tom911

I made 1MM at UA in 2010 and walked away from them at the end of 2011, solely because of the change in benefits for that tier (that's 1MM BIS miles for those not up on UA). I'm willing to give AA the benefit of the doubt right now that they're not going to mess with the million miler program, just as I am the EXP program, particularly in light of the changes they made a year or two back to limit lifetime status to flight miles.

If AA does match UA, when I do drop from EXP I'll just split my miles between the two of them. Not expecting that to happen for a few years, though.

Did US have a lifetime status tier(s)?

CubsFanJohn

I think we will see a lot of the old US slots re-alloctaed into stronger AA markets e.g. LGA-MCI, IND etc.

diver858

For at least some of us, it means more options. When AA implemented the cornerstone strategy, many lost some point-to-point service.

I would also like to believe that the expanded network will bring more award redemption opportunities - domestically and TATL. In the latter case, alternatives to connections in LHR on BA,, PHL instead of JFK. For Mexico, Central America and the Carribean, PHX becomes an alternative to DFW.

fluglux

I suspect a number of things will happen at the new AA under Parker's leadership, including the following:

1) Mixed fleets are here to stay. With an airline as large as the New American there will be little cost savings in rationalizing the mainline fleet under one manufacturer. I suspect with A350's and 787's coming down the pipeline.
2) Three-Classes of service internationally is likely to be eliminated to allow greater fleet flexibility.
3) AAdvantage will probably the surviving brand at the New American, but will probably be dominated by the best practices from the Dividend Miles Program.
4) Horton's domestic IFE will be the first thing on the chopping block as it probably costs more to install than generates in additional revenue.
5) Likely the AA A321 3-Class Premium service will go away in favor of a simpler 2-Class arrangement that can be supported by US's existing A321 fleet. Niche products are not necessarily Parker's greatest strengths and may be a huge source of expenditure for the existing AA.

Tugg

A partition has been installed at LAX gate 45 this evening. Chairs and monitors have been set up behind the curtain and the area has the feel of a remote press conference. Is something else going on at LAX or could this be merger announcement related?

austin_res

I'm not too sure about this. After the US Airways-America West merger, Parker discontinued all in flight entertainment on narrow-body flights, downgraded the first class product, tried to charge for all drinks (he backed off when competitors didn't match), and is experimenting with selling meals on Trans-Atlantic flights. Could he do the same with the new AA? I hope not. We shall see.

Gardyloo

I for one am going to take the lemonade viewpoint, and I will look forward to traveling to AMS, BRU, MUC, and especially TLV on AA metal, hopefully without having to pay baksheesh to Willy.

makfan

It depends. VX has been relentlessly attacking AA at SFO while losing scads of cash. AA has responded by cutting flights right and left. Maybe a combined US/AA will be strong enough to put some pressure on VX.

Still, I'm worried. I'm a loyalist to AA. I feel they have generally treated me well (recent NYC blizzard notwithstanding). I rarely sit in the back and I don't pay anything extra to sit up front except for the occasional UK luxury tax. It's hard to imagine there won't be at least a few changes I don't like, and it's hard to imagine there won't be some operational days down the road that make me pull out what's left of my hair.

austin_res

6) Existing IFE on current AA aircraft will be discontinued.
7) Hubs: DFW, MIA, PHL, CLT, ORD, PHX, and to a lesser extent DCA.
8) JFK and LAX to be restructured to focus on O/D traffic.

N830MH

Yes, he did. He discontinued all in-flight entertainment in domestic USA. That's why we couldn't watch the movie anymore. Oh well! Those passengers who want to watched in-flight movie & flight tracking, and satellite TV as well.

UncleDude

Think you need to look at Math a little more. US with 25% Less Premium seats in their short haul fleet actually mean LESS Upgrades for everybody.

grahampros

Unlikely with regards to number 5. US's 321's are range limited for the route and AA's it's taking starting this year have the "Shark" winglet that improves the range enough that the route can be operated reliably year round without fuel stops. The JFK transcons are the last they want to have diverted on relatively regular basis do to range limitations.

IggySD

Fair enough. And that was the one thing I was looking forward to with CO arriving in *A - I looked at their Latin American routes, especially Mexico and Central America and drooled. Unfortunately the cost of having all those new interesting destinations available for awards was a complete gutting of the flying experience. Hopefully this merger will go better but history seems to show that when the two carriers have different ways of doing things, it's the most customer unfriendly method that survives.

787fan

Ya ... It's so important of a market that I can't find any flights that one could use an AA eVIP on

Canada has 30-some million people who can equally afford to fly and one world has no carriers that hub there ... same situation.

uxb

Haha. I'll agree to that.