Originally Posted by
DownUnderFlyer
Some airlines offers services to other elites which they don't have to give (UA waiving baggage fee for *S for example)
I guess that goes with AA as well, then. Or BA giving free pre reserved seat assignments. And so on.
Originally Posted by
DownUnderFlyer
There is one side of me which thinks a bit like you: Each alliance airline should treat any alliance elite like their own. But there is also one side of me which thinks that different benefits for different people is a good thing and helps with the development of the overall industry. And keeps FT going.
The way I see it, the stronger the alliance integration and the lower the incentive to look elsewhere. If I can't get to the BA gold line in case of disruptions, then I might as well fly LX where their business class line usually picks up fast. If I'm stuck in two long lines transiting at LHR because I don't have FastTrack, I might as well transfer in FRA to LH where it's faster.