No frills alliance

Aer Lingus and JetBlue have announced what they call a ticket-booking alliance. As Upgrade : Travel Better notes, it isn't much compared to the traditional big three alliances (One World, Sky Team and Star Alliance).

However it is a start, and I think a first for what has been whispered for a while now - an alliance between low cost carriers. The traditional alliances are expensive (indeed that is the reason Aer Lingus is leaving One World 31 March 2007). So I wonder what might a no frills alliance look like?

• codeshares - eventually in order to most easily expand the destinations reached by an airline, otherwise there is little point in having an alliance
• frequent flyer status benefits - forget about it, no low cost airline has frequent flyer status recognition
• frequent flyer mileage accrual on partner flights - I suspect not since not all no frills airlines have a frequent flyer program, but could work on the codeshares
• frequent flyer mileage redemption on partner flights - again only on the codeshares
• aligned flight schedules - probably only between hubs rather than other points served by networks due to the low cost airlines' desire for maximum flexibility for their own operations
• aligned network - yes as this lowers the cost of serving remote or small destinations
• joint marketing and promotions - no
• interlined baggage (ie checked through when connecting to another airline) - while this would be great for passengers, I can only see this happening for the few low cost airlines that already provide interline baggage

What do you think?