Right on. ^ There is more pride in one F9 crew than in the entire UA organization.

NWA is another example of having flown for years while in Chapter 11.

Did UA and the others get federal assistance not to stop operations?

I'd doubt Frontier would be so lucky.

While it is true that UA, DL, NW and others meandered in bankruptcy for years, they did so under different bankruptcy laws. No airline (that I know of) has filed for Chapter 11 and successfully emerged since the law changed.

Effectively, yes. Statutory assistance to keep operating when the free market should have killed them.

Articles like this don't help matters:

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/fligh...nkruptcy_N.htm

Notable quotes:

* "We do not see a future for Frontier as it faces tough competition in Denver from United on the network side and Southwest on the low-cost side," Calyon Securities airline analyst Ray Neidl said Friday.

* Frontier lost $32.5 million in last year's fourth quarter � more than double its loss in the same period the year before � and its fuel costs rose 22% from late 2006, according to a document filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

Seeing that UA has a "win" with the network, and WN with low fares, maybe AA can save Frontier.

With the likelihood that CO merges with UA (after NW/DL), AA will probably be shopping for a merging partner. Frontier might just be the right one. AS might be difficult due to no debt.

Jiburi

I wouldn't really call that "Saving" Frontier... AA would get a couple of new planes and routes, but everything that made F9 special would likely be roadkill in that merger scenario.

What about JetBlue? Despite their fiasco last year, I haven't heard any stories about them having problems due to fuel... are they fairly sound? B6 seems the closest to F9 in terms of philosophy, good crews, and similar equipment (though I hear they use different engines on their Airbii which could be a problem), and they don't have much route structure overlap. Every time I get on B6 I am surprised at how similar they feel to Frontier... if anyone is going to buy up my favorite carrier, I hope it's them.

The B6 and F9 merger rumor has been around for quite some time. Yes we have similiar aircraft, LiveTV and route networks that would compliment each other, I just don't think we are in a position to make any aquisition right now. So far we're holding our own with the current fuel storm but who knows what tomorrow will bring.

I too thought of Jetblue but Jetblue has significant infusion from Lufthansa, a star alliance partner. UA, another star alliance partner, has a hub in Den. I doubt Jetblue would risk Lufthansa's support to join with Star Alliance's competing carrier Frontier.

Jiburi

F9, along with many airlines, received government loans to continue post 9-11.

F9 was the first airline to completely pay back their loan.

why isn't an airtran/frontier merger on the table?

I think AirTran is also treading on very thin ice. That mixed with a totally different fleet type and approach to business will stop that merger, i think. AirTran tried a 320 fleet with Ryan Air before their 73G's came online. I don't think they where too impressed, whether it was with Ryan Air, The A320, or both.

<shudder>

You must have not flown Frontier before to consider them a "rinky dink" airline. As many others have said, the plans are newer, clean and are far better than any of the other airlines I have flown on except Midwest.

As far as buying tickets, I bought my tickets for my trips on April 21st and May 11th two days after they filed chapter 11. I can't tell you if they will close their doors in the end, but I am not worried about it in the short term.

In terms of personal experience I have had with Frontier, if they can't make it, I don't know how any of the airlines can. The flights are great every time and every time I have called customer service, I couldn't ask for nicer or more polite people to deal with.

I have over 20K true flown miles with them so far this year so I am not basing my opinion on a single flight.