Originally Posted by TWA Fan 1

What will the impact of the merger be on the new United Airlines?

Will the new airline look more like the UA of today, or the CO of today?

And if it will be a combination of the two, which features will survive the merger?

So far, we know that CO has adopted SWU's, a 4th elite level (PPE), and ELR. Oh, and they are dropping their marketing arrangement with American Express.

On the UA side, they added UDU, their version of EUA.

We know the airline's new livery will be the current CO colors with the United name.

We know precious little more, so I thought a little idle speculation might be fun:

1. Fleet: Which planes are most likely to go bye-bye? My vote is UA's 744, because of their general age, and CO's 762, because of their inefficiency. Will UA's large fleet of Airbus planes be retained?


This is going to be interesting. I dont think we'll just see the 744 dissapear, but I think we may see them on some new routes in the new company as there are current CO routes that could certainly handle the additional uplift such as TLV/DEL/BOM/LHR/NRT.

As for the 762, they are so new that it would be hard to understand getting rid of them anytime soon. Particularly b/c the 787 in my mind, will not be ready for the LOS/AKL routes. Regardless of that, the 762 still serves a purpose and could be used for longer thin routes from SFO/LAX to Europe or, what I could see happening is being converted to a transcon/domestic service airplane.

2. Aircraft Interiors: Although the livery is a combination of the two carriers, it seems improbable that they would apply this approach to interiors.

Personally, I find the newest UA interior to be nicer and more comfortable.

Given the debacle with CO's seat provider of choice, Koito, perhaps the decision to keep UA's interiors would be logical.


I really like the CO interior. Have not been on the newest UA interior.

4. International First: Will Smisek retain international first class? And if yes, this implies that all the current BF-equipped CO fleet would be reconfigured to F/J/Y?

I'm on the fence on this one, although I think they might keep international F on certain a/c or routes only, as many foreign carriers do.


This is going to be intersting. With CO retrofitting their fleet right now to 50 J lie-flat, would be costly again to retrofit the 777 fleet to a 3-class.

5. IFE: Here, CO has the clear advantage. The question is whether UA's domestic fleet will all be fitted with LiveTV receivers and screens or whether this deal (made by Kellner) will be scapped entirely by Smisek in favor of...something else (AVOD and WiFi?

On the overseas fleet, one would certainly hope that UA's current fleet would be fitted with CO's AVOD.


I sure hope that LIVE tv would be added to the fleet for domestic service.

6. Uniforms: Purely based on convenience and cost, one would imagine that UA's uniforms would be retained, since there are more UA employees than CO employees. Personally, I find the UA uniforms slightly spiffier...


Do we know if they really have more employees? Remember, that many of UA stations are staffed with regional employees just wearing the UA uniform. Yes I know CO is the same, but add in the hubs that are staffed by CO agents, it could possibly be kind of equal.

8. Airport Lounges: Will these end up more like the PC's or the RCC's? Will booze be free or not? Will the new carrier keep the overseas locations of the RCC's open, or shut them down and make reciprocal agreements with *A partners?


I hope that the PC's free drinks takeover the system!!

9. Which Hubs Will Gain/Suffer? ORD and IAH are pretty solid no matter what. But you have to wonder if EWR will see flight volume go down, not so much because it isn't doing well financially, but because the facility is totally maxed out. And what of DEN, CLE, SFO?


I think we know the timeline of the demise of CLE. I can't see UA giving up DEN to WN, and SFO will be a key Asian gateway that will stay around and most likely expand in the long run.

10. WE CARE: Can the new UA, in all good conscience, retain the current iteration of 1-800-WE-CARE?

12. Rhapsody in Blue:[/B] George Gershwin's classic composition has been a part of United's marketing for now three decades. It doesn't cost them a penny since a outright, perpetual license was acquired for $500,000. But does the new company retain this iconic tune? My hunch is no, that it's too identified with the old United and that it is history as well.

I like the UA music. Hope it stays.

13. Jeff Smisek Welcome Video: Some here have had a field day with Jeff Smisek's version of the by-now traditional welcome video recorded by each CO CEO since Gordon Bethune. Does the new UA retains Smisek's welcome video, however irritating it may be? My guess is yes, because Jeff Smisek wants the world to know he's the main man of the world's largest airline (I don't begrudge him that in the least, he deserves, I just wish the copy were a little less annoying).

Many of you know know a lot more about the inner workings of both airlines, and some of you know about as little as me, but, in any case, I would be curious to hear your views on the new UaCo...