Originally Posted by
Flytolive
There is nothing in any U.S. major airline scope clause to prevent Bedford or other airlines from feeding network carriers' hubs as long they don't use the major's code. They can coordinate the connect times, interline the bags and allow the customer to accrue miles towards elect status and there isn't anything pilot unions currently have in their scope clauses to stop it. There is some marginal revenue lost without the code, but with the web-based distribution channels this is becoming easy way around those pesky contracts.
True, but what would Frontier be if it had SkyMiles and access to SkyTeam, or a similar arrangement with another major? As we've been told, the network matters. Further, as my wife's friend learned this weekend, if one leg of your "I saved $10 by using three different airlines" trip cancels, you're screwed.
Frankly, this could morph into something we (meaning Delta and its pilots) just could not compete with using outdated equipment and pilots at working at "the last airline job you'll ever need."