US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - Prediction on Foxnews of JetBlue takeover of USAirways

Perhaps some of you caught the prediction on Foxnews Saturday morning, that JetBlue would takeover USAirways. No doubt they're talking about the USAirways assets, not employees. It was on one of the four finance shows Fox runs between 10AM and noon (Eastern time). I don't recall which of the four shows it was...either Bulls & Bears, Cavuto on Business, Forbes on Fox or Cashin' In. It was an interesting prediction. Of course you'd have to take it with quite a bit more than the proverbial grain of salt.

Take it with a major league grain of salt. After all, there are folks out there suggesting that AA takeover UA.

From an asset standpoint (assuming that the engines on the 320 series match), I don't actually see this as that much of a stretch. B6 would probably want the shuttle, the "focus cities" (PIT/DCA/BOS/CLT/FLL) and some of the stuff to the islands. They might even take the -170s.

You would be suprised how many guys in the front of JetBlue airplanes are on furlough from US.

Interesting theory - but it would probably be just for the assets (planes, gates, slots, etc.). B6 has got the brains to know they do not want to touch US's workforce en masse with a ten foot cattle prod.

Remember this is the airline that signs individual employment contracts with their pilots, employs their F/A's on time specific (two years I believe) fixed contracts, and farms out as much of their ground handling to 3rd parties as possible.

It is amazing to see people working in such horrific conditions - I wonder how they find any workers.

For what its worth the engines on the A-320's do NOT match.

Does this mean our DM's are going to turn into trueBlue points?

It was on Bulls and Bears. Tobin Smith's stock pick of the week was JetBlue. His prediction was that Jetblue will purchase US Airways and gain 50% by spring. He was pretty clear that this would be an asset purchase only.

IMO - If (or when) US Airways is liquidated, I am sure many airlines will be purchasing the assets.

I'm sure it'll be a free-for-all if US falls and its assets go on the market. The deepest pockets will get the choicest assets. I'm sure it'll bring back memories of the sad PanAm dismantling--evisceration.

If Art is correct (and I see no reason why he would not be) and the engines don't match, I don't see JetBlue buying 320 series aircraft from US in any circumstance.

Sans that, I would imagine the only thing that they'd really want is gates/slots and maybe the E-jets.

If Art is correct (and I see no reason why he would not be) and the engines don't match, I don't see JetBlue buying 320 series aircraft from US in any circumstance.


He is right. JetBlue's 320s use International Aero Engines V2500 and USAirways' use General Electric CFM56-5. Of course, if B6 could get those 320s at the right price and, perhaps, a great deal on US's engine maintenance facilities (or is that work contracted out??), I suppose the purchase might be cost effective.

He is right. JetBlue's 320s use International Aero Engines V2500 and USAirways' use General Electric CFM56-5. Of course, if B6 could get those 320s at the right price and, perhaps, a great deal on US's engine maintenance facilities (or is that work contracted out??), I suppose the purchase might be cost effective.

Not a chance in a million years that B6 would buy US A320s, even if the engines matched.

Why? A320s are not that hard to get right now, B6 has plenty of them on order with Airbus (and is taking delivery of new ones as fast as it wants to), and B6 likes that new-plane experience with the nose-to-tail warranty that has, so far, kept their maintenance expenses in check.

If B6 buys any part of U, it will be slots and gates. Nothing more.

If any other airline buys any part of U, it will be slots and gates (and nothing more).

If any other airline buys any part of U, it will be slots and gates (and nothing more).

It's been speculated that NW might like to pick up US' A330s, as they are the same engine. But that's about it for aircraft...

It was on Bulls and Bears. Tobin Smith's stock pick of the week was JetBlue. His prediction was that Jetblue will purchase US Airways and gain 50% by spring. He was pretty clear that this would be an asset purchase only.

IMO - If (or when) US Airways is liquidated, I am sure many airlines will be purchasing the assets.



If any of you watch the show regularly, you know how often "Toby" is right.

I wouldn't count on it happening based on anything he says!!

It was kind of funny to hear that though. Sort of. I feel for the Chairman w/800,000 miles. I only have about 10k in my DM account right now.

It was kind of funny to hear that though. Sort of. I feel for the Chairman w/800,000 miles. I only have about 10k in my DM account right now.

Yeah yeah, just rub it in why don't you.......

Of course I'm trying to talk the wife into a nice trip with the family to europe in First so that I can become a Chairman with only 10K in my account like you :D

JCRB, I really hope you can use all of your miles!

Of course, it would be even better if U didn't go out of business, but it ain't lookin' too good right now...

I was planning on flying on U in September, but I think I'm going to have to book my flights on Delta now. At least they have automatic upgrades, but I'm not sure how much more stable they are.

Are US' 752's RR or PW powered? HP could be interested if they match. I'm sure they'll be first in line for the LAX gates, counters, and club. SFO gates might be a target also.

Remember this is the airline that signs individual employment contracts with their pilots, ...........

It is amazing to see people working in such horrific conditions - I wonder how they find any workers.

I shared row 1 on an A330 flight with an ex-US pilot who was now a B6 pilot and he seemed quite happy with the place.

Are US' 752's RR or PW powered? HP could be interested if they match. I'm sure they'll be first in line for the LAX gates, counters, and club. SFO gates might be a target also.

I don't know how many people are going to be interested in the 757s that US has. They are old (in fact, I believe they have the first production unit, bought from Eastern).

Interesting theory - but it would probably be just for the assets (planes, gates, slots, etc.). B6 has got the brains to know they do not want to touch US's workforce en masse with a ten foot cattle prod.

Remember this is the airline that signs individual employment contracts with their pilots, employs their F/A's on time specific (two years I believe) fixed contracts, and farms out as much of their ground handling to 3rd parties as possible.

It is amazing to see people working in such horrific conditions - I wonder how they find any workers.



Apparently, according to the good folks on this thread, they search US Airways' unemployment lines! Apparently, that is where a lot of the pilots come from.

Other pilots are converts from Comair (Delta Connection), as are a bunch of their flight attendants. That comes from folks I know who are/were employed with Comair. Apparently, for Comair employees, Jet Blue is a dream job.

Does this mean our DM's are going to turn into trueBlue points?



That might actually be a good thing. Jet Blue doesn't have blackout dates on awards, right?

JCRB, I really hope you can use all of your miles!

Of course, it would be even better if U didn't go out of business, but it ain't lookin' too good right now...

I was planning on flying on U in September, but I think I'm going to have to book my flights on Delta now. At least they have automatic upgrades, but I'm not sure how much more stable they are.



Oh Lord! Sacrilige! If you want a BAD flight experience, fly Delta. Whether it stands for DON'T EXPECT TO LEAVE THE AIRPORT or DON'T EXPECT LUGGAGE TO ARRIVE, Delta is a recipe for a disasterous flight experience.

I'd recommend UA or AA instead of DL. But then again, I'm an ex-DL elite who'd now rather walk than fly DL! It just grates on my nerves every time I do.

Does this mean our DM's are going to turn into trueBlue points?

That would actually be funny because your newly converted TruePoo points would expire in 12 months.

More than likely B6 would divide mileage balances by 1000 to calculate your points. There's no way they're going to give DM members a 1:1 conversion.

Oh Lord! Sacrilige! If you want a BAD flight experience, fly Delta. Whether it stands for DON'T EXPECT TO LEAVE THE AIRPORT or DON'T EXPECT LUGGAGE TO ARRIVE, Delta is a recipe for a disasterous flight experience.

I'd recommend UA or AA instead of DL. But then again, I'm an ex-DL elite who'd now rather walk than fly DL! It just grates on my nerves every time I do.


That's funny, because I'm ex-AA elite, who'd rather walk than fly AA (or UA for that matter). I think DL has gotten alot better in the past 6 months. I've never had a problem with luggage, and haven't had many problems with delayed (and no cancelled!) flights in the past 6 mos.

Much fewer delays than UA or U by far.

That's funny, because I'm ex-AA elite, who'd rather walk than fly AA (or UA for that matter). I think DL has gotten alot better in the past 6 months. I've never had a problem with luggage, and haven't had many problems with delayed (and no cancelled!) flights in the past 6 mos.

Much fewer delays than UA or U by far.



Have you flown through Atlanta since the construction started? If not, count on delays galore. I took a cruise the first week of August, and stupid Carnival booked us on DL. I know, cruise airfare is a waste, but I wasn't the travel planner on this one.

Anyway, our flight to ATL was late, and we had to run from A concourse to D concourse to catch the connecting. We arrived 3 minutes before departure (originally more than an hour connecting time) only to find that the connection to IAH was delayed. And there was red all over the screens because of the construction and too many flights going out at the same time. We made the last cruise line shuttle by 12 minutes, even though we were supposed to have 55. And this was on a Sunday afternoon with perfect weather. I'd hate to see on a Monday morning with storms or heavy fog how the delay log would look.

But I digress. Everyone has their opinions of airlines, and most are swayed by personal experiences. For every nightmare I have with DL, you probably have a sunshine story........and vice versa for you on AA. It's the differences in people that make the world go around. Life would be pretty boring if everyone thought like me. And my AA flights would be habitually oversold while DL's went out empty.

I will agree with you on one thing. I'm assuming that your late experiences came mostly via ORD. They do need to do something about the traffic there. I know the TSA is trying.....really more like insisting. That's why I try to go via IAD (on UA) or DFW (on AA) if I can. There are way too many delay risks in connecting in ORD. It's a beautiful city, but I'll have to catch it later................like when I'm ending my destination there. =)

Apparently, according to the good folks on this thread, they search US Airways' unemployment lines! Apparently, that is where a lot of the pilots come from.

When I make it back to PIT, I happen to imbibe at a bar in the airport area.

Thus, I know a bunch of the furloughed mainline types. There are guys withi 10k+ turbine hours and A320 type ratings who, by virtue of their midatlantic training now have E-170 type ratings.

The E-190 will probably share a common type with the E-170.

Jetblue flies A320s and is on the order books for E-190s. Figure it out. I've actually rumors that some of the midatlantic folks have walked off like a month after class to do just this.

That's funny, because I'm ex-AA elite, who'd rather walk than fly AA (or UA for that matter). I think DL has gotten alot better in the past 6 months. I've never had a problem with luggage, and haven't had many problems with delayed (and no cancelled!) flights in the past 6 mos.

Much fewer delays than UA or U by far.

Although I often have one out of four flights delayed each week when I fly Delta, it is the TIME SLOT out of ATL that is the problem. Other flights on other airlines have the same delays. Of course, when there are weather delays, all airlines are pretty much created equal.

US, on the other hand, has canceled 100% of my flights BOS-PHL in the last 4 months. Yep! I am 0 for 4 with my original flights. (I fly OW each month). Since my current other alternative is AirTran, I have been trying to persevere. It is getting pretty old at this point.

Is this a joke? People must be on drugs here (I would be too if I had a big Div Miles balance).

Jetblue has no interest in US planes or employees. When US files Chapter 7, the assets (which are primarily gates and international routes, plus the shuttle) will be auctioned. I would not be surprised if Jetblue buys some gates, but they certainly won't take the planes. AA will probably get the shuttle as DL and CO have their own shuttles and UA doesn't have the cash and has only bare bones ops at DCA. And don't count out the new Virgin USA.

Would be interested to hear the speculation on the international routes. Are these planes consistently full? If so, somebody will be interested, though witness the elimination of service to STL following TWA's demise. However, PHL is a much larger market, and CLT population is growing (not to mention the general growth in NC) so the dynamics are somewhat positive.

I shared row 1 on an A330 flight with an ex-US pilot who was now a B6 pilot and he seemed quite happy with the place.

I've been accused at times on this board of being a little to subtle in my sarcasm - my earlier comment on the 'horrific' working conditions at B6 was one of these.

I have no doubt that all those junior ex-US (and UA) guys are quite happy to be working in a environment where their own job performance determines their career path as oppossed to the whims and fancies of the geezers who populate their own MEC.

Oh Lord! Sacrilige! If you want a BAD flight experience, fly Delta. Whether it stands for DON'T EXPECT TO LEAVE THE AIRPORT or DON'T EXPECT LUGGAGE TO ARRIVE, Delta is a recipe for a disasterous flight experience.
I'd recommend UA or AA instead of DL. But then again, I'm an ex-DL elite who'd now rather walk than fly DL! It just grates on my nerves every time I do.


Didn't you appreciate getting screwed, errr I mean "enhanced", by Delta? I'm also ex-Delta elite who's now 100% AA and 100% happy I made the change. As I've said before, I'd rather fly in an AA lav than a Delta seat. :)

I
I have no doubt that all those junior ex-US (and UA) guys are quite happy to be working in a environment where their own job performance determines their career path as oppossed to the whims and fancies of the geezers who populate their own MEC.

Given that he was flying home for a week while the C-5 that he normally piloted on the Rhein-Main - Baghdad run as a captain in the Air Force Reserves was being repaired (man the stories he told about those flights were really awesome ^ ), if he was a junior pilot at US one can see how he would prefer to be somewhere where he was judged on his job performance his he was obviously a pretty capable pilot.

Given that being a pilot is a rather high skill job I would be surpised if there were not a lot of pilots who were of this opinion.

During the 7pm ET hour last evening. Reported that LUV is planning to a major restructuring of schedule in order to free up planes for new routes... Looked but I couldn't find press release to support this report...

Perhaps they are preparing for a whole lotta gates to open up somewhere? :(

Boraxo:

Why are you assuming that only people on drugs make irrational decisions!
( This is not an endorsement for drug consumption). Look at our legacy airline executives. They have made plenty of irrational decisions and presumably they are not on drugs!

During the 7pm ET hour last evening. Reported that LUV is planning to a major restructuring of schedule in order to free up planes for new routes... Looked but I couldn't find press release to support this report...

Perhaps they are preparing for a whole lotta gates to open up somewhere? :(

Southwest to Shift Flights to Philadelphia (http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/040823/southwest_flights_4.html)