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)
Nov 14, 2013, 11:24 am
#4201
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Everywhere
Programs: AA EXP - 3.7MM, Bonv LIFETIME Titan, HH Dmd, Hyatt Glob., Priority Clb Dmd, Ntnl Exec El., Sixt PLT
Posts: 1,690
I think that the combined company will look at both models, but will favor 3 elite tiers. Because the One World partners use three tiers (ruby, sapphire, emerald) with well-defined benefits, it would be at a minimum confusing to adopt a fourth tier.
The merged AAdvantage program could include the US "high platinum" tier in One World emerald status, but I think the better solution (certainly easier) is to lump all of the 50k-100k flyers in one platinum/ sapphire tier with the richer AA 100% RDM bonus.
The merged AAdvantage program could include the US "high platinum" tier in One World emerald status, but I think the better solution (certainly easier) is to lump all of the 50k-100k flyers in one platinum/ sapphire tier with the richer AA 100% RDM bonus.
Nov 14, 2013, 11:32 am
#4202
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Texas
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 279
This shouldn't be a surprise, but Bloomberg just quoted the DOJ saying that United/Delta are very unlikely to get any of AMR's divested slots.... because they are looking out for the consumer, right?!
Nov 14, 2013, 12:34 pm
#4203
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: BOS
Programs: Marriott LTG, HHonors Diamond, Nat'l Exec
Posts: 3,581
Lounge usage is really the only way OW Emerald is significantly different from *Gold. Unless the the fee AA has to other OW members is very high (vs. the business class lounge access), I think OW emerald is a way to distinguish 75k flyers from 50k flyers without costing much in terms of benefits.
More importantly, *G is typically offered at the 50k level, not 75k. I think AA'd be putting themselves at a competitive disadvantage by offering fewer benefits to 75k flyers than UA offers at 50k.
Last edited by dtremit; Nov 14, 2013 at 12:49 pm
Nov 14, 2013, 12:55 pm
#4205
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: BWI
Programs: AA Gold, HH Diamond, National Emerald Executive, TSA Disparager Gold
Posts: 15,180
Nov 14, 2013, 12:57 pm
#4206
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Anywhere I need to be.
Programs: OW Emerald, *A Gold, NEXUS, GE, ABTC/APEC, South Korea SES, eIACS, PP, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 16,046
The difference is that UA has 5th freedom exNRT while DL doesn't have this in AMS/CDG.
Last edited by miamigrad; Nov 15, 2013 at 8:09 am Reason: fixed quotation
Nov 14, 2013, 1:03 pm
#4207
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS
Posts: 15,027
So far, their actions seem to indicate that they love bending over for the airlines.
Nov 14, 2013, 1:13 pm
#4208
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Western PA
Programs: AA EXP/2MM
Posts: 441
AA - US Merger Agreement / Announcement / DOJ Action Discussion (consolidated)
I see no concrete reason to think 75k eqx ("elite qualifying whatevers") 
will get top status. If anything, I'm thinking EXP will eventually move to 125k and perhaps with fewer SWUs - which I consider THE primary benefit of EXP.
Giving 75k-level flyers top level perks would be a disaster - it is tough enough to get a SWU upgrade to clear as it is, lounges are crowded enough as it is, etc... without further increasing the ranks of top status.
will get top status. If anything, I'm thinking EXP will eventually move to 125k and perhaps with fewer SWUs - which I consider THE primary benefit of EXP.Giving 75k-level flyers top level perks would be a disaster - it is tough enough to get a SWU upgrade to clear as it is, lounges are crowded enough as it is, etc... without further increasing the ranks of top status.
Nov 14, 2013, 1:23 pm
#4209
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 7,710
I see no concrete reason to think 75k eqx ("elite qualifying whatevers") will get top status. If anything, I'm thinking EXP will eventually move to 125k and perhaps with fewer SWUs - which I consider THE primary benefit of EXP.
Giving 75k-level flyers top level perks would be a disaster - it is tough enough to get a SWU upgrade to clear as it is, lounges are crowded enough as it is, etc... without further increasing the ranks of top status.
will get top status. If anything, I'm thinking EXP will eventually move to 125k and perhaps with fewer SWUs - which I consider THE primary benefit of EXP.Giving 75k-level flyers top level perks would be a disaster - it is tough enough to get a SWU upgrade to clear as it is, lounges are crowded enough as it is, etc... without further increasing the ranks of top status.
Nov 14, 2013, 2:06 pm
#4210
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Melbourne
Programs: ►QFWP/LTG►VA WP►HyattExpl.►HiltonGold►ALL Silver
Posts: 22,023
Even then, the difference is less in reality than in practice -- though *G doesn't officially have the "first class lounge" benefits of OW Emerald, in practice *G get access to lounges like LH's Senator lounges that often blur that difference. Additional baggage is also a benefit of *G, and not of OW Sapphire.
More importantly, *G is typically offered at the 50k level, not 75k. I think AA'd be putting themselves at a competitive disadvantage by offering fewer benefits to 75k flyers than UA offers at 50k.
More importantly, *G is typically offered at the 50k level, not 75k. I think AA'd be putting themselves at a competitive disadvantage by offering fewer benefits to 75k flyers than UA offers at 50k.
Emerald also get additional baggage across the Alliance.
Nov 14, 2013, 2:21 pm
#4211
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: RDU
Programs: HHonors Gold
Posts: 103
I "retired" from that corporation and a few years ago I was chatting with a visiting AA marketing person about the LHR flight. I was told that the RDU-LHR run was the single most profitable route in AA's entire network that year as it had been for many years prior. It will be very interesting to see if that flight is still in place in three years as we migrate to USdbaAA. Personally I hope so...
Last edited by RDUpax; Nov 14, 2013 at 2:23 pm Reason: The usual reason: Grammar
Nov 14, 2013, 2:33 pm
#4212
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: DCA
Posts: 303
I "retired" from that corporation and a few years ago I was chatting with a visiting AA marketing person about the LHR flight. I was told that the RDU-LHR run was the single most profitable route in AA's entire network that year as it had been for many years prior. It will be very interesting to see if that flight is still in place in three years as we migrate to USdbaAA. Personally I hope so...
Nov 14, 2013, 3:58 pm
#4213
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: London; Bangkok; Las Vegas
Programs: AA Exec Plat; UA MM Gold; Marriott Lifetime Titanium; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,752
Really depends on how you define "hub".
Is it only a hub when UA says it is?
Is it a hub if there is a pilot or flight attendant base at that airport?
Is it a hub if there are spoke operations from an airport?
It is about as clear as mud.
Last edited by miamigrad; Nov 15, 2013 at 8:10 am Reason: fixed quotation
Nov 14, 2013, 5:05 pm
#4214
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 1999
Posts: 12,097
The result is that Europe has 25.3% of global RPK/RPMs, to North America's (Canada included) 26.5%. In other words, the US market (which probably accounts for 90% of N. America RPK/RPMs) is the exact same size. Source: https://www.iata.org/whatwedo/Docume...Note_Dec12.pdf
Nov 14, 2013, 5:08 pm
#4215
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 1999
Posts: 12,097
Really sad that not even America defends the free market economy anymore.