I heard from an insider (CO employee) who is currently in Abu Dhabi that Continental and Etihad are currently in discussions about a code-share agreement and the possibility of Etihad's joining Sky Team at some point in the future.

If true, this would be excellent news. I salivate at the mere thought of being able to redeem CO miles for Etihad's outstanding biz product. Their network isn't too shabby, either.

Tops! Although I wonder what EK thinks about that deal.

I had always heard (via the A.net and FT rumor mill) that the CO-EK alliance is purely a marriage of convenience (much like CO-VS). It has long been rumored that CO would much prefer to send its own aircraft nonstop to DXB out of EWR, but lacks the widebodies to do so. Additionally, EK doesn't seem to be too keen on joining an alliance. They're funded well enough that they can just spend their way towards clobbering all the major international players (BA, SQ, LH, etc...).

I think CO would jump at the chance to have a partnership with a M.E. airline with excellent service, and a good route-network, that wouldn't necessarily be looking to stab CO in the back at its first convenience.

If CO partners up with Etihad, I would imagine that the EK arrangement would suffer a quick death...much like the CO-VS tie-up would unravel the moment CO gets LHR landing rights.

Since I rack up the miles on CO, and spend on EK and VS I would be disappointed.

This new tie up would suit me. I have been taking EK JFK-DXB 3 times this year in paid F. Earning CO miles but no EQM's or bonus. I would gladly take F on Etihad. They have a new fantastic product.

Why on earth are you banking your EK flight RDMs with NonePass? Bank your miles with EK, get elite status there, miles that can be used on many more quality partner airlines in far-flung areas of the world, etc...

It would be excellent if CO does partner up with Ethiad. At Thanksgiving I flew JFK-AMS-DXB on KLM which was great (even in economy). Currently you get base miles on Ek but no EQM unless it is a code share flight.

Direct flights to DXB and EQM for doing it = lots more weekend trips to the UAE.

Going to Dubai for weekend trips is so popular in the UK (where I am from orginally) seems this market is underserved from EWR for skyteam. IMHO. :-)