This paper describes various parameters influencing oxidation kinetics, oxide's morphology and spallation phenomena encountered while studying nickel aluminides in high temperature oxidation. Questions are raised about the possibility of making precise lifetime or failure predictions of coatings and TBCs systems. Changes in growth mechanism due to the presence of elements other than Ni and Al in nickel-aluminide base coatings, the effect of atmosphere, particularly water vapor, and the effect of surface preparation and of crystallographic orientation are the main parameters discussed in this work.