I've managed to remove myself for the most part from the UA vs CO war that rages in here mostly because there's no right or wrong in that debate (for obvious reasons people feel passionate about their respective loyalties.)

Generally speaking I guess you'd say I was a CO loyalist--been a customer for years but didn't really have an opinion one way or another about the merge.

But I have to say, Smisek's a bit out of touch with reality. I think he's trying to sell himself as the new Sir Richard Branson by becoming the public face of the airline. One bit of advice, Jeff: you're no Branson.

My skin crawls every time that safety video comes on and I can't help but think 'why on earth would any of the people in this plane give a holy hell that you're the new CEO? they just want to get from point a to point b'

That and his 'brilliant' graphic design of the new logo. Am I missing something? Was there a new design? Sure looks like the old logo to me with UNITED attached to it. How many sleepless nights were spent on that that he felt the need to come out and pat himself on the back about his extraordinary graphic design skills? BTW, I work in the design business and that, Jeff, is not a logo to brag about. Slightly dated.

Excited about the possibilities of the merger but sick to death already of his smug mug and wish he'd go hide away in a room somewhere and try and focus on the airline itself and less on his public persona.

Rant end.