Smart Cards are the answer. And, pgupta011,
I like your new word, "botheration". Save the loyalty that airlines think they build,
but a whole new industry was just invented right here. Think of the millions of $$'s that all airlines spend in storage, computer
processing costs, people devoted to FF programs, postage and what have you. If there was a Smart Card with all one's FF info on it, then a mere swipe at your favorite airline gets you the miles. Secondly, what about the liability of award
tickets that airlines say they have? If one could use miles in any program, then the liability gets spread around. Probably "pie in the Sky", but an entreprenural giant could
take over all programs and relieve the airlines of some costs and headaches. In this wonderful world of computers it is a familiar word that most airlines are doing in one way or another.

"BOTHERATION", i LOVE IT!!!