Koru Flyer, yes of course you have a valid point. The alliance privileges, however, matter only when you are travelling on a carrier other than your "base." So while I don't think Thai should be required to change their own 15,000 mile level in their program, an argument could be made for *Silver to be granted only at 25,000.

But I realize the game is stacked in UA and LH's favor most of the time because of the relative "ease of financial burden" to make 1K or Senator compared with 100K miles on TG or NZ. Remember, though, that miles on all carriers count as status miles. This helps to even the field a bit.

On a side note, I think it's a crock that I earn only 50% of LH miles in coach... but that's a whole other thread.