Very interesting points Irishguy, and I agree. cant see how rejoining Oneworld gets EI meaningfully more business that a tight alliance within IAG and with AA

if I could get unlimited reciprocal tier recognition on IAG and AA, I could live with that (recognition only on partner flights sold by EI would be almost useless to me).

i hate that, right now, as soon as I step outside aer lingus’s footprint (which is good regionally, but very small globally), I get nothing. AA and IAG tier benefits would, as you say, go a long way in getting around the world easily and I imagine would be accretive to IAG and AA overall as high tier /activity members direct more of their non-EI spend their way.

this is why I’m seriously considering switching to BA. I prefer EI, but it’s just such a pain getting no benefits on other airlines and it makes the non EI long haul flights I take nightmarishly expensive as without status on any airline I have to reach into my wallet and pay for business class, lounges, priority and whatnot to avoid misery