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Over the weekend we found out that the Oneworld alliance is scheduled to add yet another new member, this time from within Asia, with Philippine Airlines expected to become a member of the alliance in 2027.
This integration is set to introduce a new suite of reciprocal benefits that will impact the 15 existing Oneworld member airlines and their frequent flyers.
The announcement
The confirmation of the airline’s upcoming membership occurred during an official press briefing held in Rio de Janeiro, which was conducted as part of the International Air Transport Association’s 82nd Annual General Meeting.
During the briefing, Oneworld CEO Ole Orver confirmed that full membership should be possible at some point in 2027 and, given the work involved, I’d be surprised if the integration was finished before 4Q 2027.
According to Orver, the Manila-based carrier represents a specific strategic fit for the alliance’s geographic network. The CEO noted that the airline provides the perfect opportunity for Oneworld to establish a functional hub in a part of the world where the alliance does not, as yet, offer a strong presence.
Oneworld alliance footprint in Asia
The addition of Philippine Airlines to Oneworld will grow the alliance’s regional roster to three members (Cathay Pacific and Malaysia Airlines are already part of Oneworld).
Additionally, industry speculation continues regarding the potential next addition to the alliance, with Taiwan-based Starlux Airlines being positioned by observers as a possible candidate for the list (although Cathay Pacific is believed to be using its influence within the alliance to keep Starlux, who it sees as a major competitor, at bay).
Network and routing options
For fans of Oneworld, the addition of Philippine Airlines will provide access to a new network of flights both within Asia/Oceania and across the Pacific.
Passengers will be able to book travel on Philippine Airlines flights operating domestic routes and to over 40 more international destinations – link to the airline’s summer 2026 timetable (.pdf)
A little disappointingly, Philippine Airlines no longer serves any European cities – the closest to Europe that the airline gets is the Middle East (Doha, Dubai, and Riyadh) – but as the airline has ventured into Europe in the past, perhaps its integration into Oneworld may tempt it back to somewhere like London, Paris, ort Rome.
There are no such issues, however, if you reside in North America.
During the current summer season, Philippine Airlines is serving Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto and Vancouver, so that should be enough to be getting on with. And its flights to/from Honolulu may turn out to be useful for travelers looking for a round the world routing with Oneworld airlines.
Elite status & mileage earning
As part of its integration into the Oneworld alliance, we can expect elite members of the existing Oneworld Airlines (e.g. American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, British Airways, and Iberia) to be able to enjoy elite status benefits when flying with Philippine Airlines, to be able to earn and burn miles on Philippines Airlines flights as well as earning elite status credits when flying with Oneworld’s newest member.
It’s worth keeping in mind, however, that different Oneworld frequent flyer programs will link up with Philippine Airlines at different speeds, so not all Oneworld elites will be able to access all the benefits of having Philippine Airlines as a Oneworld member from the moment the airline joins.
Oman Air, for example, joined Oneworld almost exactly a year ago but you still can’t book Oman Air awards using American Airlines miles. You can, however, book them using Alaska Airlines miles as well as British Airways and Qatar Airways Avios.
Also, and to ensure uniform recognition across networks, the Philippine Airlines Mabuhay Miles loyalty program will be aligned directly with the standard Oneworld tier structure.
Note: Mabuhay means “be alive” in Filipino. I like that!
As things stand now and if things didn’t change, the mapping of the frequent flyer tiers would probably look something like this (I’m guessing):
Mabuhay Miles Elite -> Oneworld Ruby status (e.g. American Airlines Gold & BA Bronze)
Mabuhay Miles Premier Elite -> Oneworld Sapphire status (e.g. American Airlines Platinum & BA Silver)
Mabuhay Miles Million Miler -> Oneworld Emerald status (e.g. American Airlines Platinum Pro/Executive & BA Gold).
Having looked through the Philippine Airlines program, however, I would be surprised if we didn’t see Mabuhay Miles completely revamped in time for the airline’s entry into Oneworld as there are quite a few ways in which the current version of Mabuhay Miles doesn’t fit well within the Oneworld elite status structure.
Bottom line
Philippine Airlines is expected to join the Oneworld alliance in 2027 and this will represent a significant network expansion for the alliance in Southeast Asia. For Oneworld frequent flyers, the integration should mean mileage accrual, tier status recognition, and elite status earnings when flying with Philippine Airlines, although specific timings for when all of this will be available will not be known for some time.
