Originally Posted by
ashill
So who do you suggest? Putting aside the question of whether even BA is a full-service carrier (since they now charge for water on intra-Europe flights!), there really are only three full service networks in Europe: IAG (BA/IB), AF/KL, and Lufthansa Group. AF/KL and Lufthansa group are each in joint ventures with US partners who don't want partnerships with AS. That leaves AA/BA/IB, and hopefully EI. Adding IB would help somewhat and certainly seems plausible, though not to the US west coast and their geography limits their utility for getting around within Europe (a major complaint on the AA forum). I suppose you could add AY (already forming an AS partnership) and AZ (not the wisest airline to count on) to the list, but I really don't think there are any others. So your argument that AS needs to find a partner in addition to BA just seems like asking for a unicorn to me.
Any chance TK could ever become AS's Euro-unicorn? Obvious issue is it's membership in *A--which would probably be a deal killer--but it's route map includes LAX and SFO on one end and much of eastern and southern Europe on the other. I've only heard it's a/c are pretty nice (first TK flight this spring, but only on a short route). Just spitballin' here. Who knows more about TK?