Originally Posted by Fly AA J all the way
I was wondering if/how they do this. If they don't, what is to stop someone from getting creative with photoshop, making phony status on one carrier, and then asking their carrier of choice for a match? For example, copy the page of a UA 1P, photoshop the name and ff number, as well as that same friend's card, then send them off to CO to become CO gold. I can't believe that the airlines have not thought of this, and prevented it.
AFICT, the only case in which validation would be feasible is intra-alliance/partnership because no companies generally don't reveal info about their best customers to their competitors, if they can help it. Furthermore, since intra-alliance comps are kind of taboo, I'm inclined to conclude that they don't verify anything.