Originally Posted by
crackjack
Guess there's always exceptions to any rule, though this appears a very small set? (Perhaps due to grandfathering existing agreements and / or arrangements with subsidiaries?)
Just curious, do OW airlines need to get agreement from OW management / its other OW partner airlines to do something like this, or is it solely at the deciding OW airline's discretion? I'd expect there'd be some unhappy people with such an outcome if it was done due to QR exiting OW...
Regardless, BA itself has so far taken a fairly conservative approach for partner airlines (I.e.partner airline = no TPs), would they change that?
You are quite right that it is pure speculation at this point. And I don't have more information than anyone else. But QR is a special case for BA. It is the largest shareholder (20% in IAG). WW stated recently that QR was likely to leave OW and that QR and IAG will remain as close as ever. Not that I put much weight in those speeches.
More importantly, I would doubt that there will be a Qrxit unless QR negotiate strong partnership agreements with its partner airlines (e.g. BA, LATAM, CX, and maybe CZ). QR is probably talking with these airlines (and others) but the going must be rough, especially with the uncertain alliance future of CZ. But leaving OW without a TP/avios partnership with BA would be suicidal IMO. But I fail to see what BA would have to gain and QR is not in a strong bargaining position