Why doesn't IAG standardise on OneWorld and other benefits?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Arizona
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Why doesn't IAG standardise on OneWorld and other benefits?
After reading many threads over the months which lead to general confusion by passengers, I still don't understand why all IAG carriers don't join OneWorld, and why IAG thinks it is better to have so many inconsistencies?
Examples:
Note, I do not believe IAG should standardise on a revenue based loyalty programme, so I've left that out of the above suggestions.
So, the purpose of this thread is to discuss reasons, perhaps make a list of inconsistencies and maybe persuade IAG to eventually improve in this area.
Examples:
- Tier points on a VY flight are only earned if it is BA marketed, not if it is IB marketed, or similar with EI
- VY and EI don't have a club europe cabin, making shorthaul connections more limited when flying on longhaul premium routes
- Lounge access inconsistencies (in particular lounge access for Aer Lingus and Vueling flights)
- Level flights don't earn tier points (isn't it punishment enough to travel on Level as it is?)
Note, I do not believe IAG should standardise on a revenue based loyalty programme, so I've left that out of the above suggestions.
So, the purpose of this thread is to discuss reasons, perhaps make a list of inconsistencies and maybe persuade IAG to eventually improve in this area.
#2
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
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Interesting thread but perhaps better suited to the oneworld forum?
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/oneworld-411/
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/oneworld-411/
#3
Original Poster
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Interesting thread but perhaps better suited to the oneworld forum?
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/oneworld-411/
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/oneworld-411/
More seriously though, I think the current situation has the biggest impact on BAEC members, but I could be wrong. Happy to have it moved if others agree.
#4
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,676
I'll bite on the discussion.
Each airline has to choose to market itself and spend it's money as it sees fit. Why would you force an airline to spend money it doesn't need to? If the airlines feel they need more OneWorld travellers - they'd join OneWorld.
Each airline has to choose to market itself and spend it's money as it sees fit. Why would you force an airline to spend money it doesn't need to? If the airlines feel they need more OneWorld travellers - they'd join OneWorld.
#5
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I think OW is a bit of a joke. Actually all the alliances are. They project a picture of seamless cohesion, but in actual fact they are widely divergent on service offerings and cross-programme recognition. *A probably does it best (but realise that LH FCT or SQ Private Room are not interested in *G), and you have cheap status carriers like A3 making the playing field very uneven. There is currently a lot of noise about CX leaving OW, and QF already plays nicer with EK than with BA...I wouldn't get my hopes up for more OW integration.
#6
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Walsh is on record as saying that alliances won't last so I would not hold my breat.
oh course the simple answer is a OWE in a 29:99 VY ticket costing IAG 50 in airport fees, taxes, lounge consumption, priority fees and additional Avios etc before even boarding the aircraft, does not make economic sense.
oh course the simple answer is a OWE in a 29:99 VY ticket costing IAG 50 in airport fees, taxes, lounge consumption, priority fees and additional Avios etc before even boarding the aircraft, does not make economic sense.
#7
Original Poster
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I think OW is a bit of a joke. Actually all the alliances are. They project a picture of seamless cohesion, but in actual fact they are widely divergent on service offerings and cross-programme recognition. *A probably does it best (but realise that LH FCT or SQ Private Room are not interested in *G), and you have cheap status carriers like A3 making the playing field very uneven. There is currently a lot of noise about CX leaving OW, and QF already plays nicer with EK than with BA...I wouldn't get my hopes up for more OW integration.
Walsh is on record as saying that alliances won't last so I would not hold my breat.
oh course the simple answer is a OWE in a 29:99 VY ticket costing IAG 50 in airport fees, taxes, lounge consumption, priority fees and additional Avios etc before even boarding the aircraft, does not make economic sense.
oh course the simple answer is a OWE in a 29:99 VY ticket costing IAG 50 in airport fees, taxes, lounge consumption, priority fees and additional Avios etc before even boarding the aircraft, does not make economic sense.
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Apart from the annual membership fee, there are also costs associated with integrating with dozens airlines across the globe.
As for inconsistencies, I think most passengers would have no idea that EI, VY, BA, and IB have a common owner. They are deliberately distinct brands.
Last edited by Calchas; Dec 19, 2017 at 1:39 pm
#9
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I know that there is a cost associated with having an airline be part of OneWorld and providing these benefits, but they have the same parent company. Wouldn't it greatly simplify things overall for IAG if BA, IB, EI, VY, and Level were treated the same from the perspective of OneWorld benefits, tier points, shorthaul business class cabin, and lounge access?
Worth the cost? Probably not.
EI is the best example. The inter-relations needed between airline systems to allow an alliance to work are large and complex, so when they left oneworld they shut it all down and went 'pseudo-Ryanair-style' for a semi-standalone system. Now they're in IAG, they're having to work through a mountain of issues to build the systems required to do it again, and it's such a headache that they're seriously considering stopping... or they would, if it weren't a pre-requisite for joining the JB.
Fast-forward to VY... is it worth all this, just to give a few DYKWIAs access to a lounge? I don't work for them or have the numbers... but given their relative average fare and the market in which they're competing, I very much doubt it.
#10
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Everyone accepts VS as a member of the (formerly) Sky Team JV without it being a member of any alliance. What is the difference with EI?
#11
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You are the second person to say that ... but I have not been able to find any evidence for this pre-requisite. I am genuinely interested but there is only so many hours an employed man can spend in DoJ documents without causing his colleagues a good deal of concern.
Everyone accepts VS as a member of the (formerly) Sky Team JV without it being a member of any alliance. What is the difference with EI?
Everyone accepts VS as a member of the (formerly) Sky Team JV without it being a member of any alliance. What is the difference with EI?
#12
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Simplify = yes.
Worth the cost? Probably not.
EI is the best example. The inter-relations needed between airline systems to allow an alliance to work are large and complex, so when they left oneworld they shut it all down and went 'pseudo-Ryanair-style' for a semi-standalone system. Now they're in IAG, they're having to work through a mountain of issues to build the systems required to do it again, and it's such a headache that they're seriously considering stopping... or they would, if it weren't a pre-requisite for joining the JB.
Fast-forward to VY... is it worth all this, just to give a few DYKWIAs access to a lounge? I don't work for them or have the numbers... but given their relative average fare and the market in which they're competing, I very much doubt it.
Worth the cost? Probably not.
EI is the best example. The inter-relations needed between airline systems to allow an alliance to work are large and complex, so when they left oneworld they shut it all down and went 'pseudo-Ryanair-style' for a semi-standalone system. Now they're in IAG, they're having to work through a mountain of issues to build the systems required to do it again, and it's such a headache that they're seriously considering stopping... or they would, if it weren't a pre-requisite for joining the JB.
Fast-forward to VY... is it worth all this, just to give a few DYKWIAs access to a lounge? I don't work for them or have the numbers... but given their relative average fare and the market in which they're competing, I very much doubt it.
You are the second person to say that ... but I have not been able to find any evidence for this pre-requisite. I am genuinely interested but there is only so many hours an employed man can spend in DoJ documents without causing his colleagues a good deal of concern.
Everyone accepts VS as a member of the (formerly) Sky Team JV without it being a member of any alliance. What is the difference with EI?
Everyone accepts VS as a member of the (formerly) Sky Team JV without it being a member of any alliance. What is the difference with EI?
#13
Join Date: Mar 2013
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If VY and EI do not find it in their interest to provide those benefits to you, why would they incentivise you to travel with them?
#14
Join Date: Oct 2006
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I would say be careful what you wish for. The biggest issue would be lounge access on low cost intra-Europe routes. The easy solution would be to remove it from all IAG carriers up to and including band 3. Introduce same rule that BA has about no additional status luggage on HBO fares and you have probably just saved the IAG Group a lot of money and now all its airlines can afford to be OW members.
That addresses the OPs concerns about TP/Avios earning, but I sense it might not be everyones optimum solution!
That addresses the OPs concerns about TP/Avios earning, but I sense it might not be everyones optimum solution!