Originally Posted by lincolnjkc

UA's relationship with EI has always been incredibly odd, IMO, even relative to other not-*A-but-partner airlines (e.g. Air Link in South Africa and Azul in Brazil)

For example

• Not that I've tried particularly hard, I've never gotten UA to fare quote a revenue ticket including an EI segment but they will frequently quote MP tickets on the same O/D pair that include a multitude of EI options (frequently among the cheapest and most sensible)
• ex-CLE, for CLE-DUB EI contracts with UA for club access on a pay-per-passenger basis for the J cabin only but UA neither applies a UA codeshare nor allows UA club members to access the club on the basis of an EI boarding pass (obviously I wouldn't expect *G to apply but I was a bit surprised that even as a paid member the answer is no)

Although as an IAG subsidiary OW would make the most sense EI seems to be trying for a pseudo-LCC model and there are advantages both to EI as standalone entity and IAG to having a "free agent" available, particularly given DUB's physical location.

If/when EI did go the full OW route I would agree that UA's relationship, such as it is, would end along the same timeframe.