Originally Posted by
QRC3288
I understand the spirit (and what Percy is saying too), but I think the take is a bit harsh and one sided.If this thread proves anything, and what I think the naysayers overlook, it is that value can be created by dangling a benefit in front of people to be earned. The posts above make quite clear travelers will steer money a certain direction - in this case, to the BA ecosystem somehow - if they see a prize at the end.
Bear in mind that the very nature of the air travel industry and the international nature of many of our personal and business lives means that the topic is much more nuanced than a simple cost-benefit analysis. For example, the carrot that BA dangled in front of me didn't steer much money in their direction - the prime beneficiaries were actually CX and MH. For an equivalent North American based BAEC member it would have been AA and AS as the main benficiaries. Yes, BA get some indirect benefit as these airlines buy points from them to credit the FF miles, but that's it.