This is already being discussed over on the AA forum, but in case you dont want to wander over there, here's the link.
http://www.flightglobal.com/news/art...-talks-376417/

As a few others have already said, interesting times ahead.

I'm glad I hold AA and QF status

I am glad emirates are adding partners!!!

YES!!!!!!

Interesting, indeed. I find it interesting how Clark said they wouldn't ask AA to sever ties with Etihad either. Would be quite odd to have AA a partner of both EK and EY.

An AA link-up does make perfect sense, however. EK already does have some limited participation with AA since 2008. AA is partners with AS, and EK just joined up with AS. And, clearly QF and AA are very tied together. So, EK and AA/QF/AS, its like one big happy family.

Even though EK doesn't want to be in any sort of alliance, they sure have set their stake in the ground of the alliance they would be in if they chose to be in one.

I noticed that Clark referenced reciprocal frequent flyer benefits. I know this means earning (since every single AA codeshare flight earns the same as AA metal in AAdvantage), but does also it mean redeeming miles and/or benefits such as priority check-in/boarding/lounge access?

Redemption especially would be a joke (in a good way for AA members, and in a bad way for Skywards members) since the cost to redeem USA-DXB in J/F is much lower in AAdvantage than in Skywards. Then again, the same cost disparity exists between Etihad Guest and AAdvantage, and that hasn't stopped AA and EY from allowing redemptions on each others' flights.

I'm about to lose my Silver card but if I could earn AA EQMs/EQPs on DFW-DXB, you might see me on more EK flights again!

How does this tie in with the B6 partnership. They won't be too amused by this unless the destinations/regions served will differ.

Not sure, but I don't think it would be much of an issue since AA has a codeshare agreement and FF partnership with B6 as well.

That is true. AA reduced BOS market share and B6 gained some when AA BA JV was approaved. Then AA signed codeshare with B6 as B6 is very strong in some leisure markets e.g. Fort Lauderdale as well as a big JFK presence. Also B6 is taking over SJU slowly. Ideally if Merge happens to AA, AA would prefer B6 over US.

If EK can land AA then the B6 partnership is less of a necessity. However, as pointed out AA and B6 already are partners.

The bigger problem with B6 is the lack of a premium cabin, other than their economy plus. That lack of premium cabin likely doesn't go over too well with premium cabin EK passengers and AA offers a reasonable alternative.

Which EK CEO said that EK was not interested in joining any alliance? The former one or Tim Clark?

It was El Presidente Clark. But he's also a master politician remember. Soon he'll be starting to kiss babies on the head...

Thanks! I had impression that it was from Al Baker but doubted myself.

Well let us see whether EK and BA were in talks or not since both EK and AA can hide from the spotlight about this potential codeshare deal for a while!

Great news / speculation. I doubt it will happen though. No scientific / concrete reason, just a 'too good to be true' feeling.

EK will need to be cautious on this one. The domestic US market throws up all kinds of oddities. Look at how easy it is to obtain elite BA status by flying AA domestic F on KUP fares; if that happened with EK you'd see a monumental amount of extra Golds.

You cannot earn tier miles on EK flying partners, so you're not going to see a bunch of extra Golds.