What are the odds of the *A starting a stand alone scheme rather than the current mixture offered by the airlines? - I'm guessing very slim.

If they did do this would it be popular?

Do you mean an all-encompassing '*A Frequent Flyer Programme'?

I agree that the chances are slim. On the one hand, it could expand 'useability' of the Alliance; I mean, how much do members travel on 'other' partners than their own? It would be interesting to have the statistics.

On the other hand, though, it would probably mean that every benefit was reduced to the lowest common denominator, so that things that your own programme can do for you now at a 'cheaper' rate than the *A charge -- think, for example, of award tickets -- would rise to a generally higher level.

cheers,

Henry

That's what I mean, I agree it is likely to lower some of the 'benefits' but boy would it make it easier

I don't think it could ever happen - I can't see UA's M+ (as an example) suddenly having to have hugely more restrictive rules and policies than they currently do - they'd face a revolt from their members who will desert in droves to the plentiful other "easier" FF options available in North Am.
By the same token, SQ (as example) won't in a pink fit accept the "give away the farm" mentality of say UA's scheme policies - or, I daresay, come anywhere close to accepting a middle of the road compromise.

I think the current direction the partners are heading (integrated rewards/earning, integrated upgrades on all other partners etc) has potential to be a quasi alliance wide scheme. As those sort of initiative's mature and develop, along with IATA initiatives like easier E-Ticket handling between carriers etc, each carrier can offer a alliance-wide scheme, but under the policies and rules that suit each partner and it's business model/market requirements best.

One likely development that could occur is an integration of schemes that cover a "home base region", along the lines of the current M&M conglomerate of LH OS LO LX etc. I can't really see SQ and TG combining ROP and Kris, but I could see UA US AC creating one huge combined FF entity and I can see SK folding their scheme into M&M as examples.

Interesting. Here in the Frozen North we're just watching, waiting for LH to simply buy SAS and put it out of its misery.

cheers,

Henry