It is more easier and less tiresome shopping around for the best alternative, price and itinerary wise rather than locking yourself in an allianced carrier. Besides, for the majority of the flights for a given carrier in a given alliance you most likely won't receive miles or a minimum amount After running around China for twenty years i have yet to meet someone getting status in alliances mainly through domestic flying, and if one's really want to he will quickly discover all the nonsense about China as a cheaper place to live and work . OW at the moment is well covered in the main regional areas the same as the other two alliances, so i do not see many advantages in inducing a local entrant, esxcept getting into some third-and-lower tier cities.