There are three major frequent flyer alliances that bring together the loyalty programs from several different airlines: StarAlliance (United, Continental, US Airways, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, and 21 more), One World (American Airlines, British Airways, Iberia, and nine others) and Sky Team (Delta, Air France, KLM, plus 10 more).
To shore up its international position, Varig last year joined the Staralliance, a loose association whose members include United Airlines and Germany's Lufthansa.
Air Polonia will be the first local rival of state-owned LOT airline, which last month joined the Lufthansa-led StarAlliance to strengthen its position ahead of an expected battle with budget airlines.