View Poll Results: Is an American Airlines/US Airways merger good for the traveling public?
Yes
84
28.19%
No
214
71.81%
Voters: 298. You may not vote on this poll
Nov 12, 2013, 2:24 pm
Last edit by: aztimm
Note:
There is an existing thread in the AA forum that may be useful to US and AA Flyertalkers:
US-AA Merger: Just the Facts thread
As facts become posted, that should be the place to look.
Merger discussion, speculation, and other questions can be directed here, or the similar thread in the AA forum:
MERGER: US and AA 9 Dec 2013 and implications for AA flyers (new)
AA - US Merger Agreement / Announcement / DOJ Action Discussion (consolidated, and now closed to new posts)
There is an existing thread in the AA forum that may be useful to US and AA Flyertalkers:
US-AA Merger: Just the Facts thread
As facts become posted, that should be the place to look.
Merger discussion, speculation, and other questions can be directed here, or the similar thread in the AA forum:
MERGER: US and AA 9 Dec 2013 and implications for AA flyers (new)
AA - US Merger Agreement / Announcement / DOJ Action Discussion (consolidated, and now closed to new posts)
US/AA merger- MASTER DISCUSSION THREAD/incl 'when will US leave STAR'
Jul 28, 2013, 7:31 pm
#1096
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: CAE,AGS
Programs: AAExP, Hyatt Globalist, HHonors Gold, IHG Spire, Marriott Plat
Posts: 3,124
Such outrage over setting status top-offs! Because there are no shortcuts at AA. if you get status, you EARN it, of course. Every AA MM/2MM got that way from actually flying, and not from dragging dollar coins to the bank.....
There was an earlier post along the lines of "we can argue all day about whose pig has the brightest lipstick. But at the end of the day, it's still a pig."
There was an earlier post along the lines of "we can argue all day about whose pig has the brightest lipstick. But at the end of the day, it's still a pig."
Jul 29, 2013, 8:48 am
#1097
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 462
As a lowly silver (appx. 40k/year) I'm most interested to hear what happens to me - all US CP's and AA Plat I'm sure will be just fine. Sounds like my tier on American is relatively useless with no upgrades so am wondering if upgrades will be done at my level on the new American or if they will keep that piece from US Airways.
Jul 29, 2013, 10:06 am
#1098
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Park, CO
Programs: Tegridy Elite
Posts: 5,678
While it may be a controversial program, it's quite possibly more profitable to sell the status uplift than to sell a cheap transcon to someone who is short of the next level qualifications. If you sell just the uplift, that leaves the actual flight(s) still available for another passenger to buy. With loads and fares being what they are, the "trashy" "laughable" program may generate more profit. And make no mistake: profit will still be king.
So I'm genuinely interested in seeing if it survives.
So I'm genuinely interested in seeing if it survives.
It's interesting that so much of the arguments on things like elite programs, earn/burn, hard product onboard, etc. center on how AA and US operate today. A few of the AA cheerleaders in particular seem convinced the new entity will be a simple continuation of the status quo on AA.
While not everything will change overnight, I'd bet that plenty of things will be different at the end of the day and the new entity will be some blend of both....probably the "worst of both worlds" given the COdbaUA track record
In any case, those who state authoritatively that the new AA "won't" or "would be stupid to" do such-and-such, are talking out of their hat.
Jul 29, 2013, 11:18 am
#1099
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: in the vicinity of SFO
Programs: AA 2MM (LT-PLT, PPro for this year)
Posts: 19,781
Quite a few lifetime GLD/PLT are hoping that they just bump gold to the 50k tier, PLT to the 75k, and keep the US designation of Silver for the lowest.
Sounds like my tier on American is relatively useless with no upgrades so am wondering if upgrades will be done at my level on the new American or if they will keep that piece from US Airways.
IMO the lack of unlimited domestic upgrades is a feature, not a bug; while it adds some cost ($150-$180 each way on a transcon) it means that rather than everybody trying for every upgrade, there's a slightly better chance of getting one when you really want it.
Jul 29, 2013, 12:18 pm
#1100
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: DCA
Programs: AA PPro, Mariott Ambassador, B6 Mosaic, SBUX Gold, Best Buy Elite
Posts: 1,838
I am sure in this scenario that lifetime GLD/PLTs would get knocked down to Silver/Gold.
Jul 29, 2013, 2:35 pm
#1101
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: in the vicinity of SFO
Programs: AA 2MM (LT-PLT, PPro for this year)
Posts: 19,781
Given the language they've used at AA, I don't think "OK, now you're lifetime silver rather than lifetime gold" (or gold/platinum) is likely to happen.
The old wording was quite clear: " Plus, your new Million Miler status entitles you to AAdvantage Gold membership for the lifetime of the AAdvantage Gold program, regardless of your annual elite-qualifying activity."
Jul 29, 2013, 3:10 pm
#1102
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
Indeed. Neither airline is in business to please elites, have the best [insert thing here], or even to fly airplanes. They're in business to make money - flying passenger planes and the related accoutrements just happens to be the means to an end. And they will do whatever they think will maximize profit.
Think airlines. Here a durable competitive advantage has proven
elusive ever since the days of the Wright Brothers. Indeed, if a
farsighted capitalist had been present at Kitty Hawk, he would have
done his successors a huge favor by shooting Orville down
.elusive ever since the days of the Wright Brothers. Indeed, if a
farsighted capitalist had been present at Kitty Hawk, he would have
done his successors a huge favor by shooting Orville down
As of 1992...the money that had been made since the dawn of
aviation by all of this country's airline companies was zero.
Absolutely zero
aviation by all of this country's airline companies was zero.
Absolutely zero
It's interesting that so much of the arguments on things like elite programs, earn/burn, hard product onboard, etc. center on how AA and US operate today. A few of the AA cheerleaders in particular seem convinced the new entity will be a simple continuation of the status quo on AA.
While not everything will change overnight, I'd bet that plenty of things will be different at the end of the day and the new entity will be some blend of both....probably the "worst of both worlds" given the COdbaUA track record In any case, those who state authoritatively that the new AA "won't" or "would be stupid to" do such-and-such, are talking out of their hat.
While not everything will change overnight, I'd bet that plenty of things will be different at the end of the day and the new entity will be some blend of both....probably the "worst of both worlds" given the COdbaUA track record
In any case, those who state authoritatively that the new AA "won't" or "would be stupid to" do such-and-such, are talking out of their hat.
Jul 29, 2013, 4:03 pm
#1103
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: New York
Programs: AA EXP 1.0mm, not sure where I am with hotels these days
Posts: 2,795
Not true, FL access domestically only on F JFK, LAX, MIA transcons ( paid, saver or upgraded). CK are eligible for Flagship check-in at JFK, LAX, And ORD (and either MIA or DFW - cant remember.
Last edited by george 3; Jul 29, 2013 at 4:11 pm
Jul 29, 2013, 4:05 pm
#1104
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: New York
Programs: AA EXP 1.0mm, not sure where I am with hotels these days
Posts: 2,795
OMG, I had to check my URL quickly. For a moment I thought I was on A-Net !! Really, bashing the US FF program and US Airways is a bit off topic in this Forum since most of us have used it and loved it for years. Further, buying miles provides access to all Star Alliance carriers, not just US Airways.
Parker is Not Horton and I'd bet the New AA will Not be the Old AA, as much as the AA Fan Boys would like it to be.
Parker is Not Horton and I'd bet the New AA will Not be the Old AA, as much as the AA Fan Boys would like it to be.
Jul 29, 2013, 4:07 pm
#1105
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,391
Not if you're a US Silver; their upgrade percentages can actually be OK. They'll probably get hosed pretty hard in a (mostly) pay-to-play system where they will be fighting against AA/US Golds and Plats for the crumbs the EPs and CPs let drop off of the table.
Jul 29, 2013, 5:50 pm
#1106
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: in the vicinity of SFO
Programs: AA 2MM (LT-PLT, PPro for this year)
Posts: 19,781
Given the relative fleet sizes and number of elites out there, they'd be hosed on AA-flyer-heavy routes pretty hard even if (HPdba)USdbaAA gets rid of paid 500 mile upgrades.
Jul 29, 2013, 6:03 pm
#1107
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Park, CO
Programs: Tegridy Elite
Posts: 5,678
If that were so, they'd stop flying planes and start being an investment bank. To quote Warren Buffet:
The new airline probably won't be exactly like either, but, you can make some pretty good guesses by looking at who has been placed in charge of various parts. So far it's not looking especially good for those who like AAdvantage.
Think airlines. Here a durable competitive advantage has proven
elusive ever since the days of the Wright Brothers. Indeed, if a
farsighted capitalist had been present at Kitty Hawk, he would have
done his successors a huge favor by shooting Orville down
.elusive ever since the days of the Wright Brothers. Indeed, if a
farsighted capitalist had been present at Kitty Hawk, he would have
done his successors a huge favor by shooting Orville down
As of 1992...the money that had been made since the dawn of
aviation by all of this country's airline companies was zero.
Absolutely zero
aviation by all of this country's airline companies was zero.
Absolutely zero
The new airline probably won't be exactly like either, but, you can make some pretty good guesses by looking at who has been placed in charge of various parts. So far it's not looking especially good for those who like AAdvantage.
Yes, of course everyone in the world should only be in the one or two most profitable industries. The point is that none of the airlines are in it for the good of frequent flyers and elites. It's a business, for better or worse.
Jul 29, 2013, 6:42 pm
#1108
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 7
This may have already been covered but I didn't want to dig through 71 pages to try and find out. If I have a *A award booked for January 1st and us leaves *A before than am I SOL if I need to make a change within my itinerary?
Jul 30, 2013, 2:53 am
#1109
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: PHL
Programs: AA Executive Platinum; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,663
Basically, I think you will have to deal with the operating carriers directly.
Jul 30, 2013, 4:55 am
#1110
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: VCE
Posts: 14,165
If the BMI exit from * alliance is anything to judge by, in a short answer YES.