Well......
I do believe that I have elaborated several times over the years why I do/did NOT like Swissair and what they have "done" to me. If it concerns you so greatly, please feel free to use the search feature.
The lounge worker is INCORRECT, digisup. Once again using the search feature either here or on the web will show that DL told SR that they were welcome to join Skyteam (even before it had that name) SR basically felt that they would be threatened by AF and that they were "too good" for the alliance, so did not stay (or rather join) the alliance.
The new Swiss has gone BEGGING on at least two occasions to Skyteam since its inception and has been told flatly that it would not be welcome. Ironically for similar reasons to that which BA cited.