Originally Posted by
florin
Now think of airlines and FF partnerships. If 2 airlines are partners, it makes sense for them to share award inventory. I.e. all award seats are available to members of both FF programs. Why would they bother paying each other? It sounds like a complicated, unnecessary exchange. Those seats would be empty anyway. Why keep swapping around small amounts of money, when it will likely pretty much even out in the end?
I just can't see the most tight-fisted revenue management divisions (e.g. Singapore Airlines, Qantas) letting a single BIS go out if they can charge even a couple of cents for it, especially if it's filled by a passenger from another airline's loyalty program.