After taking four business class flights with Copa recently, I just found out that I can't get credit for them on TAM Fidelidade, although both airlines are part of Star Alliance. I called TAM and was told that "Copa and TAM have no agreement between themselves". ...? Aren't they part of this alliance? What is the alliance for? To me this is utter bullsh*t. Of course I am disappointed because I was counting on these flights to renew gold status. It now looks like I'm going to have to move my business somewhere else, away from TAM, which is leaving Star Alliance anyway.