Originally Posted by apudme
I do not wish to get into a flaming situation, as I already stated above my post was to elicit perhaps informed, but certainly factual and intelligent debate.
... ok.
Perhaps some audience members missed the facts and the intelligence provided in a prior post.
Originally Posted by apudme
I fail to see how the above adds anything constructive to this topic.
Can't help you then.
Originally Posted by apudme
Such rumours/rumors have been in existence for a while, and have been substantiated by the linked text provided.
That amounts to corroboration and substantiation?!?!? Ok.
Originally Posted by apudme
I have no special information on this, however if you would be interested in adding to this thread by discussing how such a codesharing decision would be deleterious to AA's customers, then please do so.
If indeed you have special information then please do share it with the forum.
To put all your eggs in a competitor's basket is never a good idea. To put all your eggs in a partner's basket is not much more intelligent and certainly not generally advisable. That fact is not special information, for it is common sense -- especially when we are talking about firms operating in a highly-competitive, fragmented industry or operating in a competitive oligopoly situation where the partnership is largely limited to the figurative front-end, cross-selling, and distribution levels.
Originally Posted by apudme
Mr GU Wonder obviously has his own personal dislike of British Airways, based on his experience with the airline. I am sorry he feels like this
. But he does have freedom to air his opinion, which he does regularly.
You may wish to try again for the facts betray the fiction of my "personal dislike of British Airways". I have no dislike for BA in general; on the other hand, I am a BA Gold member for a reason -- even as I have choices.
I have an arguably "fair & balanced" critique of BA's frequent flier program and see the pros & cons vis-a-vis a variety of airlines and/or their frequent flier programs and their alliances, partnerships and related dynamics.
To advise AA to become a LCC feeding BA more lucrative international traffic and relegated to the leftovers (internationally this includes some good leftovers) is bad advice for AA. It's also bad advice for BA since BA would soon find AA shopping around and cannibalizing the "partnership" as it would "re-discover" profitability on the principal business center-to-business center routes.
Originally Posted by apudme
Here at FT we should welcome factual criticism, and constructive suggestion. Which we do.
And indeed I agree that an airline should stand on its own both financially and strategically.
I fly both BA and AA, having grown up in the USA, and it is in my interest for AA to remain strong, and offer products which are an attractive way in which to redeem my many thousands of Frequent Flyer miles, as well as being able to offer a non-US alternative across the pond.
But a facile comparisons are not helpful.
A facile comparison was not provided. On the contrary, a pithy anecdote that provides a complicated lesson (that skips some) would be a more apt description. If the anecdote was not helpful, then I cannot help.
Originally Posted by apudme
So to keep the debate positive:
How, therefore, must AA react in order to improve its service, repair the allegiance of its upgraded fliers and seek alternative to a codeshare option which may or may not offer benefits/disbenefits to AAdvantage members?
First it requires a mindset change whereby the AA leadership corp and employees work as a team to become the best (when they are not) airline -- and not just historically the best/better frequent flier program -- in delighting the customer then AA may start with a situation where they don't compromise their competitive advantage(s).