg",1200,767,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/blog.happyfares.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/airline-alliances.jpg",1200,767,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"HappyFares Travel Desk","author_link":"https:\/\/blog.happyfares.in\/author\/shantitravelogy-in\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"TL;DR \u2014 Airlines don&#8217;t operate in isolation. They form alliances (Star Alliance, oneworld, SkyTeam), sign codeshare deals (two airlines sharing one flight), and establish interline agreements (ticketing and baggage transfer across carriers). For Indian travellers, this means smoother connections, more route options, and better loyalty rewards \u2014 even when flying multiple airlines. Search multi-airline itineraries&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.happyfares.in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2784","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.happyfares.in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.happyfares.in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.happyfares.in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.happyfares.in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2784"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blog.happyfares.in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2784\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3821,"href":"https:\/\/blog.happyfares.in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2784\/revisions\/3821"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.happyfares.in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2804"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.happyfares.in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2784"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.happyfares.in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2784"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.happyfares.in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2784"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}