Delta/Midwest partnership ends June 7, 2010
Mar 26, 2010, 4:06 pm
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Chicago
Posts: 1,800
Allow me to take your prediction a lot further.
Picture this....
On April 13th, executives and employees from Republic along with assorted members of the media and various dignitaries gather at the Midwest Airlines Hangar in Milwaukee for the official unveiling of the new brand.
There is noticeable excitement in the room as everyone mingles, enjoys all of the free food/alcohol, and reminisces about the glory days of both Midwest and Frontier.
Finally, the long anticipated moment arrives. The doors to the hangar slowly open and an aircraft begins to appear. There is noticeable gasping from the members of the audience as the plane comes into full view. Something is very, very wrong.
The Airbus A320 is painted in the AirTran livery but has a badger on the tail. Bryan Bedford is waving to the stunned crowd from one side of the cockpit windows; Bob Forano is doing the same from the other.
Both executives quickly emerge from the plane and rush to the podium. As the crowd goes silent, Bedford announces that AirTran has acquired Republic and will fold the branded operations under the AirTran banner. All aircraft will have animals on the tails. Chocolate chip cookies will be served on all flights.
The animals and cookies have been saved. AirTran finally gets its northern hub in MKE virtually uncontested. New headaches emerge for United and Southwest in Denver. Delta doesn't know what to do at this point.
Picture this....
On April 13th, executives and employees from Republic along with assorted members of the media and various dignitaries gather at the Midwest Airlines Hangar in Milwaukee for the official unveiling of the new brand.
There is noticeable excitement in the room as everyone mingles, enjoys all of the free food/alcohol, and reminisces about the glory days of both Midwest and Frontier.
Finally, the long anticipated moment arrives. The doors to the hangar slowly open and an aircraft begins to appear. There is noticeable gasping from the members of the audience as the plane comes into full view. Something is very, very wrong.
The Airbus A320 is painted in the AirTran livery but has a badger on the tail. Bryan Bedford is waving to the stunned crowd from one side of the cockpit windows; Bob Forano is doing the same from the other.
Both executives quickly emerge from the plane and rush to the podium. As the crowd goes silent, Bedford announces that AirTran has acquired Republic and will fold the branded operations under the AirTran banner. All aircraft will have animals on the tails. Chocolate chip cookies will be served on all flights.
The animals and cookies have been saved. AirTran finally gets its northern hub in MKE virtually uncontested. New headaches emerge for United and Southwest in Denver. Delta doesn't know what to do at this point.
Mar 26, 2010, 5:16 pm
#18
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: MKE
Programs: Midwest Miles, AirTran A+ Rewards
Posts: 1,445
Yes, there are holes in my scenario. It's possible that the C-series could be used for long-haul DEN flying to eventually replace the Airbus aircraft, which could be sold or otherwise retired. The C-series can carry comparable loads with a lot less fuel burn.
Certainly both YX and FL are trying to determine ways to stop the bleeding and more dominate the MKE market. Midwest could remain to feed FL in MKE and F9 in DEN, and codeshare between the three carriers.
Again, these are all far-out guesses in my own head. I could be way off base. But stranger things have happened. Just look at how YX and F9 got to where they are today!
Certainly both YX and FL are trying to determine ways to stop the bleeding and more dominate the MKE market. Midwest could remain to feed FL in MKE and F9 in DEN, and codeshare between the three carriers.
Again, these are all far-out guesses in my own head. I could be way off base. But stranger things have happened. Just look at how YX and F9 got to where they are today!
Mar 26, 2010, 5:19 pm
#19
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: National Capitol Region
Programs: Delta Dirt Medallion,AA,USairways, WN Rapid Rewards, National Emerald Club
Posts: 3,912
Well, Well, Well - it's great to be right
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/midwe...onference.html
My Post #27 1 1/2 months ago -
One can spout all the most meaningless facts and statistics one wants about Midwest, but in the end we see old Hazelrah was right 
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/midwe...onference.html
My Post #27 1 1/2 months ago -
Interesting article flyYX, thanks for posting. It does include some intriguing discussion about the future of the code shares Delta/Midwest, Frontier/Air Tran.
It never occured to me that one possibility would be for Republic to dump the Delta codeshare in favor of the Air Tran code share.
Now an expanded Air Tran/Frontier/Midwest/Republic codeshare, that could be a powerful combination. Peachtree avenue would p** its pants.
It never occured to me that one possibility would be for Republic to dump the Delta codeshare in favor of the Air Tran code share.
Now an expanded Air Tran/Frontier/Midwest/Republic codeshare, that could be a powerful combination. Peachtree avenue would p** its pants.
Mar 26, 2010, 5:20 pm
#20
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: MKE
Programs: Midwest Miles, AirTran A+ Rewards
Posts: 1,445
Allow me to take your prediction a lot further.
Picture this....
On April 13th, executives and employees from Republic along with assorted members of the media and various dignitaries gather at the Midwest Airlines Hangar in Milwaukee for the official unveiling of the new brand.
There is noticeable excitement in the room as everyone mingles, enjoys all of the free food/alcohol, and reminisces about the glory days of both Midwest and Frontier.
Finally, the long anticipated moment arrives. The doors to the hangar slowly open and an aircraft begins to appear. There is noticeable gasping from the members of the audience as the plane comes into full view. Something is very, very wrong.
The Airbus A320 is painted in the AirTran livery but has a badger on the tail. Bryan Bedford is waving to the stunned crowd from one side of the cockpit windows; Bob Forano is doing the same from the other.
Both executives quickly emerge from the plane and rush to the podium. As the crowd goes silent, Bedford announces that AirTran has acquired Republic and will fold the branded operations under the AirTran banner. All aircraft will have animals on the tails. Chocolate chip cookies will be served on all flights.
The animals and cookies have been saved. AirTran finally gets its northern hub in MKE virtually uncontested. New headaches emerge for United and Southwest in Denver. Delta doesn't know what to do at this point.
Picture this....
On April 13th, executives and employees from Republic along with assorted members of the media and various dignitaries gather at the Midwest Airlines Hangar in Milwaukee for the official unveiling of the new brand.
There is noticeable excitement in the room as everyone mingles, enjoys all of the free food/alcohol, and reminisces about the glory days of both Midwest and Frontier.
Finally, the long anticipated moment arrives. The doors to the hangar slowly open and an aircraft begins to appear. There is noticeable gasping from the members of the audience as the plane comes into full view. Something is very, very wrong.
The Airbus A320 is painted in the AirTran livery but has a badger on the tail. Bryan Bedford is waving to the stunned crowd from one side of the cockpit windows; Bob Forano is doing the same from the other.
Both executives quickly emerge from the plane and rush to the podium. As the crowd goes silent, Bedford announces that AirTran has acquired Republic and will fold the branded operations under the AirTran banner. All aircraft will have animals on the tails. Chocolate chip cookies will be served on all flights.
The animals and cookies have been saved. AirTran finally gets its northern hub in MKE virtually uncontested. New headaches emerge for United and Southwest in Denver. Delta doesn't know what to do at this point.
Mar 26, 2010, 6:32 pm
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Chicago
Posts: 1,800
With all due respect, none of us know if Republic will enter into a codeshare agreement with AirTran.
Bryan Bedford could have something entirely different up his sleeve. He has talked extensively about joining an alliance.
An established alliance brings some enormous benefits that AirTran simply can't deliver (the ability to earn/redeem miles on partner carriers, lounge access, access to a global route network, etc.).
Republic could always have a codeshare with AirTran and join an alliance as a regional member.
I guess we'll find out what the plan is in the coming weeks.
Bryan Bedford could have something entirely different up his sleeve. He has talked extensively about joining an alliance.
An established alliance brings some enormous benefits that AirTran simply can't deliver (the ability to earn/redeem miles on partner carriers, lounge access, access to a global route network, etc.).
Republic could always have a codeshare with AirTran and join an alliance as a regional member.
I guess we'll find out what the plan is in the coming weeks.
Mar 26, 2010, 7:28 pm
#22
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Pleasant Prairie, WI USA DL FO (until 2/04), NW silver '03, NW gold '04+'05 Plat '06+ (thanks, Leo!), DL SkyClub
Programs: DL Plat/ Million Miler, AS, Hilton, Marriott Bonvoy, Piggly Wiggly Pig Points
Posts: 2,233
I have a need for a surgical screenings in SDF and called DL to burn some miles. Nothing in the YX inventory was showing online and the same was true for their computers. I was told there was no relationship with YX. After ten minutes on hold, I'm going to SDF in a week on YX with DL miles. Hmmmmm.
Mar 26, 2010, 9:30 pm
#23
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: MSN
Programs: Delta Platinum Medallion, Accor Live Limitless Diamond
Posts: 224
See ya!
Ouch! That will really eliminate my partner and me as Midwest passengers. We are MSN-based DL GM, and decide for each trip between DL out of MSN or YX/YX* out of MKE. We never consider the other carriers. Without a DL FF agreement, forget it. I hope BB knows what he's doing, b/c there is a lot of YX/DL cross-loyalty in Wisconsin, esp among business travelers. Then again, maybe he's made the decision to go after the leisure travelers.
Either way, it won't matter to me much anymore how Midwest (or whatever brand it is) does.
We have a single MSN-LGA nonstop on DL*. Could we possibly see some DL* flights to the East Coast out of MKE in the future, esp as the DL LGA hub beefs up?
Either way, it won't matter to me much anymore how Midwest (or whatever brand it is) does.
We have a single MSN-LGA nonstop on DL*. Could we possibly see some DL* flights to the East Coast out of MKE in the future, esp as the DL LGA hub beefs up?
Mar 26, 2010, 10:16 pm
#24
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: MKE
Programs: Delta Skymiles, Frontier EarlyReturns Summit
Posts: 766
What if this is just the sign that Midwest Miles program will be ending around June when Frontier and Midwest combine frequent flyer programs? We know that this is going to happen and it is entirely probable that they may not name the combined program Midwest Miles or Early Returns. Delta may have just jumped the gun in "ending" the partnership with "Midwest Miles" and they will begin a partnership with the new program.
Mar 27, 2010, 12:47 am
#26
Join Date: Jun 2009
Programs: UA Premier
Posts: 193
I don't think BB really ever anticipated acquiring both YX and F9. He acted quickly without thinking through the tertiary consequences. Dumping one brand allows BB to focus on developing the other. YX integration would begin again with FL negotiations, but I anticipate being much smoother since FL is hiring and merged YX crews (mostly captains) are already typed in FL's primary aircraft.
BB is in over his head. Dumping YX is the easy way out, allowing him to discard a brand he had plans for, but ruined. This scenario also allows FL to truly become MKE's new hometown airline, YX crews and all...
Mar 27, 2010, 6:22 am
#27
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,638
Picture this....
On April 13th, executives and employees from Republic along with assorted members of the media and various dignitaries gather at the Midwest Airlines Hangar in Milwaukee for the official unveiling of the new brand.
There is noticeable excitement in the room as everyone mingles, enjoys all of the free food/alcohol, and reminisces about the glory days of both Midwest and Frontier.
Finally, the long anticipated moment arrives. The doors to the hangar slowly open and an aircraft begins to appear. There is noticeable gasping from the members of the audience as the plane comes into full view. Something is very, very wrong.
The Airbus A320 is painted in the AirTran livery but has a badger on the tail. Bryan Bedford is waving to the stunned crowd from one side of the cockpit windows; Bob Forano is doing the same from the other.
Both executives quickly emerge from the plane and rush to the podium. As the crowd goes silent, Bedford announces that AirTran has acquired Republic and will fold the branded operations under the AirTran banner. All aircraft will have animals on the tails. Chocolate chip cookies will be served on all flights.
The animals and cookies have been saved. AirTran finally gets its northern hub in MKE virtually uncontested. New headaches emerge for United and Southwest in Denver. Delta doesn't know what to do at this point.
On April 13th, executives and employees from Republic along with assorted members of the media and various dignitaries gather at the Midwest Airlines Hangar in Milwaukee for the official unveiling of the new brand.
There is noticeable excitement in the room as everyone mingles, enjoys all of the free food/alcohol, and reminisces about the glory days of both Midwest and Frontier.
Finally, the long anticipated moment arrives. The doors to the hangar slowly open and an aircraft begins to appear. There is noticeable gasping from the members of the audience as the plane comes into full view. Something is very, very wrong.
The Airbus A320 is painted in the AirTran livery but has a badger on the tail. Bryan Bedford is waving to the stunned crowd from one side of the cockpit windows; Bob Forano is doing the same from the other.
Both executives quickly emerge from the plane and rush to the podium. As the crowd goes silent, Bedford announces that AirTran has acquired Republic and will fold the branded operations under the AirTran banner. All aircraft will have animals on the tails. Chocolate chip cookies will be served on all flights.
The animals and cookies have been saved. AirTran finally gets its northern hub in MKE virtually uncontested. New headaches emerge for United and Southwest in Denver. Delta doesn't know what to do at this point.
No matter what happens, the FL annual shareholders' meeting, which, by the way, will be held in May in Milwaukee, should be very interesting.
I believe that the FF agreement between YX and DL allows for award travel on the partner carrier booked by the June 2010 cut-off date, for travel completed within one year of the booking date.
Last edited by mke9499; Mar 27, 2010 at 6:56 am
Mar 27, 2010, 7:08 am
#28
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Chicago
Posts: 1,800
Blue, is any of your scenario based on information you have heard from employees of any of the concerned parties, or merely your own speculation? We know that you have a couple of pipelines.
No matter what happens, the FL annual shareholders' meeting, which, by the way, will be held in May in Milwaukee, should be very interesting..
No matter what happens, the FL annual shareholders' meeting, which, by the way, will be held in May in Milwaukee, should be very interesting..
I have been told (which has also been confirmed by Republic in the media) that the new brand will be announced on April 13th. Apparently this includes the introduction of a single name.
As for AirTran's annual meeting, I'm sure they'll try and generate some news but I wouldn't expect fireworks. Annual meetings are generally very boring affairs.
Mar 27, 2010, 7:29 am
#29
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,638
The scenario I made up about AirTran buying Republic was meant to be a joke and nothing more. Sorry if that wasn't clear.
I have been told (which has also been confirmed by Republic in the media) that the new brand will be announced on April 13th. Apparently this includes the introduction of a single name.
As for AirTran's annual meeting, I'm sure they'll try and generate some news but I wouldn't expect fireworks. Annual meetings are generally very boring affairs.
I have been told (which has also been confirmed by Republic in the media) that the new brand will be announced on April 13th. Apparently this includes the introduction of a single name.
As for AirTran's annual meeting, I'm sure they'll try and generate some news but I wouldn't expect fireworks. Annual meetings are generally very boring affairs.
The dissolution of the partnership with DL is not proving to be very popular, at least until information about a new partnership (hopefully,there is one in the works) is released, maybe as part of the April announcement.
With the new maintenance base and reservation center at MKE, I don't think that this is a short-term commitment for Republic.
Mar 27, 2010, 9:03 am
#30
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Chicago
Posts: 1,800
What if this is just the sign that Midwest Miles program will be ending around June when Frontier and Midwest combine frequent flyer programs? We know that this is going to happen and it is entirely probable that they may not name the combined program Midwest Miles or Early Returns. Delta may have just jumped the gun in "ending" the partnership with "Midwest Miles" and they will begin a partnership with the new program.
According to some employees, Bedford stated at a recent town hall meeting that Delta was willing to expand the codeshare and frequent flier agreement as long as the Frontier route structure was excluded. Bedford rightly told Delta that they had to accept all or nothing. Apparently, Delta walked.
As further evidence that there will be no expanded partnership, Delta has excluded employee travel perks on both Midwest and Frontier.
I don't see Frontier as a threat, but Delta seems to feel differently. There has been a lot of bad blood between the two airlines over the years and Delta continues to hold a grudge. It's no easy to forgive and forget in the airline business.
There are other options available to Republic and I wonder what, if anything, they will unveil.