As for FF programs...well DL is DL and I'm with Spiff on the fact that I take great pride in the fact that I'm a former (well ALMOST former as of the end of next month) PM who went cold turkey in 12/02 and hasn't looked back since. If your employer ponies up for full-fare tix you'll love DL's program - of course anyone flying on full-fare tix would love ANYONE's FF program these days.

On a similiar thread, I have little doubt that when (notice I didn't write if) the firesale begins DL is going to be first in line for all of US's assets in the SE to protect their own backyard. I also have little doubt that DL will be the winner on the DM accounts as well to lock up the SE U.S. customer base even more.

While CLT still, to a greater or lesser extent, is a license to print money (i.e. rack over the O/D locals), my guess is the last thing DL would want is B6 setting up shop there - especially with all those RJ's on the way.

Some around here think the DOJ would hold up DL picking up what they want - but the problem is that somebody else needs to want it also for DOJ to effectively say no in this this environment.

We'll see, but I look for DL getting most of what they want in the end (DM, DCA, CLT & more routes in the Caribbean to compete against AA). PIT will wither, who knows who will want PHL with WN coming to town, and AA gets the Shuttle.

End of story.

[This message has been edited by CoMooter (edited Jan 28, 2004).]