Originally Posted by
FlyWorld
I'd like to know how this whole thing started. Was the "too good to be true" program something they thoughtfully designed to invest in achieving a specific goal? Or, was it created by an idiot who didn't understand basic economics?
Neither. The programme would initially have been launched to compete in a Greek-only market where A3 and OA went head-to-head. To a certain extent, up to the point where the two airlines became one, that still applied.
Now, given the miles earning structure it would take the vast majority of Greek residents an awful lot of flying A3 metal to reach Gold status (even Blue would be a stretch for many).
Star Alliance changed all that for obvious reasons, but A3 still had to support its domestic-only market and was left in a difficult place.
No-one is an idiot - if fact, looking at the structure of the new M&B and where benefits really accrue (ie flying A3/OA metal) I'd say there's a lot of people at A3 who are rather cleverer than you seem to think they are ...