Put me down as a firm OW cynic.

When you buy a OW ticket you are told any OW desk can effect the changes you are entitled to make in terms of the rules. But just try to get one of them to make any changes. I have just asked my TA to change the date/time of the last flight on an AONE ticket. Since the flight is on BA I gave her the BA reference number. BA told her that since the ticket was issued on CX paper she must ask them to make the change! It just beggars belief.

The only benefit of alliances that I can discern is the ability to earn status while using a number of airlines. But since I travel in F or J mostly, even status perks are confined to a few extra miles and occasional lounge access.