What about this crazy idea... we've established several probable concepts... FIRST, FF programs do not give any one carrier a competitive advantage since they all have one, but not having one would place a carrier at a major disadvantage.
Second, we all at one time or another go out of our way, taking ineffecient routings or unnecessary connections to saty with our chosen carrier(s).

Now I am a Deltamaniac. Suppposed I wanted to go BOS-DEN. I could take DL via SLC,DFW, ATL or CVG. All rather inconvenient compared to a UA nonstop even though DL would upgrade me to FC. What if the majors all "code-shared" with each other? In other words, DL sends me over to UA for that BOS-DEN flight with my Platinum Medallion perks intact and accruing DL base miles. And the UA maniac that wants to fly from BOS-ATL would take a DL nonstop with his elite privileges being recognized by DL.

Advantage for customers: Quicker, more convenient trips with less connection anxiety and missed connections.

Advantage for airlines: More efficient to handle customer once without connection, costs of misconnects, less runway traffic and less airborne congestion. Airlines would be more efficient and make more $$.

In other words, reciprocal agreements amongst some or all majors to recognize each other's elites and their privileges on their nonstop routings. That would allow FFs to find the most logical routing even when their chosen carrier does not provide direct service. Pretty radical... but I think the concept has merit.

[This message has been edited by RobertS975 (edited 05-22-2002).]