Star Alliance Reviews 

Flew with Austrian air via Vienna to Bucharest and then returned to London Heathrow via Zurich. All our hold baggage was left in Vienna on the way out (following a. 9 hour delay due to a missed connection) and then my main bag was left in Zurich on the way back. The guys at Bucharest airport were brilliant and sorted us out so that the break wasn’t ruined, but coming back to the UK there has been no updates regarding the baggage and it is seemingly impossible to find some one to speak to. Completely disorganised. Would not fly with them again.

Incredibly unhelpful.
First they overbook my flight and push me to the day after (I get no compensation). After that, my flight is cancelled and I am forced to fly through Ethiopia without being given different options that just might suit me a bit.
I ask to look into other options over the phone and I am asked to pay a fee! After cancelling on me twice!!
Disgraceful.
This problem occurred with multiple star alliance airlines all in one night!!

AIR INDIA - worst member airline of star alliance
I travelled with Air India AI 145 from Goa mopa to London Gatwick on 17/04/2024. Arrived at the airport around 10:00 along with my wife and 2 kids(1,4 years) after boarding and sitting at the boarding gate they told me flight is delayed from 13:00 to 14:00 due to extra security check . Kids getting restless and many people there . Announcement made that flight has been delayed further by 15:00 and then 16:00 . After this time passengers started asking questions and they said flight a fault and cannot start. They said don’t worry we are big airline company we will get you another flight . We were okay to wait but after 6 hours waiting they said the flight is cancelled 😡 and we will let you know when it’s going to be next . Kept us uncertain not knowing what we gonna do about kids school and work .We were not even given water forget food . Half of them got some noddles . Wasn’t even offered hotel stay bear by law keeping in mind having a young 1 year old who was formula feeding . Told me to go home and they will pay taxi fare . When asked about the fare they said carline will contact us .I said okay but when is flight . I requested that my seat be kept the same so I don’t have to come early and queue .We got a text at 9pm saying flight re scheduled on 18/04/2024and not cancelled for the day. We arrived next day and I was told that my seats were given to passengers who dont even have kids which was annoying furthermore more had to seat near the toilets . The flush sound was waking my son everytime . The food served was bad it’s like previous day food(stale ), the screens were not working for a 10 hours flight , no usb port working but still
Managed to come home . Upon arrival I waited for 4 days to see my taxi reimbursement on email nothing happened . So I complained and asked for a refund . The carline has no idea about the flight cancellation because they were not updated by the ground staff so then don’t need to pay cancellation charges to anyone and refused the voucher as well as refund . Oh the hand a passenger on the same flight , 2 seats besides me also complained and got £520 refund . So I went back and escalated on what basis they got a refund and not my family . The carline refused the refund ,I asked then let me speak to someone higher authority like Rajesh Dogra COO, they never let you speak to anyone , I emailed back and forth when threaten to complain they pre dated a taxi voucher and gave it to me . I emailed for over 5 months , I asked an explanation how I was not given a refund but other person was but the carline did not even blink and eye . Also tried bullying me and accepting a peanut compensation. I refused .Appealed to nodal officer and realised they are scammers . They are care agents replying from nodal officer emails . The CEO also doesn’t care . By far my worst experience. AIR INDIA carline just don’t care when you try to explain about the bad experiences.Everyday I see complains about this company .My suggestion choose EU or Middle East airlines , they work along with EU rules and integrity. They will Cost a bit more but the experience is worthwhile not like a horror show of AIR INDIA. This my experience about air India.

The worst alliance. Member benefits are not consistent across member airlines.
AC CA are the worst among the worst. So sophisticated at price discrimination.

CA: if you book in advance, you pay the full J/Y price
AC: if you fly domestically, hold your breath for its price

I was in process of booking an itinerary for a RTW ticket thru the Star Alliance website & put in Visa. My bank says payment wrnt thru but I don't have a ticket. There is no phone number to call, only a contact-us page to message them and response is slow to non existent. So they are holding my money, I have no ticket and bank says it is still sitting in 'Pending' . I have placed a dispute process but advised could take upto 45 days. Meanwhile I am not in a position to buy another ticket as credit limit reached!
Avoid at all costs.

I travelled from Dubai to Chennai
My suitcase came broken and damaged.
since I dont have the receipt, they said they would pay Rs. 1500/- in the form of a voucher.
It's unethical that they give money, and they want to give it back to AirIndia itself. And the voucher they give can be be used only during travel.
AI and SA and their regulations are not passenger friendly.

I flew Air India, a member of Star Alliance, from KTM to DEL on 17 Apr 2024. I wanted to claim airline mileage with my Star Alliance frequent flyer program which is United Airlines´ MileagePlus. I submitted flight details and boarding pass to MileagePlus but website does not recognize the flight and sent me to Air India. I called Air India and the respondent claimed they cannot do anything at their end and I should ask MileagePlus to coordinate with Air India. I asked to talk to the supervisor and I was asked to wait 2 minutes but had to hang up after no response for 5. One hour after, I received a call from same respondent asking me to wait as she called the supervisor. I asked for a callback when the supervisor is ready. I am still waiting.
06/21/2024 Claim successful. United Airlines' MileagePlus program rocks. Revising my rating from 1-star to 5-star!

Facts:
- Flight LX1100 was delayed leaving from Zurich by approx. 40 minutes. Reason given: "Waiting for passengers from a connecting flight"
- Landed in Munich when the connecting flight LH1650 to Bucharest was already boarding
- No staff at the gate to expedite transfer to connecting flight
- While making my way to the gate got message that I had been re-booked for another flight 6 and a half hours later
- Flight LH1650 was therefore not delayed to "wait for passengers from a connecting flight"
- Start Alliance Service Desk in Munich terminal K was not able to help with re-booking on an earlier direct flight. The only options presented were to take another connecting flight with a short (and risky) layover through Frankfurt or Belgrade.
- Lufthansa Start Alliance Service Desk in Munich terminal K was not able to offer a reasonable or informative reason why some flights are delayed to wait for passengers while others are not. The answer they gave was: "I don't know, this decision isn't made here. Could be any number of reasons."
- Lufthansa Start Alliance Service Desk in Munich terminal K also not able to offer any complimentary service (e.g. access to lounge, ticket to Munich to see the city, some sort of entertainment, or even more basic water or food) for the 6 and a half hours delay that I am forced to be here.
- Feedback from does not pick up my Miles and More details even though I am logged in as I complete this form. It does for the bookings but not for the feedback.

Consequences:
- Anger for being treated differently than the passages for which my flight was delayed departing out of Zurich
- Wasted time: 6 and a half hours in Munich airport
- Wasted money in the airport
- Stress and frustration of having to re-book all plans for the day. I will have lost 6 and a half working hours in which I had other appointments at the destination.
- Frustration for not being given any reasonable or informative information or alternative flights at the Lufthansa Star Alliance Service Desk
- Suspect the reason why my details are not picked up on the feedback form is because of lack of interest in gathering feedback.
- Frustration and anger for having to waste even more time to fill out this form and leave reviews to be heard instead of being treated with empathy by a human at the service desk.

Question I now ask myself: Why do I have a Miles & More membership and will often pay more to book with member airlines?

Conclusion:
when flying Star Alliance
- Connection of 45 minutes are not enough for a transfer between member airline flights
- Flights may or may not wait for passengers from connecting flights. It is unknown how this choice is made.
- Passengers will not be treated like a human with empathy but like a number with a ticket in a queue
- In case of delayed arrival there will be no effort made to expedite transfer to the connecting flight.
- Service desk staff don't have the training/ courtesy/ means to offer adequate information or complimentary services, and lack the basic people skills for customer service: patience, problem-solving, empathy, adaptability.
- In case deemed necessary by the system you will be automatically re-booked with no warning, advice, or choice.
- Star Alliance does not equal more reliable travel experience or better service. Any low cost can easily manage the same as above.

It's REALLY SAD that the Star Alliance name, once a symbol of prestige and excellence, is now a brand of declining quality. I don't understand that Singapore Airlines, one of the few that has managed to maintain its standards, is still a member of this alliance. United Airlines with its terrifying unprecedented mechanical disasters that defy imagination, SAS with its struggles with bankruptcy turning it into an unofficial low-budget airline, and LOT consistently getting bad reviews for its service. I can't get my mind around the reality that with BILLIONS at their disposal, these airlines can't get their acts together and their CEOs don't seem to care as long as they get to line their already well-lined pockets. These airlines used to compete viciously with each other--to the benefit of their passengers, now sit idly by as they take advantage of the travel boom. We feel powerless as consumers. What value do these online ratings have? We can only hope that enough people do their homework before they book flights. As for me, I've scratched SAS, LOT, and UNITED off my list and, when possible, look for the SkyTeam logo instead. I'm sticking to KLM, AirFrance, and Delta. I'll be paying a couple hundred dollars more but it'll all be worth every cent. Mediocre service does not deserve a single nickel.

Star Alliance contains some excellent airlines, such as Singapore, and very good ones such as Lufthansa, but why on earth do they permit the dishonest bandits at Egyptair into their alliance. Just look at Egyptair's overall score on Trustpilot and my recent reviews over being downgraded without any sign of the promised refund. Interestingly Star Alliance seems unworried about the performance of member airlines, as there's no way to report appalling service which damages their reputation to Star Alliance.

The airline individually is alright BUT when it is jointly operated flight between themselves, it is the WORST experience you will habe getting things done before a flight like check-in and etc.
Eaxh airline will defer the responsibility to one another.
So dont fly with flight operated by more than 1 airline

I made a purchase from TAP because I trusted them as a Star Alliance member. I mad an TAP only refunded 12% of my flight, despite express assurances from customer service that I would get a refund within the first 24 hours. Called back and made a formal complaint. If I can't get a refund I will never trust this company or the Star Alliance brand.

Me:
To whom it may concern. Of 5th of February 2024 I made an erroneous purchase
(Booking ref : NSOHNW, Ticket number : 047 2191914629 30). I immediately
discovered the error and contacted customer support who said that I could get a full
refund because I was within 24 hours of making the purchase. I was not informed
that if I choose to be refunded through the same method of payment used to buy
the ticket, the refund will be done according to the rules of the fare and route you
purchased. I have now received a refund for a very small amount, 88% lower than
what I paid. Since I was promised a full refund by the customer support staff it is
only right if I get that. Therefore please transfer the difference between what I paid
and what has been reimbursed so far. Best, Toke

TAP
We hereby inform you that, for all ticket refund requested within 24 hours of its issuance, TAP exceptionally authorizes the full refund of tickets in vouchers, valid for one year, that can be used for the purchase of TAP tickets.
If the refund is requested in the original payment method, as verified in this case, the amount will be calculated according to the fare rules aquired at the purchase. Therefore, no correction or additional amount shall be provided.

Me:
Can we make a modification, such that I get the refund as a voucher instead?
Please keep in mind that I was acting in good faith, based on guidance from TAP customer support.

TAP
Whe inform you that, since you ticket refund was already processed, it will not be possible to issue a Voucher.

You won't get all your miles. I took three flights to New Zealand through codeshare flights booked in the name of Lufthansa and used my Turkish Airlines Miles & Smiles number. I have received miles for five of the six flights for this journey. They are not resolving my missing miles claim for one outbound flight that would move me to an elite level and provide me with more benefits. I had to take all flights out to validate the ticket and use the return flights, I was also with my family who have received all the miles. This loyalty program is not worth joining or using; avoid these airlines if possible!

This airline literally sucks. It’s better than Oneworld but that doesn’t mean it’s good because it’s not. Lufthansa is literally the worst airline in Europe (SAS and TAP aren’t much better) and its North American counterparts United and Air Canada are also terrible. Sad that the largest airline alliance in the world turned out to be such a disappointment. Better use the Skyteam which has much better airlines and customer service.

Edit: I changed my review to 2 stars because I think it’s unfair to put Star on the same level as oneworld, though it still doesn’t change that it’s a bad alliance.

Regrettably, I recently encountered a distressing customer service incident where my request for assistance (I have a disability) was denied based on the misconception that because I don't require a wheelchair, I don't need support despite dealing with a severe, long-term illness (Crohn’s).

My need consisted simply of requesting a seat close to the restroom and on the aisle. It can be at the back (it does not need to be at the front) as long as I can easily access the restroom. Lufthansa asked me to pay extra which does not respect the Disabilty act and IATA regulation.

Lufthansa has been incredibly rude denying to provide any useful information or contact number/form for me to access special assistance. I lastly asked for a copy of the Live Chat as from data protection, yet the customer service refused (thankfully I made screenshots).

Lufthansa used to be a great airline. I am not sure what happened yet the discrimination I have been experiencing is unacceptable form all Star Alliance.
I had the same problem last year with BA on a 24hr delayed flight back from California.

Will never fly star alliance group of airlines! Bad service all around, no accountability.

This company is a fraud. I booked a ticket but decided to cancel the next day. I was sent an email confirmation to say I will be fully refunded within 10 days. I contacted the company and no response. I am still waiting on my refund.

I have been a frequent flyer for many years and flying with Star Alliance and especially Lufthansa and Air Canada is just a nightmare or a joke what ever you would prefer to call it.
The service Star Alliance performs just wouldn’t survive in another business they just would have been out of business.
I frequently fly between North America and Europe in my job and I try to combine my working life with meeting my family and partner and having the weekends for private life.
This just doesn’t work when flying with Star Alliance. The last 9 months they delayed 4 of my flights by more than 6 hours and 2 of them with staying overnight. I just can’t see that this is acceptable, I can’t be the only one they treat like garbage, sorry but I can’t find a better word for how I feel.
I am concidering to change career due to the bad performance from this Airlines as my family and private life is suffering from the bad performance from Star Alliance.
I think this is just a scandal that this airlines can continue without paying a lot of compensation to their costumers like the US 🇺🇸 companies have to do when they mess it up for their costumer’s. European airlines just seem to go down in a big sink hole of bad operations and costumer experience.

Avoid at all costs! Regardless of which airline you travel with, they make it deliberately impossible to redeem your miles. I’ve tried to redeem mileage for 4 flights, all booked with different airlines members of Star Alliance. Hours on the phone with each different airline as their websites made it impossible to gain any progress. Yet, every time I called, they waffled and pointed me back to the websites. Awful. Shame on you Star Alliance!

My flight and hotel cancelled day before flight on 29/11/23
Allegedly British Airways messed up the flight booking.
Would not find me another flight .
Refund for my trip will be 10 days time on 7 December 23.
I very much doubt it