bocastephen

Hahaha! A morning laugh...thank you so much, Doug. Let's look at some reasons why such a merger would be a bad thing and why Delta shouldn't be in the slightest bit interested.

1) US has positioned itself as a 'full service discount carrier', with 'full service' being more concept than practice. That is not the marketing niche Delta is investing to target.

2) Delta is investing millions to refresh its cabins, improve the appearance and quality of its product, and is trying to reposition itself as a premier quality full service airline (hopefully not too late), and is gunning for the only other carrier that stands at the top of the pyramid - Continental. US is making no such investment, and many of its aircraft and service delivery initiatives are off the low end of the chart quality wise, and is gunning for the bottom of the pyramid - Northwest.

3) US, apparently never learning its lesson from the customer backlash it suffered when post 9/11 "only Y fare customers deserve to be elites", is currently on a tear to destroy the benefits and features of its own FF program, and is also removing seats from FC.

4) If Delta's improvements are not too little too late, it has no reason to want to merge with another carrier (especially a smaller and lesser one) as the bride - a couple years from now, it may decide to be the groom and go shopping for a merger partner of its own or be quite happy being profitable on its own.