The combinations of FF carrier, operating carrier and marketing carrier are confusing for earning miles and status. Compared to SkyTeam and Star, OneWorld is hardly an alliance at all. On the others, you don't even need to think about this. My major gripe with OneWorld is the zero, 25% and 50% miles on other carriers’ published discount economy fares.

Why, for example, can I accrue 100% AsiaMiles for CX discount economy but zero in AAdvantage? CX obviously doesn’t want to pay AA for the miles but what kind of alliance gives a carrier this option? Now I wonder if I book AA* on a CX operated flight, will I accrue zero based on CX operating or 100% based on AA marketing?