I agree 100% (if a CO/UA merger happens, of course).

I pray to God that you are not anywhere near airline management! :mad: :td: :mad:

Agreed. Although I want to see a CO+UA merger, no way in hell do I want to see it in this format!

I would be OK with CO keeping the Gershwin TV commercials.

Ha ha :) You never know...anyway, looks like the difference of opinion emerging here is along the lines of our own customer loyalties. I'm sure there are plenty of UA folks who would love to dismantle CO and send it to the dustbin.

Where we differ is our opinion of which airline is better and can leverage its quality and market position to lead the future - and fight competition from a merged DL/NW, quality leader Virgin America and a scared and angry AA.

Funny how AA rarely gets mentioned in most merger scenarios. Hope CO doesn't get a nasty surprise in that regard.

:confused:

...or AS :(

All of the talk of "the airline being named this", "keeping this, getting rid of that" is just pure dribble based on nothing more than your own personal preference. You like Continental, of course you'd say they'd keep the Continental brand, get rid of everything United has (Red carpet, mileage plus, 3-cabin, Economy Plus), but on the flip side, if you were partial to United, you'd want to keep all of that and take nothing from CO but their planes.

My point is, all of this talk is based on personal preference and couldn't be farther from actual fact.

For once I am in complete agreement with you.

I wouldn't say all of it - if UA had a superior product, I'd be the first one chomping at the bit to be bought by them - or, I would have been flying them all this time instead of CO.

I will concede that any merger activity will need to prove added shareholder value, or it won't happen - and as much as I wish American business followed the Southwest model in this regard, it certainly isn't reality.

From a product and service perspective, I'm eagerly awaiting factual input from a UA flyer to demonstrate how and why the UA brand and product is superior to that of CO (and in such a way CO couldn't leverage these advantages in a CO branded merger).

Anyhow, with all this constant fretting about UA, I still think the merger that makes the most sense is buying AS for west coast coverage and going it alone as a company from that point. If DL/NW were to merge, I might file suit in court to propose anti-trust concerns unless DL agrees to sell me a number of its 777s and 764s and hand over some prime routes it shares with NW. I will be in a better position to expand globally and compete with those extra much needed widebodies.

Well, its rather easy: just say Weather, sorry!
That's the CO way of dealing with any delay. Must be Weather.

Now, we did experience some serious idiocy on the part of a supervisor @ SFO when they had their arrivals lounge closed early. However, the recovery by united in the end was a SWU and, from other people who have gotten theirs already 300-400$ in voucher compensation. I've NEVER seen that with CO. As upset as we were about the arrivals lounge being closed, that kind of compensation more than makes up for their failings. The day that CO does anything close to that, I'll be very surprised.

I have seen mentions that they might like to buy NW, if UA and DL hook up.

That's my assumption as well. Additionally, I wouldn't discount a possible attempted intervention by AA if a deal is announced between DL and NW.

Issue: flight canceled
UA Agent 1 - weather
UA Agent 2 - ATC
UA Agent 3 - operations

This is at the connecting point, so I suggest asserting Rule 240 for compensation...their flight was to MOD and UA is the only carrier. I called UA res and was offered $150 voucher and confirmed the cancellation was within UA's control, but I thought they should do better at the airport.

Customer Service Counter Agent: "I can't be bothered with this now, go to the ticket counter"

Ticket Counter Agent: "No, we're not doing anything for you. Do you want a refund of the ticket?

I ask to speak to Agent using friend's cell...

Ticket Counter Agent: "No, I'm not talkin' to nobody - you want the refund or not??"

I tell friend to summon supervisor...

Ticket Counter Supervisor: "No, there is no compensation and there are no flight available. You can get to Modesto on your own, but we're not paying for it. Do you want a refund?

I ask to speak to Supervisor using friend's cell...

Ticket Counter Supervisor: "NO, I'm not interested in speaking to anyone on the phone...look, I've offered the refund, do you want it or not?"

Bottom line, I tell him to get something from agent in writing confirming his return segments wont be canceled, and they call Amex travel to book a rental car to drive to Modesto.

Bottom line: this person is so unwilling to fly UA again, they don't even want the $150 voucher I had originally negotiated with the phone agent. They told me the aircraft cabin and seats suck, and this is a NW Elite who splits their flying between NW and AS.

I know CO likes to claim 'weather' on every delay, but a knowledgeable customer who stands their ground or works with a supervisor can usually get their change made. I've been rebooked by CO on other CO flights and other airlines countless times when delays and potential misconnects were looming - even when these delays WERE caused by weather.