To be honest, if we are going to use examples, I don't think AA is anywhere near the best, because the two lines they use mean that typically, if you are, say, flying F, you have to figure out which of the 100 of people already lined are F too and who you should pass because they are AA visa card or whatever it is. You can ask one or two but typically by the time you've made your way, two or three more groups have been called and are moving.

I think that the UA system with separate lines (I think they use 6 or 7 of them) works much better, so if BA are going to learn, I'd say that's a better model. It's not as though best practice should be restricted to within alliances.