Originally Posted by corporate-wage-slave

Air Italy is not a member of oneworld, even though it uses a semi-independent system of Avios on its Club Meridiana frequent flyer scheme. What we can say is:
- Air Italy, like Aer Lingus is a BA partner airline, it is also a partner of Iberia, and that's it, no other airline (not even QR).
- You get Avios if credited to BA. Unlike Aer Lingus it appears to credit for all mainstream fares and on a reasonably generous basis: H, K, Q, O, X, W, V, N, U, R, E, P, A, T, B, L, M, Y, S, C, I, D.
- You can't get Tier Points or Eligible Flights
- The exception to that is that BA has codeshares on Air Italy service and they do count for TP, Avios and Eligible Flights
- You can redeem Avios on Air Italy flights via BA (and IB)
- There's no lounge privileges or exchange arrangements - Air Italy doesn't operate any lounges under its own brand.
Against that of course the largest shareholder in IAG is also the second largest shareholder in Air Italy, and it is being seen a backdoor for the sanctions (etc) that apply to Qatar. However the head honcho of the relevant airline has been articulating the case for leaving oneworld for very many years now. It would seem that Air Italy would be a good candidate for oneworld connect but I can't see that bleeping too highly on the QR CEO's radar.

I do think a few kites are being sent airwards at the moment, and maybe not all of them will stay up.

The departures from LAX will be from Tom Bradley.