Originally Posted by
UA Fan
BA & IB does not even come into consideration because of it's YQ. Take that away and you have hardly anything. Plus add LHR's high taxes. Include them and you have carriers at the edges of the continent, not in the center.
I've connected on IB to/from AA at MAD and have never been charged a YQ fee. As for LHR, it only costs a couple of dollars more to connect through there than it does at FRA. The high taxes exist only on flights originating out of there, or on stopovers longer than 24 hours. But that would apply to any alliance carrier. And more importantly, not everyone is using their FF miles to go to Europe or Asia. For people really stuck on Star, they should be crediting to UA or LH. Because as long as that alliance exists, those two will be in it.
As for this merger, I'm still waiting for the announcement regarding Main Cabin Extra. DP has been silent on this matter. UA and now DL both offer a Y+ product. Without it, AA/US would be at a competitive disadvantage.