Originally Posted by
Cheetah_SA
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.
BA isn't the best example, though. It is correct that any of the carriers can make or change the reservation. Unfortunately, BA acts in Oneworld like Air France acts in Skyteam and Singapore acts in the Star Alliance: like they are the one and only carrier holding the whole thing together and can therefore do whatever they please. It's like the 1000 pound gorilla in the joke. BA eats where it wants. Although I was (and remain) against Swiss joining Oneworld, BA essentially killed the deal because it wouldn't allow Swiss to maintain its own frequent flyer program. Look at the recent announcement that BA wouldn't give elite miles on American starting next year.
Most of the problems with the Oneworld airlines that I have encountered were primarily caused by someone not knowing what they were doing (and occasionally me not knowing what they were doing) and misinterpreting rules. BA knows what they do and they really don't care.
I actually think that the Oneworld alliance is pretty good as far as consistency is concerned. I have a good friend that flies the Star Alliance, and she says that it's as dysfunctional as the Manson family in many respects. Oneworld is as close to a cooperative function system that you have in this industry at the moment. The Star Alliance appears to be nothing more than a cooperative marketing system with a few benefits to justify its existence.
I think that it also must be noted that the airlines in Oneworld and any other alliance are like a band of thieves. They are together to advance the interest of a common goal, but in the end, they are competitors. Take LON-BKK for example. It's served by BA, QF, RJ, AY, CX, JL and MA with one connection or less. Each of those airlines will do what they can to keep you from flying on the other airlines, irrespective of whether they are in a cooperative alliance or not.