Superguy

US has actually done pretty well there, surprisingly.

Certainly much better than Smisek's been treating UA's elites ...

AALoyalNYC

Based on being LT Gold (assuming that continues) and long beholden to AA for nostalgic reasons and overall appreciation of the AAdvantage program (as a former EXP benefited from many EVIP's for flights to Europe for engagement, honeymoon, anniversaries...etc. - that's the nostalgia), as a NYC based flier, I've found myself forced to fly US for about 15 legs and 12,000 miles this year and about the same with Delta (some of those could have been US). I don't like being split between 3 airlines and consider my US miles virtually worthless since I don't accrue enough and have no status (at least Delta has crossover now which eases the pain as SPG Plat). With US and AA become one, at least this part of the pain will subside and I won't feel like my BIS miles are being wasted.

For PLT and GLD, my guess is the program will see very minimal, if any, negative changes (other than overall AAdvantage devaluation, of course). EXP's, however, will likely suffer the most.

While I'm sure it will cost more, I like the extra availability by combining the two here in NYC.

PaulInTheSky

If one flies mainly international, the competition will still be there, since US is a small potato for TATL and nonexistent in TPAC. However, domestic routes will be damned. Whether the new RM of US/AA will still drag the prices down in some markets like US usually does, it's unknown, but consolidation will definitely lead to devaluations to customers.

Ambraciot

Surely that doesn't apply to BOS , clearly the new AA will have to rehub us now that they're becoming one of the two main carriers again.

Even the DOJ agrees, which is why we're the only non current hub city with gate divestitures.

jspira

I was just on the press conference call and was the first person asked to ask a question.

I asked first about upcoming milestones and then about US and oneworld.

To summarize:
- court hearing 25 November (to hopefully get approval for the settlement)
- early December - the deal closes
- 7 January 2014 - this is a "big day" Scott Kirby told me. He spoke of integrating the frequent flyer programs and hinted (slightly) at other things, calling it "the day when we will become a single airline."

As for *A and oneworld, US has been in the process of exiting *A for a few months in terms of selling *A tickets (or not selling them, to be specific) and plans to be in OW in January.

This all comes from a piece just published on Frequent Business Traveler magazine's website:

American Airlines-US Airways Merger: What Frequent Travelers Need to Know

dtremit

What's the timetable for that move? It doesn't seem like the B connector is anywhere near ready to open. I could see UA moving to gates 30-38 or 4-14 without ever moving to 22-29.

I also wonder if Massport is still pissed enough at DL over the BK to make them move to B so that AA can take over terminal A.

JPG3392

I would agree with that guess. B6 already leases some of these slots. I would expect it to purchase the slots it currently leases, and also obtain some additional ones.

But the option of gaining miles on AA for many B6 flights will probably come to an end, and perhaps be replaced by an option of gaining UA miles instead.

FWAAA

Before the merger, plans were set in motion for US to move to T-3. What this means is that new AA won't be keeping the two US gates in T-3 after the merger. All new AA flights will operate from T-4, four gates in the new TBIT (connected behind security) and the Eagle terminal on the far east side of the airport.

dtremit

Actually, there are to be 3 US gates in T-3; AA is only divesting 2 of them. I doubt they'll use the gate for anything but leverage, though.

Superguy

If FFP benefits are supposed to be reciprocal, are we going to get 8 SWUs for use on AA, and will EXPs get the CP certs?

It'll be interesting to see.

Jumpseat18

Yeah I was thinking the same thing. I was scratching my head at the agreement by DOJ, particularly considering the DCA reduction. US Air serves more non-stop destinations than any other carrier out of DCA and now we're going to limit that further than AA was likely already planning to do? AA was probably like, "Umm, are these guys serious? Yes we'll take the deal!"

And as for B6, you'll prob still have to go through BOS half the time!

This seems like some really rough news for me and other frequent DCA flyers that appreciate the direct service to rural areas.

GUWonder

Even internationally, the TATL JVs (which have been given ATI by the DOJ) in combination with this combination will mean consumers are going to get burned by this combination in some way or another. I fly mostly international with only a spattering of domestic routes, many of which are for the purposes of connecting to/from international flights. There is no way this will make things better for me over the long-haul. Countdown to even my combined mileage balance and lifetime elite Platinum status being devalued.

FWAAA

It basically means that after the merger, new AA will have about the same number of slots at DCA as US has now. And new AA has agreed to continue serving the smaller markets, opening the bigger markets to WN and B6 and maybe VX.

drewguy

What would terminal A get AA/US?

BTW, couldn't AA/US get AC and Spirit to move out of B1-4 (is that all they have) into B30-35, where AA seems to operate, with two of those gates being sold off to other LCCs, leaving UA to its new B gates (plus AC gets UA lounge access for its *G customers).

Dadaluma83

Terrible news! Oh well at least I hedged my bet by opening a US credit card this summer. Once mileage balances are able to be combined I will have enough for a round trip F award on Qantas, going to just book the first available flight I see and then look into another credit card program. Maybe something like an AMEX platinum and/or a Capital one Venture. Once I burn my current miles a non-affiliated card is the way to go. I will still fly AA because they are the best for my needs and go where I need to go, but all my mileage earning will be by BIS flying. Not worth the risk anymore to collect credit card miles that may be devalued on the whim of Doug Parker.

The AMEX lounge at DFW is starting to look better and better once the gutting of the AC's start to happen, but the best way to stick it to these airlines is to go with a non branded credit card. Cut off their revenue stream from selling miles to partners, at least with credit cards rewards programs we still have a choice.