While passing through downtown Saint Paul yesterday, I noticed the red "welcome" signs attached to the light posts had the Delta logo (and SkyTeam) on them, rather than NWA, which is supposedly the official airline of the convention. Seems a bit presumptuous to be plastering the town with the Delta logo at this early point in the process, when the merger has not been approved by the government or shareholders??

That IS weird, since NW is the official airline of the Republican convention.

http://www.gopconvention2008.com/news/read.aspx?id=500

Sounds like someone didn't get the memo that the merger hasn't happened yet.

And is there any indication that it won't happen?

Furthermore, they're expected to get approval from the current republican administration - so what's wrong with them marketing to the republicans this week?

So wait a second. MSP is a captive city and NW paid the RNC for official airline status?

Not unusual... think about sporting venues across the country (e.g., continental arena in NJ), AA and WN supporting big charity events in Dallas, etc.

All big companies do it--combination of support for local endeavors, and the recognition that the name/ image will be picked up by the cameras for national TV.

Don't even get me started! BTW, it's an "Acquisition" and not a "Merger". If this were a "merger" - it would be the joining of two entities in an equal fashion - which would mean (in my opinion) a new name for the combined airline and a HQ that is not MSP or ATL.

-A

I didn't realize being the official airline of the convention extended to exclusive advertising rights...

I don't think anyone said they had exclusive advertising rights. I'm sure JetBlue, Southwest, American, or anyone else would be free to pay to plaster "Welcome" signs all over the Twin Cities.

But it would be sort of a stupid move, especially if you a) don't fly to that region, b) were not named the "official" airline or the convention, or c) did not have a hub or large focus city in the area.

I'm sure anyone would be free to purchase advertising, but it just wouldn't make any sense to do it at MSP...

Advertising aims at capturing mindshare to influence future business. It's almost inevitable that the DL/NW merger will happen and thus the future company will be Delta. I expect that the current NW agreed with DL to promote DL for that reason.

Also - putting Delta in front of a bunch of Republicans, while in MSP, might be a subtle way to influence moving quickly on merger approval.

Folks, the merger is almost done. EU already approved it. Pilots already approved it. FAs don't have a say, due to union/non-union, until after it's a done deal. FAs are already getting DL uniform fittings. Videos showing Delta 744s are out on the web (cool video, BTW, check the thread.)

99% of the population, including those who have influence over the merger outcome, don't even know about 2-tier vs 3-tier award schedules, size of the F cabin, WBC vs BE, Chisholm vs. ICC or anything else FT NW loyalists obsess about, and couldn't care less about any of those issues even if they did know about them. Merger is going to happen.

It would be a crazy waste of money for NW to be advertising the NW brand at this point in time. Delta is the brand to promote now.

Well said. ^ Doesn't mean we have to like it (and I certainly do not), but all valid points.

Neither do I. Especially the part about DL 744s.

The DL loyalists are going to try to forget about who is saving who in this merger and drool all over "their" new 744s. It's going to make me sick to see the 744s (and to a slightly lesser extent the A330s) in DL colors. Those define NW, and will soon define DL, with no thanks to them.

I was wondering why all the Secret Service folks were wearing Delta lanyards. I had thought it was an overlooked detail and NW pulled a few thousand they had in storage in anticipation of DL-Day.

Very, very well said.