Make NO mistake -- United absolutely can take the top spot in the battle of the skies, and WILL do so unless the integration is completely screwed-up. The New United's hub network blows away Delta's on O&D (or better stated, offering access between places people want to go on a nonstop basis), and as the JVs get going, New UA will have an edge over Delta in the longhaul connection game, too.

On the product front, UACO is already ahead of Delta in terms of installing lie-flats on longhaul, will feature a more consistent set of hard product offerings than Delta, and should wrap up installation earlier than Delta. New United will also feature a better domestic product once the renovations on the sUA fleet get underway, as virtually all of the UACO domestic fleet will feature DirecTV as opposed to a fraction of Delta's. Not to mention, Delta has no plans to expand Economy Comfort while United's Economy Plus will be systemwide.

While Delta is a formidable competitor, in many ways it's just a poser while The New United has the tools to be the real deal, and again offer the United States an airline it can be proud of as our winged ambassador to the world.