Well, everyone is singing the praises of AA elite status, generally speaking, which I mostly agree with. However, rather than another AA love fest, in the AA forum, which is kinda expected, I'd like to bring this back to the context of the OP and the thread title, which was:

"UA-CO Tighten Alliance... Any reason to Stick with AA?"

This seems to be coming from the perspective that what UA-CO announced today is a "good" thing (whatever good means). Having spent some time reviewing the threads on both the CO and UA forums today, I'd say the jury is out. There are of course some folks, quite happy, and there are others that are furious (I can't yet draw a bead on what I think the prevailing opinion is).

I for one say, be careful what you wish for. Many here have expressed a desire to be able to upgrade for free on AS flights (which would assume AA would have to grant reciprocity to AS elites), etc.

However, as someone whose travel is pretty much 100% personal (no business), I've made a conscious choice to throw all my loyalty to AA. I have at times paid a ticket premium to do so. It's my humble opinion that a business owes loyalty to it's best customers (that is to say loyalty is a two way street). When you enter into a joint alliance like this, by definition, the carrier is now providing loyalty incentives to those who may spend very little incremental revenue on AA, but are yet consuming valuable, finite resources (e.g. exit row seats, etc.) nonetheless.

Thus the idea of exit row seats, upgrades in F, etc. being "shared" with elites who give the majority of their dollars to another airline doesn't really sit that well with me (nor does it seem to with many of the folks on CO and UA forums).

Who is more valuable to AA, the consistent, yearly re-qualifying AA PLT or GLD member or the MVP GOLD from AS that flies AA once in a blue moon?

I fear that AA is probably already considering some kind of joint alliance like this just because "everybody's" doing it and that seems to be how airline companies roll. But, to be clear, I chose AA for specific, definable reasons. If those reasons slowly evaporate over time then I certainly would reevaluate my loyalty and the decision to throw, pretty much 100% of our household airfare budget to AA.

Look, I get that many of us who are used to flying up front are intoxicated by the possibility that we could also do so on that rare occasion we need to use a carrier like AS or someone else to get us somewhere that AA doesn't fly to, but be careful what you wish for because if they open up the system to that they aren't just opening it up for you on that rare occasion; they have to open it up to all.

My loyalty is to AA, and I expect theirs in return. If AA ends up in a joint alliance with someone and I start missing upgrades and the ability to consistently secure exit row seats when needed (I won't be EXP forever and neither will many in this forum once the double EQM gravy train halts) then that would certainly cause me to rethink my travel spend. I expect to be treated like a king when flying on AA and in return for that I'm willing to live like a relative pauper on that very rare occasion that I need to use another airline. To those who feel they need to be treated like a king on other carriers there is a solution for that; obtain elite status on that carrier as well.

I realize some will think I'm overly concerned and that is fair, but I've said many times that I believe AA has, all considered, the absolute best FFP. But, I've also said I have a sinking feeling that AA may eventually "devalue" the program in order to have "parity" with lower value programs. I really hope I'm wrong on that count but... that seems to be how American legacy carriers role...

Regards