Originally Posted by noah
I assume this is the case. Perhaps this is also related to the ways in which it is difficult/impossible to upgrade when flying the "other" carrier -- i.e as a US elite flying US, I automatically upgrade into F, but you can't do it on US and when I fly UA I can't upgrade without paying $.
Incentivization is also key. I wonder if we'll ever see a time when you get different EQMs when flying partner airlines, like 95% or 90% on US as another form. I hope not (but see the way NW flyers get 50% EQM on discount-YCO fares whereby CO flyers, who book at the website, get 100%).
I thank everyone for their comments. The whole idea of incentivizing doesn't make sense when UAL sells flights via their website on USair. What is the point of having a partnership with USAir and using them to supply product to customers like me but treat it as second rate? That doesn't make sense to me. I think it is bad business practice.