Sorry for being a Fighting Irish fan. I wouldn't wish the year they had on anybody.

Mergers, consolidations, buyouts... whatever term you use will ALWAYS cause attrition by employees and customers. Whether it is because of increasing efficiency or combining resources (i.e. DL/UA - dehubbing SLC, keeping DEN, dehubbing CVG, keeping ORD). Customers will jump ship either way. Obviously minimizing the rate of loss is crucial.

A DL/UA combination over DL & another SkyTeam partner obviously makes the SkyMiles program much more difficult to integrate since DL & UA have vastly different programs. I would think, in solely ff program terms, DL & NW or CO would be much easier. SkyTeam elites are used to free upgrades and that is a benefit that differeniates ST from *A or oneworld. As a PM that is dropping down in DL (moving business elsewhere), I would find it hard to swallow paying for upgrades unless there is some other GIVEBACK from the "new" airline. How does the "consolidation" benefit me?

Points: 1:1 will be fine IF the awards are going to "cost" the same. If you bump a domestic skysaver to 50,000 miles. Transfer points should increase accordingly.

Tiers: 3 tiers are fine if the highest is at 100K. If you have a 4th tier: DEFINE how to obtain it. None of this hogwash. Make it transparent.

Credit card: AMEX is the best card for travel. I have 2 AMEX cards and 3-4 Visas. I default to my AMEX unless I can't.

The new airline has A LOT more to worry about than just the FF program. Focus on keeping the customers AND employees happy. LEARN from the mess that is HP and US. Don't be stupid about it, change will ALWAYS upset some but when necessary, it is better to do it right than trying to apease all.

And to be a party pooper... with a merger what would happen to our FT board, would we have to merge too? Jeff's job, would it no longer be necessary?

Happy New Year...