View Poll Results: My opinion of the announced AA - US merger is:
This is the best of all possible worlds; great idea!
33
3.93%
This portends a stronger airline, with some changes for all
192
22.88%
I am neutral - pros and cons for all
199
23.72%
I think this is a somewhat bad idea with some real challenges
226
26.94%
I am completely opposed to this merger; terrible idea!
189
22.53%
Voters: 839. You may not vote on this poll
AA - US Merger Agreement / Announcement / DOJ Action Discussion (consolidated)
Aug 13, 2013, 9:46 am
#1486
Join Date: Oct 2012
Programs: AA: EXP/5.2mm
Posts: 251
Yes. A truism in the antitrust world is that both Republican and Democratic administrations will allow an industry to consolidate from 5 to 4, and neither will allow an industry to consolidate from 3 to 2. The difference is that a Republican administration will allow consolidation from 4 to 3 but a Democratic administration will not.
The question has been whether Southwest counted for these purposes. The DoJ has concluded that they do not.
The question has been whether Southwest counted for these purposes. The DoJ has concluded that they do not.
Aug 13, 2013, 9:46 am
#1487
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: ELP
Programs: AAdvantage, Amex MR
Posts: 2,314
Ok even though I am sitting on 35k US miles I collected through a signup bonus in anticipation of the merger this is great news! With 4 legacy programs as opposed to 3 that means less likely devaluations could happen. Hopefully this means things like no revenue requirement for AAdvantage, and prices can stay in check.
Still need to figure out what I am going to do with my 35k DM's, but at least this points to a stronger AAdvantage program, and most of all more airline competition.
Still need to figure out what I am going to do with my 35k DM's, but at least this points to a stronger AAdvantage program, and most of all more airline competition.
Aug 13, 2013, 9:47 am
#1488
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: DFW...at the moment
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Plat, Hyatt Diamond, HH gold
Posts: 609
No kidding. TCON flyers have no right to complain when those routes actually have legit competition. They should try living in the Midwest where you often pay that much for a 300 mile flight (on mainline AC).
Aug 13, 2013, 9:47 am
#1489
Join Date: Oct 2012
Programs: AA: EXP/5.2mm
Posts: 251
There are going to be some very unhappy unions at AA. With the merger, they got new, friendlier leadership as a negotiating partner, as well as a fresh bite at the apple to negotiate contracts after the merger closed. Now, they have to live with existing management and existing (from bankruptcy) contracts.
Aug 13, 2013, 9:50 am
#1490
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: KAUS
Programs: AA EXP; AC 100K
Posts: 132
At least this slows the "race to the bottom" that many talk about.
Aug 13, 2013, 9:50 am
#1491
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
I cashed out when AA stock went back up to $2.50 after it became a penny stock. I still kept 10 shares and came ahead a little. Kicking myself when I didn't buy more back when it was under 50 cents a share.
Aug 13, 2013, 9:51 am
#1492
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: BOS .. but soon SFO
Programs: UA PLAT, TK GLD, Hilton Diamond, IC PLAT, SPG GLD, Marriott GLD
Posts: 1,528
I can't comment on this particular merger, but having more > less because they are all fighting for more of the same pie, which means we win.
However, I find it ironic that they allowed the banking system to consolidate to just 4 major players since the mid 90s
Aug 13, 2013, 9:53 am
#1493
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Austin,TX (AUS)
Programs: AA, UA
Posts: 767
There are going to be some very unhappy unions at AA. With the merger, they got new, friendlier leadership as a negotiating partner, as well as a fresh bite at the apple to negotiate contracts after the merger closed. Now, they have to live with existing management and existing (from bankruptcy) contracts.
Aug 13, 2013, 9:53 am
#1494
formerly gohima
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 519
Aug 13, 2013, 9:53 am
#1495
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,901
I like the 3 screenshots in the suit taken August 12th for travel departing August 13th, returning August 14th. These are supposed to be examples of typical purchases by consumers. 
I'd rather not see a merger, but you could probably argue whatever you want by cherry picking fares like this.
I'd rather not see a merger, but you could probably argue whatever you want by cherry picking fares like this.
Aug 13, 2013, 9:53 am
#1496
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: PHX
Programs: AA Ex Platinum & 1MM, DL PLT, Marriott Gold, HH Diamond
Posts: 2,490
Actually wish I were flying today-I have yet to run across any employee who was happy at the prospect of this merger. The unions may not be happy, but the front line employees, I suspect, feel much differently.
As far as the pilots who wanted this, as I see it, they have 2 choices-either put their big boy pants on & make AA successful or send their CV's to Doug Parker.
Aug 13, 2013, 9:54 am
#1497
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Northeast Kansas | Colorado Native
Programs: Amex Gold/Plat, UA *G, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Gold, NEXUS, TSA Disparager Unobtanium
Posts: 21,603
If you're even lucky to get mainline in the Midwest. So much of the flying is now on RJs..
Aug 13, 2013, 9:55 am
#1498
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: DCA and STL
Programs: AA Concierge Key, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, National Car Executive Elite
Posts: 524
Government pushing prices down via blocking this merger only works as long as the carriers remain in business. Most of the discussions on AA emerging from bankruptcy as a viable carrier have been based on a merger. Is AA as a standalone carrier a viable long term option? Nothing in the AA business model has really been changed by the bankruptcy, other than reducing some expenses that will eventually trickle back in. If the government wishes to keep fares down by favoring UA and DL over AA and US, it might succeed for a while but what if AA and US fail? What will happen to prices when it is just UA and DL? Blocking this merger might have made more sense had they also blocked DL/NW and UA/CO.
Aug 13, 2013, 9:57 am
#1499
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 142
Since it got approved in Europe, I'll be surprised if there isn't a workaround to make the DOJ happy.
I'd rather not have the airlines merge.
I'd rather not have the airlines merge.
Aug 13, 2013, 9:57 am
#1500
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: DCA
Programs: AA PPro, Mariott Ambassador, B6 Mosaic, SBUX Gold, Best Buy Elite
Posts: 1,838
isn't amrqq worthless anyway? It's a liquidity company like what happened with GM. I assume AMR will issue new shares post BK.