Randy Petersen has a new post up on his blog, imagining what an America West-USAirways tie-up would mean for integration of the two airlines’ frequent flyer programs.

He believes a merger or acquisition would be on the whole good for members

• miles would be far safer
  
• integration would happen over a couple of years with reciprocal space available upgrades for elites introduced quickly
  
• new redemption options would be introduced
  
• partners would be streamlined so some current relationships would disappear