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ITA Airways, Italy’s national carrier, has officially joined Star Alliance as the alliance’s newest member. For US travelers who collect miles with United MileagePlus, Air Canada Aeroplan, or other Star Alliance loyalty programs, this opens up fresh opportunities to earn and use points on flights to Italy and throughout Europe. Here’s what you need to know about this addition and how it affects your travel plans.
If you’re already holding one of the best travel credit cards in the US, this news could make your next Italian getaway significantly more rewarding.
Star Alliance officially welcomed ITA Airways into its network, making the Italian carrier the alliance’s 27th member airline. The integration means ITA Airways flights now appear within the Star Alliance ecosystem for earning miles, using award bookings, and accessing shared airport lounges.
ITA Airways launched in October 2021 as the successor to Alitalia. Since then, the airline has expanded its route network with a focus on connecting North America to Italy. The airline operates nonstop flights from several US gateways, including New York (JFK), Miami, Los Angeles, Washington (IAD), Chicago, Boston, Houston and San Francisco, with Rome Fiumicino (FCO) serving as its primary hub.
Lufthansa Group completed its acquisition of a 41% stake in ITA Airways in early 2025, which accelerated the Star Alliance membership process. Lufthansa, itself a founding member of Star Alliance, had signaled its intention to bring ITA into the alliance fold since negotiations began.
Before this move, ITA Airways operated largely outside the major airline alliances. That meant limited options for earning or using frequent flyer miles on ITA flights. Now, the picture changes significantly.
ITA Airways has been steadily growing its presence in the US market. As of 2025, the airline operates nonstop service from multiple US cities to Rome, with onward connections throughout Italy and Europe.
From Rome Fiumicino, ITA connects to Milan, Naples, Palermo, Catania, Bari, and dozens of other Italian and European cities. With Star Alliance integration, these connections become bookable on a single itinerary through partner airlines.
Now that ITA Airways sits within Star Alliance, several US-friendly loyalty programs and credit card transfer partners can book ITA flights with points or miles. Here are the most valuable options.
Aeroplan is one of the most flexible Star Alliance programs for booking partner awards. With ITA now in the alliance, you can search for ITA award space directly on the Aeroplan website. Aeroplan points transfer 1:1 from American Express Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards, making this a strong path for cardholders.
A round-trip economy award from the US to Italy through Aeroplan typically costs around 70,000 to 90,000 points, depending on demand. Business class awards range from 120,000 to 170,000 points round trip.
United MileagePlus uses dynamic pricing for award flights, so rates vary. However, ITA availability now appears directly in United’s search tool. If you hold a United Explorer Card or United Quest Card, you can earn MileagePlus miles and apply them toward ITA flights.
Avianca LifeMiles often prices Star Alliance partner awards competitively, with no fuel surcharges on many routes. This program is a transfer partner for Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles, and Citi ThankYou Rewards. For travelers flexible on dates, LifeMiles frequently offers lower award rates than United or Aeroplan for the same ITA flights.
Programs like Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles, Singapore KrisFlyer, and Lufthansa Miles & More also gain access to ITA award inventory. Turkish Miles&Smiles, in particular, is known for generous Star Alliance partner award charts and transfers from Citi ThankYou and Capital One.
Since ITA Airways is now bookable through Star Alliance partners, the best credit cards for this opportunity are those that transfer points to Aeroplan, MileagePlus, LifeMiles, or other Star Alliance programs.
For a deeper look at each program’s transfer options, visit our guides on Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, and Capital One Miles.
Lufthansa Group’s investment in ITA Airways goes beyond Star Alliance membership. The acquisition positions ITA as a complementary carrier within the Lufthansa family, which includes Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and Eurowings. ITA Airways will be part of the Miles & More Loyalty Program.
In practical terms, this means tighter codeshare agreements and potentially better award availability between ITA and other Lufthansa Group carriers over time. For US travelers, it creates a more connected network across Europe. A flight from New York to Rome on ITA, followed by a connection to Vienna on Austrian Airlines, could become a single bookable award itinerary through multiple Star Alliance programs.
However, it’s worth noting that Lufthansa Group carriers have historically imposed fuel surcharges on award tickets booked through Miles & More. Programs like Aeroplan and LifeMiles typically avoid these surcharges, so your choice of booking program matters.
Not every traveler will feel the impact equally. Here’s a quick breakdown of who stands to gain the most from ITA Airways joining Star Alliance.
Award availability on newly integrated Star Alliance partners can take time to ramp up. Here are practical steps to find and book ITA Airways flights with points today.
ITA Airways joining Star Alliance is a meaningful win for US travelers who collect transferable points. Italy is consistently one of the most popular international destinations for Americans, and having another Star Alliance carrier operating direct transatlantic routes creates real competition for award seats. That means better availability and more options for those of us who plan trips with miles.
If you hold a Chase Sapphire Preferred, Amex Gold, or any card that transfers to Aeroplan, United, or LifeMiles, you’re well-positioned to take advantage. Start searching for ITA award space now, build your point balances, and keep an eye on availability as the integration matures.
For more options to earn travel rewards, check our full list of best credit cards in the US. And to stay on top of award deals and point transfer bonuses, subscribe to our newsletter.
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