Here is what changes for your miles, your status, and your next trip
On June 6, at the International Air Transport Association annual general meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, PAL signed a Memorandum of Understanding to join the Oneworld Alliance. Once the process is complete, it will become the 16th member of the network and only the second Southeast Asian carrier ever admitted, after Malaysia Airlines.
Signing the MOU is just the beginning though. Full membership is expected sometime in 2027.
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First, what is Oneworld?
oneworld is one of the three major airline alliances in the world, alongside Star Alliance and SkyTeam. It works like this: instead of each airline operating completely on its own, member carriers link up their routes, loyalty programs, and airport services so that passengers move between them with as little friction as possible.
The network currently spans nearly 1,000 destinations across more than 170 countries. And the member list includes airlines many Filipinos already know well — Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, Qatar Airways, British Airways, and Qantas, among others.
What PAL adds to the alliance
PAL flies to 29 domestic and around 40 international destinations, covering Asia, the Middle East, North America, and Australia. But beyond its own routes, what makes PAL’s entry significant for Oneworld is access to the Philippine archipelago itself.
PAL brings 31 unique destinations into the oneworld network, including domestic island gateways such as Caticlan for Boracay, Puerto Princesa for Palawan, and Tawi-Tawi — destinations no other Oneworld member currently serves.
For PAL Holdings president Lucio Tan III, the moment carries real weight. “Becoming a member of the Oneworld Alliance significantly brings the Philippines and the region closer to the world like never before,” he said. “Together with our partners, we will deliver greater choice, consistent journeys, and a world-class travel experience that reflects the warmth of Filipino hospitality.”
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom, who chairs the Oneworld Governing Board, was equally enthusiastic. “The airline has a proud heritage and will serve a critical role in our Southeast Asia network,” he said.
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What this means for your Mabuhay Miles
Today, Mabuhay Miles work almost entirely within PAL’s own network. The moment you book with another airline, those points stay behind. That limitation goes away once PAL becomes a full Oneworld member.
Following its entry into oneworld, Mabuhay Miles members will enjoy reciprocal opportunities to earn and redeem miles and points across all oneworld member airlines. That covers carriers like Japan Airlines, British Airways, Qantas, Qatar Airways, American Airlines, and more.
So a trip you take on a partner airline can feed directly into your Mabuhay account. And miles you have already saved with PAL can eventually be used for flights on those same partners. This matters most for travelers heading to destinations PAL does not fly to directly. Your loyalty points become useful for the full journey, not just the Manila leg.
It is worth noting that Qatar Airways and PAL already have a reciprocal earn and redeem agreement in place, where Privilege Club members can earn Avios on PAL flights and Mabuhay Miles members can collect miles on Qatar Airways flights. The full oneworld membership will expand that kind of arrangement to every member airline in the alliance.
Perks for elite members
If you hold a top tier status with Mabuhay Miles, those benefits will eventually carry over to all 16 Oneworld airlines.
Oneworld uses three status tiers: Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald. Your current PAL status will translate to the equivalent tier within the alliance.
Top-tier PAL customers will receive oneworld status benefits including priority check-in, preferred boarding, extra baggage allowances, and access to nearly 700 premium airport lounges worldwide. Eligible travelers will additionally gain access to exclusive First Class lounges and dedicated premium check-in facilities when flying on participating oneworld carriers.
That means walking into a Cathay Pacific lounge in Hong Kong or a Japan Airlines lounge in Tokyo simply because you hold elite status with PAL. That is a tangible upgrade from where things stand today.
What about regular passengers?
You do not need elite status to feel the difference.
The biggest practical benefit for frequent travelers is simpler trip planning. Once PAL is fully integrated, you can book a journey across multiple oneworld airlines on a single ticket. That means flying PAL from Manila to Tokyo, then connecting to a Japan Airlines flight to New York, all in one booking.
When flights are booked on a single ticket, baggage is typically checked through to your final destination, so you will not have to collect and recheck your bags at every stopover. Schedules across member airlines are also better coordinated, making connections smoother.
So when exactly does this happen?
There is no firm date yet. The process typically takes between 12 and 24 months, so the second half of 2027 is a realistic date to keep in mind. The specific timeline for Mabuhay Miles integration across partner airlines has not been announced, either.
The full benefits are still months away. But this is the announcement that makes them possible. Not a bad time to start collecting those Mabuhay Miles.
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