Always a popular subject! See http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum83/HTML/000836.html for the discussion.

I just had a rendez-vous with one of JL senior executives who wanted me to fly JL more often, after hearing my praise about the recent NRT-JFK F service. Then I asked, when would JL join OW this year?? Answer, NO, NO. Well JL seems like they just want to go it alone keeping thier very flirtatious relationship with AF,BA,CX,AA,etc. In fact, JL has one of the
strongetst ties with AF for many many years yet JL would not dream of joining STeam. So
are they kind of stuck or they figure they would concentrate on serving their Japan origin 7 million JL mileage Bank members.
JL might think they could afford such a strategy due a huge local market and less dependence on transit customers.....IMHO.