Senators fret over staff for UAL review

Bid for US Airways needs outside lawyers, lawmakers say
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum50/HTML/006201.html

I'm an outside lawyer but I think my bias against this deal would disqualify me, that and knowing just enough antitrust law to get into trouble. I note that USAToday says UA told employees it suspended planning for implementing the merger.

The silence is deafening, which probably means the lobbyists are working overtime on the politicians. They will pull out the stops, and make all kinds of deals on slots, routes, equipment, past favors, etc., to get something done. This dog may not hunt, but it won't be for lack of trying. Too much money to be made, and too good an opportunity to crush competition. Remember, this is an industry that thinks its customers are the problem.

I am available and waiting for the phone call! 6 years experience in the DOJ Antitrust Division, and waiting to be called in on this one. I could devote lots of billable hours to this one.

Djlawman

Originally posted by Djlawman:
I am available and waiting for the phone call! 6 years experience in the DOJ Antitrust Division, and waiting to be called in on this one. I could devote lots of billable hours to this one.

Djlawman

Yeah, but remember you're on gov't consulting contracts, which means crappy hourly rates, outrageously tight controls on expenses, and oversight like you would not believe.

Nonetheless, I personally feel that UA needs just the right nudge to bail out of the deal. They've already lost half the Shuttle and over 100 planes. What else are they going to have to concede to make the deal no longer worth it?

In any busted deal, the next offer is usually lower. So you might as well cut the price. The institutions will figure they dodged a bullet, and let it happen. Then you warehouse the Shuttle with a friendly third party and have some deal to come back for it later (remember, the Baby Bells were never going to be in the long distance business, right?), and you threaten to shut important operations like res offices and maintenance facilities (it's a little like getting a new stadium after the first turndown). Before long, the politicians are crowing about the public interest benefits of doing it. What the hell, they get complimentary upgrades anyway.