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)
Feb 17, 2013, 10:32 am
#751
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Hmm. AA does that. Why would that upset them.
Hmm. AA does that. Why would that upset them.
Feb 17, 2013, 10:33 am
#752
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That's what DL said when they acquired NW. The reality was almost exactly the opposite.
I suspect the AA employees will have many opportunities to regret their decision to jump into bed with Parker and US.
All upgrades on AA are electronic. And upgrade rates fall after every merger, especially in the mid-tier. With relatively few overlapping routes, you simply increase the number of elites chasing after the same F seats. Especially with AA minting many new EXPs in prior months, through generous EQM bonuses and outright gifts. Finally, after the merger DL had some nice hubs that were reasonably sized and great for connections: CVG and MEM. Both are rapidly fading away.
At least you have to fly on AA to get status. Is that true on US?
Originally Posted by Stripe
It has been funny watching all of the groaning about USAirways in this thread. Have you flown them lately? The criticisms sound circa 2001. Doesn't AA still use absurd paper coupons for upgrades? US got rid of that a decade ago. If you are mid-tier on US, you ride up front nearly every flight. I haven't sat in coach but once out of probably 50 segments. I flew 120 segments last year on AA, UA and US and by far, the AA product was the most pathetic experience on a plane I've had in years. Delays, surly FA, gate changes after gate changes at DFW. Out of 105 US segments I had exactly one delay and one cancellation.
ORD is among the worst experiences in all of aviation. CLT and DCA, among the best. Granted, PHL is no fun, but neither is DFW.
My point is all this moaning and groaning about US is probably from people who have not set foot on a Parker managed airplane. You better hope that the US model becomes the AA model, because it means: On time, limitless upgrades, low fares and clean planes.
ORD is among the worst experiences in all of aviation. CLT and DCA, among the best. Granted, PHL is no fun, but neither is DFW.
My point is all this moaning and groaning about US is probably from people who have not set foot on a Parker managed airplane. You better hope that the US model becomes the AA model, because it means: On time, limitless upgrades, low fares and clean planes.
Feb 17, 2013, 12:30 pm
#753
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K, AA 3.8MM, UA 1.1MM, enjoying the retired life
Posts: 31,849
I'm more an OJ person at 7am. I'm traveling with two friends from the Bay Area and one of their bags didn't make the LHR-TXL connection. Very foggy at Heathrow and that was slowing everything down there. Hoping the bag came into Berlin on the BA flight that landed 2 hours ago. Fortunately we're parked here for a few days and not heading out.
Feb 17, 2013, 12:42 pm
#754
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I'm more an OJ person at 7am. I'm traveling with two friends from the Bay Area and one of their bags didn't make the LHR-TXL connection. Very foggy at Heathrow and that was slowing everything down there. Hoping the bag came into Berlin on the BA flight that landed 2 hours ago. Fortunately we're parked here for a few days and not heading out.
.
Feb 17, 2013, 1:45 pm
#755
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: DL: Silver; AA: EX PLAT; UA: Silver; HY: DIA; HH: DIA; MR: TIT
Posts: 1,708
Feb 17, 2013, 1:50 pm
#756
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Feb 17, 2013, 2:07 pm
#757
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
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Welcome to FlyerTak.
Paper coupon? What's that? So very 1990s!
Many do not like change, so groaning will be common, even if most of us have no clue what we're groaning about because the FFP details won't be apparent for quite some time yet. Yet, this is FlyerTalk, and members will figure out the written and unwritten rules pretty quickly when it all gets sorted out. We'll just have to disagree about some of the rest (one can get from the farthest terminal gate to another in less than ten minutes after gate arrival at DFW, for example), but welcome.
Paper coupon? What's that? So very 1990s!
Many do not like change, so groaning will be common, even if most of us have no clue what we're groaning about because the FFP details won't be apparent for quite some time yet. Yet, this is FlyerTalk, and members will figure out the written and unwritten rules pretty quickly when it all gets sorted out. We'll just have to disagree about some of the rest (one can get from the farthest terminal gate to another in less than ten minutes after gate arrival at DFW, for example), but welcome.
It has been funny watching all of the groaning about USAirways in this thread. Have you flown them lately? The criticisms sound circa 2001. Doesn't AA still use absurd paper coupons for upgrades? US got rid of that a decade ago. If you are mid-tier on US, you ride up front nearly every flight. I haven't sat in coach but once out of probably 50 segments. I flew 120 segments last year on AA, UA and US and by far, the AA product was the most pathetic experience on a plane I've had in years. Delays, surly FA, gate changes after gate changes at DFW. Out of 105 US segments I had exactly one delay and one cancellation.
ORD is among the worst experiences in all of aviation. CLT and DCA, among the best. Granted, PHL is no fun, but neither is DFW.
My point is all this moaning and groaning about US is probably from people who have not set foot on a Parker managed airplane. You better hope that the US model becomes the AA model, because it means: On time, limitless upgrades, low fares and clean planes.
ORD is among the worst experiences in all of aviation. CLT and DCA, among the best. Granted, PHL is no fun, but neither is DFW.
My point is all this moaning and groaning about US is probably from people who have not set foot on a Parker managed airplane. You better hope that the US model becomes the AA model, because it means: On time, limitless upgrades, low fares and clean planes.
Feb 17, 2013, 2:23 pm
#758
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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I have flown dozens of first class US flights over the last year or three in my quest to maintain *G and one thing that did stand out is the 100% availability of PDB on US.^
Feb 17, 2013, 3:04 pm
#759
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,905
Not if you live closer to it than to EWR and JFK. Not if it sees an increase in transcon and trsnaatlantic availability. And not if you enjoy the early morning flights out with virtually no lines/congestion in the AA portion of the terminal, and not if you like to pop in to a quite usually empty BA club lounge at that early time of the day.
Feb 17, 2013, 3:22 pm
#760
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Not if you live closer to it than to EWR and JFK. Not if it sees an increase in transcon and trsnaatlantic availability. And not if you enjoy the early morning flights out with virtually no lines/congestion in the AA portion of the terminal, and not if you like to pop in to a quite usually empty BA club lounge at that early time of the day.
Feb 17, 2013, 4:56 pm
#761
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Park, CO
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Posts: 5,678
Feb 17, 2013, 5:16 pm
#762
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Feb 17, 2013, 5:19 pm
#763
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Feb 17, 2013, 5:35 pm
#764
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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What's even more shocking is that 26% of voters think that this merger is a good thing.
This is just going to mean higher fares and less award availability
This is just going to mean higher fares and less award availability
Feb 17, 2013, 5:38 pm
#765
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: bay area, ca
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Posts: 1,840
I just took SJC-PHX in F on US Air today and no PDBs were offered. Double pass with the snack basket, though.