Originally Posted by
Raffles
I don't think you should look at the US schemes as a model. Those are island-driven. UK members are also using Finnair, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Qatar, RJ, American etc and a BA-only revenue system won't work. You can't get revenue data from partners.
In fact, Lufthansa can't even get revenue data ON ITS OWN TICKETS. Book via a TA and you keep earning miles on the old system. Book direct and you are on the x per Euro model.
The reason is that some airlines like to offer 'charge what you want' deals to travel agents. Emirates, for eg, could offers agents a £1500 business class fare to Bangkok and agrees to hide the pricing data from the customer. The agent COULD charge £1500 but actually if a client asks for a quote and BA is £3k and Thai is £2800 they will offer Emirates for, say, £2500. The agent pockets £1000 profit on the ticket (which, as BA and Thai pay naff all commission the agent will bust a gut to make the customer choose).
Under this system, Emirates has no idea how much the TA charged and could not offer airline miles based on revenue on the ticket.