Does CAL/UAL combo make you think?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2006
Programs: DL PM, Starwood Plat, various others
Posts: 80
Does CAL/UAL combo make you think?
When this CAL/UAL merger goes through (and in light of everything we have all discussed at length), does this make you think about a status match?
Being NYC based (and while I still really like Delta) it does have to make you at least think about the pros and cons.
Being NYC based (and while I still really like Delta) it does have to make you at least think about the pros and cons.
#2
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: BWI
Programs: HHonors Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 767
Abso-freaking-lutely.
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: MN
Programs: Lots of programs, dirt on all of them!
Posts: 11,938
Actually I ws "thinking" about it last year and decided early this year that I was going to status match to CO later this year (if you do it too early, you only get matched to Feb 2011 and I prefer to wait and get the match through Feb 2012).
Way more options within the US compared to DL. And *A has at least as many options to Europe and Asia. And when you compare frequent flyer programs, *A wins hands down vs. DL. That is not to say I will never fly DL after that. Even now I am flying DL a lot less. But I will definitely fly them. After my canceled J award ticket to Europe for 3 due to the volcano, I again have lots of DL miles to burn.
Way more options within the US compared to DL. And *A has at least as many options to Europe and Asia. And when you compare frequent flyer programs, *A wins hands down vs. DL. That is not to say I will never fly DL after that. Even now I am flying DL a lot less. But I will definitely fly them. After my canceled J award ticket to Europe for 3 due to the volcano, I again have lots of DL miles to burn.
#4
Join Date: Oct 2008
Programs: NWA Tears
Posts: 979
We'd planned to status match to UA later this year anyway (similar to above, when it will give us all of 2011 to restatus) regardless of merger. Maybe this will take Richard's mind off being the biggest and he and his crew will get back to running a business.
#5
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: New York City
Programs: SkyMiles PM, Hyatt Gold Passport Platinum
Posts: 800
I wouldn't want to fly from EWR for most of my domestic trips. It seems like Delta would still have more flights from LGA and JFK than Continental and United combined.
#7
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: SoCal (ONT), PVD/BOS, JAX, RSW
Programs: AA/US PlatPro & 1.05MM, DL Plat (challenge), UA dirt
Posts: 3,189
I still have my doubts over the merger even happening. Remember the last time that CO/UA were going to merge--CO pulled out at the last minute. So, for right now, I'm going to take the reports of a merger with a "grain of salt."
As a US FF, it worries me a little as flights from the combined company are dropped--which makes each seat too valuable, driving the prices ever higher.
As a US FF, it worries me a little as flights from the combined company are dropped--which makes each seat too valuable, driving the prices ever higher.
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: MN
Programs: Lots of programs, dirt on all of them!
Posts: 11,938
#11
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Rio de Janeiro, Miami, Nice
Programs: Marriott Titanium, AA Concierge Key, Delta, United, Emorates, and others
Posts: 4,694
I will think about it and probably consider it if they're still solvent 18 months after the merger, if it happens at all. I hate airline mergers. my memory includes National-PanAm, TWA-AA as well as the more recent disasters. I am not an optimist on mergers partly because of all that we say on this very forum.
#12
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: BWI
Programs: HHonors Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 767
I don't know what the UAL/CO upgradeable business/FC availability is, but poking around United's mileage plus website, the ability to upgrade TPAC/TATL with miles, $ from a lot more fare classes is a gigantic plus compared to DL.
That, Economy +, and direct BWI-LAX flights combined with FO degredation will result in a status match and switch to *A for 2011.
That, Economy +, and direct BWI-LAX flights combined with FO degredation will result in a status match and switch to *A for 2011.
#13
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 1,955
Funny, that was the first thing I thought about when I saw the article. Was a loayal CO flyer for many years (line 600,000) lifetime when I lived in NYC. When I moved, I slowly transitioned to NW because it was easier to go through DTW, MEM, or MSP instead of EWR or IAD. Depending on how the dust settles thiscombo might work well.
The DL/NW merger hasn't been horrible. with one exception, the DL website plain sucks. It needs a full overhaul. everything from flight options shown to managing interaries. It can't be fixed it needs to built out from scratch.
The DL/NW merger hasn't been horrible. with one exception, the DL website plain sucks. It needs a full overhaul. everything from flight options shown to managing interaries. It can't be fixed it needs to built out from scratch.
#15
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: HSV
Programs: DL SkyMiles PM/1.2MM, UA Premier gold/1MM, Choice diamond, Marriott gold
Posts: 1,374