Single OW Programme Card
 

It would be great if somebody could confirm the following report, although I think this 'news' report is a little supect:

New OneWorld Frequent Flyer card Airlines in the OneWorld alliance are considering the introduction of a single OneWorld frequent flyer card to replace the cards of the individual member's frequent flyer programs.

http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/gazette/july05.htm

Having a common look card, yet separate programmes would certainly boost oneworld's image.

Why not just make the coloured spot in the bottom right corner a tad larger? That's all the uniformity that's needed. Those that need / want to know will get the message from that alone.

I agree, however didn't they make the OW spot on the QF cards smaller the other year?

I can't imagine that they would merge all the programs into a single program as implied - too much loss of control over marketing and liability - there could be regional consolidation (ie merge the European programs) but even that seems unlikely.

I for one want to get to MM status with AA so don't want changes.

Of course they could merge the lounge programs or expand access so I could use my QF Club membership on all Oneworld airlines not just QF/BA/AA.

I don't think that was actually implied in the arcticle. I very much got the impression that our FF cards would all look the same rather than the programmes being physically merged.

Well there is at least a cultural barrier to overcome - eg in UK (and until recently) Austrlalia Gold is/was seen as the highest level, while in the US Platinum (and EXP) is seen as of higher status than gold. The only other alternative would be to go to Emerald/Sapphire/Ruby for the entire card (rather than just the circle) but each of those does not necessarily hold the same cache in different cultures.

Very true, but it would certainly be a good differentiator between OW and other programmes.

I am still of the opinion that the news article is suspect.

sorry i like my Diamond, never mind those other lower level precious metals and stones..

I can't see the business logic in having just one program for all member airlines - each has its own regional quirks which usually results for a vested interest for the carrier on question. An advantage none of them would want to give up methinks.

As QF Hammer said in post #5, the article mentions a common card design, not a uniform FFP across partners.

But as QF Hammer also points out in post #7, the source doesn't appear to be the most reliable. ;)

(I concur the colored dots could just be made bigger. I kinda like seeing different designs, to show that airlines serving different markets can agree to a set of common useful privileges for their elites.)