Originally Posted by
spin88
Nor do the JVs particularly help here. Lets say I want to go SAN-Sapporo or SAN-Harbin. Well UA will want me to go SAN-SFO-NRT-xxx. JAL can offer SAN-NRT-xxx.
That specific example - TPAC ex-SAN - doesn't have a JV partner but TATL does. From SJC the ANA flight gives options that AA/JL ot DL do not have one-stop.
Originally Posted by
laxmillenial
Does this actually matter? I thought all airlines except AA hedged their oil bets.
Not necessarily, and jut because it is hedged doesn't mean it is cheap. It just means that the cost is known in advance. In recent years most hedges have been losing bets for the airlines, not winners.