Originally Posted by
Pigeye01
I agree 100%. While F9 can't provide DL or UA-sized networks, membership in Sky Team or Star would, IMO, generate more business as customers could still earn the benefits of a major alliance by flying F9, or fly DL or UA when the route they need isn't served by F9. Since F9 can't offer the benefits of a major FF program, I'm curious how many pax (business and leisure) choose another carrier even though they may prefer F9's service.
That I agree with. YX used to have some FF reciprocity with AA (might have just been Eagle) before DL. I'm not even sure it has to be a full alliance membership, just an international carrier. That doesn't necessarily mean a US based one either, but I'm not sure how many international carriers would be willing to step outside their alliance boundaries.
For the Atlantic, maybe Virgin Atlantic? The problem is VA doesn't fly to any of F9's hubs, so connections would most likely have to double connect somewhere. They might be able to convince them to fly into DEN.
On the Pacific, maybe they could convince Hawaiian to fly to DEN?