Airline alliances let you book a flight operated by one airline using miles from a partner programme, often for fewer miles or lower fees.

The three major alliances are Star Alliance, Oneworld, and SkyTeam, plus individual partnerships outside alliances that work the same way for award bookings.

Partner pricing is set by the programme you book through, not the airline flying the plane, so the same seat can cost different amounts in different programmes.

Always confirm partner availability before transferring points, since transfers are usually irreversible, and keep both confirmation codes until you travel.