<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by virtualtroy:
at the end of the day, an alliance with associated schemes which exist for YOUR benefit.
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I disagree. The purpose of the alliances is to benefit the airlines in the alliances - more profits/lower costs/greater revenues.
They may be able to market and differentiate their alliance product as a benefit to travellers - seamless transfers, shared lounges etc but that is simply to capture more of your spend and loyalty.
The airlines and any business will do what is in the best interests of themselves (and there shareholders) and we as a consumer must do what is in our best interests. If the two converge then both parties win.