True, but most people on the east coast (where the poster I was responding to is located) are going to find American's program easier to use than Alaska's, so I wouldn't credit American flights to Alaska in his case. And you missed the fact that's he's NOT going to be earning much if any in the way of miles - he's going to be earning via credit cards, and so there's no harm in that case in opening accounts with the various airlines, but only transferring points from Chase, AmEx et al. when he knows where he needs to spend them.