View Poll Results: Is an American Airlines/US Airways merger good for the traveling public?
Yes
84
28.19%
No
214
71.81%
Voters: 298. You may not vote on this poll
Last edit by: aztimm
Note:
There is an existing thread in the AA forum that may be useful to US and AA Flyertalkers:
US-AA Merger: Just the Facts thread
As facts become posted, that should be the place to look.
Merger discussion, speculation, and other questions can be directed here, or the similar thread in the AA forum:
MERGER: US and AA 9 Dec 2013 and implications for AA flyers (new)
AA - US Merger Agreement / Announcement / DOJ Action Discussion (consolidated, and now closed to new posts)
There is an existing thread in the AA forum that may be useful to US and AA Flyertalkers:
US-AA Merger: Just the Facts thread
As facts become posted, that should be the place to look.
Merger discussion, speculation, and other questions can be directed here, or the similar thread in the AA forum:
MERGER: US and AA 9 Dec 2013 and implications for AA flyers (new)
AA - US Merger Agreement / Announcement / DOJ Action Discussion (consolidated, and now closed to new posts)
US/AA merger- MASTER DISCUSSION THREAD/incl 'when will US leave STAR'
#2176
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Travel Safety/Security & Texas, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: AUS / GRK
Programs: AA, HHonors, Hertz
Posts: 13,488
I found this story rather interesting:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/airchive...erican-merger/
The bolded part under Phoenix is interesting; we'll see if/how the DOJ will be able to enforce the 3-year rule.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/airchive...erican-merger/
Winner: Phoenix Sky Harbor
The commitment to maintain all of the pre-merger hubs is mostly a formality, except in the case (potentially) of Phoenix. Some analysts have suggested that Phoenix, which is a low yielding hub with a major competitive presence from Southwest, could get squeezed out in the combined carrier’s network by Dallas Fort Worth to the east and Los Angeles to the west. At the very least, it was certain that the current operation would have been downsized. (My projection was for about a 33% capacity reduction and a decrease in daily departures to 250 from 300, achieved by flipping the current mainline to regional ratio of 2:1) But now? We’ll see whether the commitment to maintain the Phoenix hub “consistent with historical operations” can be enforced by the DOJ. But if it can, it guarantees that Phoenix will stay as a hub for at least three more years. And the interesting undercurrent here is that Southwest’s costs are rising, which means that the competitive environment in Phoenix could be a whole lot rosier three years from now.
Loser: International Operations at Charlotte Douglas
Because the merger has gone through, much of the international operations at the Charlotte Douglas hub are rendered obsolete. The recent trans-Atlantic expansion was primarily to Star Alliance hubs, which will likely die out when US Airways moves over to one world. Most of the Caribbean flights and the flight to Rio are much better served from the much larger market of Miami. To be clear, Charlotte will not lose its hub. But its post-merger international operation will be much smaller than it is currently.
The commitment to maintain all of the pre-merger hubs is mostly a formality, except in the case (potentially) of Phoenix. Some analysts have suggested that Phoenix, which is a low yielding hub with a major competitive presence from Southwest, could get squeezed out in the combined carrier’s network by Dallas Fort Worth to the east and Los Angeles to the west. At the very least, it was certain that the current operation would have been downsized. (My projection was for about a 33% capacity reduction and a decrease in daily departures to 250 from 300, achieved by flipping the current mainline to regional ratio of 2:1) But now? We’ll see whether the commitment to maintain the Phoenix hub “consistent with historical operations” can be enforced by the DOJ. But if it can, it guarantees that Phoenix will stay as a hub for at least three more years. And the interesting undercurrent here is that Southwest’s costs are rising, which means that the competitive environment in Phoenix could be a whole lot rosier three years from now.
Loser: International Operations at Charlotte Douglas
Because the merger has gone through, much of the international operations at the Charlotte Douglas hub are rendered obsolete. The recent trans-Atlantic expansion was primarily to Star Alliance hubs, which will likely die out when US Airways moves over to one world. Most of the Caribbean flights and the flight to Rio are much better served from the much larger market of Miami. To be clear, Charlotte will not lose its hub. But its post-merger international operation will be much smaller than it is currently.
#2177
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: US CP ; LH FTL ; *G
Posts: 1,630
I found this story rather interesting:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/airchive...erican-merger/
The bolded part under Phoenix is interesting; we'll see if/how the DOJ will be able to enforce the 3-year rule.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/airchive...erican-merger/
The bolded part under Phoenix is interesting; we'll see if/how the DOJ will be able to enforce the 3-year rule.
#2178
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: East Coast, USA
Posts: 1,032
I found this story rather interesting:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/airchive...erican-merger/
The bolded part under Phoenix is interesting; we'll see if/how the DOJ will be able to enforce the 3-year rule.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/airchive...erican-merger/
The bolded part under Phoenix is interesting; we'll see if/how the DOJ will be able to enforce the 3-year rule.
Some Yinzers on the board can help me out here, there was a news conference from Parker who tried reassure PIT that it would be safe, but he was challenged by Arlen Specter who told him "tell me this 5 years from now?" It was a heated exchange. Soon after the news conference, PIT lost all its mid-haul and long-haul services except PHX.
Last edited by radiowell; Nov 14, 2013 at 5:10 pm
#2180
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: ROA / CLT
Programs: AA Plat, Marriott Life Plat
Posts: 801
I suppose I'm mostly wondering about lounge access. It looks like BA has a departure lounge that should be available once US is in OW, but I'll seriously miss having access to an arrivals lounge. Being able to get a shower after an overnight flight is a pretty important benefit for me.
#2181
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: SFO/OAK ex DCA ex ALB
Posts: 625
Sounds self-contradictory. If DOJ is going to enforce that term of the settlement wrt PHX, wouldn't it have to enforce it wrt to CLT as well? And if it doesn't, wouldn't that give rise to claims by the losing hub against the gov't of selective and discriminatory enforcement?
I think as long as a handful of international routes ex-CLT are maintained along with hub-scale domestic traffic, it's going to be hard to convince a court that remaining CLT traffic isn't consistent with historical operations.
#2182
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Stuck Between the Moon and CLD or SAN, Your local Taco Bell
Programs: AA EXP/LT PLT, DL PM, UA Silver, SPG Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 3,510
It's also nice for TATL given that the flights are longer. My recent PHL-LHR was 5:48. You can't eat and get any meaningful sleep in that time. If you have a flight that's three hours longer you can get a quick meal and some meaningful sleep.
#2183
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: High Point, NC
Programs: None
Posts: 9,171
While certainly true, one must remember that most of the passenger cabin seats are filled with leisure travelers sitting in coach who aren't so worried about how much sleep they can get after eating so they'll be fresh for business upon arrival. If they're lucky some will find some empty seats together to stretch out a little better in.
For most of the passengers, the travel is a means of getting to a destination, not an experience in and of itself to be enjoyed.
Jim
For most of the passengers, the travel is a means of getting to a destination, not an experience in and of itself to be enjoyed.
Jim
#2184
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Anywhere I need to be.
Programs: OW Emerald, *A Gold, NEXUS, GE, ABTC/APEC, South Korea SES, eIACS, PP, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 16,046
#2185
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,314
So What do you guys think will be my fate:
US Airways Status for 2013: Chairman
AA Status for 2013: Nothing
2013 US Airways qualifying status miles: 30,000 and 38 segments
2013 AA qualifying status miles: 1,500 and 1 segment
What status do you think I will be slotted in for January 7? For how long will it be valid until it expires?AA Status for 2013: Nothing
2013 US Airways qualifying status miles: 30,000 and 38 segments
2013 AA qualifying status miles: 1,500 and 1 segment
#2187
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,314
First off I am a *A Gold UA guy. At least I have been. I live in CLT and fly mostly domestic. I tend to average 2-3 international a year as well.
My initial question is should I take the plunge into OW for the next year or stick with *A?
More info that may help...
I kick off January 1 with a trip to BKK from CLT. I can either book it as UA (ANA) or AA (Cathay) and will get a good start on point for the year.
What should I do? Why?
My initial question is should I take the plunge into OW for the next year or stick with *A?
More info that may help...
I kick off January 1 with a trip to BKK from CLT. I can either book it as UA (ANA) or AA (Cathay) and will get a good start on point for the year.
What should I do? Why?
#2189
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hong Kong & New York
Programs: AA EXP/CK, UA1K
Posts: 131
Quote:
Originally Posted by akelkar
The English apparently don't know how to make an airport whose terminals are physically connected to each other. MAN is the same way.
That brings up a question I've been wondering about -- any guess as to when US will likely be able to move their LHR flights over to terminal 3 with the AA flights?
I suppose I'm mostly wondering about lounge access. It looks like BA has a departure lounge that should be available once US is in OW, but I'll seriously miss having access to an arrivals lounge. Being able to get a shower after an overnight flight is a pretty important benefit for me.
Originally Posted by akelkar
The English apparently don't know how to make an airport whose terminals are physically connected to each other. MAN is the same way.
That brings up a question I've been wondering about -- any guess as to when US will likely be able to move their LHR flights over to terminal 3 with the AA flights?
I suppose I'm mostly wondering about lounge access. It looks like BA has a departure lounge that should be available once US is in OW, but I'll seriously miss having access to an arrivals lounge. Being able to get a shower after an overnight flight is a pretty important benefit for me.
You won't be lacking for lounge options at T3
#2190
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,774
With an eastbound TATL flight that short, I wish airlines would offer early morning departures from the US with arrival in Europe in the evening and avoid the whole overnight experience.