Originally Posted by NickB

While I recognise many of the symptoms you highlight in your post, it seems to me that there is a mismatch between them and the title:

The points you raise re the lounges and lounge policy are valid but they were already true in year dot. So, it is not a case of ST going downhill; it is one of ST having already been at the bottom of the hill to start with.

As to devaluation of the programme, that is true too but it has also been a trend in FFPs in other alliances too. One can discuss as to whether it is worse in this FFP rather than this other one, but it is a question of degree more than anything else. It is not something specific to ST.

As to poor recognition by programme partners, again this is not ST specific. There are problems of poor recognition across all aliances. In OW, for isntance, it is often argued that BA does not play by the rules of the game with respect to lounge access for those flying on other OW airlines at some stations. In *A, I vaguely remember from my bmi days various shenanigans at UA with regards to seating/priority issues. I am sure that there are other issues in *A nowadays.

All in all, I think that this is more of the same: ST has always been the less generous of the 3 alliances and it remains so now as ever.