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
Nov 12, 2013, 2:24 pm
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'
Aug 15, 2013, 5:52 am
#1396
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: SEA
Posts: 3,955
So is anyone else taking the 5k PQM for the US Club membership now, since United Club access should be good to go for a while? Even with Amex Platinum access, I've flown enough codeshares this year that it would have been nice to go in. Only reason I didn't was the pending merger and the Nov 1 rumor.
Aug 15, 2013, 8:03 am
#1397
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: The Phoenix Desert
Programs: Hilton Cubic Zirconia, Marriott Fools Gold
Posts: 1,692
Ha. Maybe lower prices for them to operate the planes... but no way would they pass the savings onto the people that actually fill the planes.
Aug 15, 2013, 8:27 am
#1398
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 7,819
So is anyone else taking the 5k PQM for the US Club membership now, since United Club access should be good to go for a while? Even with Amex Platinum access, I've flown enough codeshares this year that it would have been nice to go in. Only reason I didn't was the pending merger and the Nov 1 rumor.
Aug 15, 2013, 8:32 am
#1399
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: BWI
Programs: AA Gold, HH Diamond, National Emerald Executive, TSA Disparager Gold
Posts: 15,180
Fiscally responsiveness is but one factor in the choice of a CEO. Sometimes it can hurt more than help. Consider Frank Lorenzo, the creator of the modern Continental. He declared bankruptcy to bust the CAL unions and was successful - until he tried to dismantle EAL to benefit CAL, which lead to a strike by the IAM. The end result was that he was banned for life from ownership and management of airlines.
Later, Gordon Bethune was picked as CEO of CAL. He treated employees decently - giving away automobiles every quarter - and made CAL arguably the best U.S. carrier. As an aside, he learned airline management at PI.
Jim
Later, Gordon Bethune was picked as CEO of CAL. He treated employees decently - giving away automobiles every quarter - and made CAL arguably the best U.S. carrier. As an aside, he learned airline management at PI.
Jim
You can see how well he's regarded by workers and customers alike.
Last edited by Superguy; Aug 15, 2013 at 8:45 am
Aug 15, 2013, 8:34 am
#1400
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 7,819
Fares four years ago could be had in summer on transcon routes for $250 to $299. You're lucky to find a sub $400 fare today (save for the last week of August).
Add to that (assume we're talking about Kettles which is 5% of FT posters and 95% of the general flyer):
$25 per bag
$25 per ticket (using the phone)
$65 to book a "choice" seat
$9 for a meal
That $400 fare is well north of $500 when you add fees.
Aug 15, 2013, 8:43 am
#1401
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: BWI
Programs: AA Gold, HH Diamond, National Emerald Executive, TSA Disparager Gold
Posts: 15,180
I've been reading everything I can since the Tuesday morning announcement.. I wish I had known about this conf call tho. It must have been quite interesting based on the several articles I've read incl this one
American, US Airways Outline Defense, Seek Speedy Trial to Revive Merger
American, US Airways Outline Defense, Seek Speedy Trial to Revive Merger
Aug 15, 2013, 8:56 am
#1402
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 7,819
Havent you heard? Doug Parker (through his counsel) has declared supply and demand curves to be soooo 20th century.
/sarcasm
/sarcasm
Aug 15, 2013, 9:05 am
#1403
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: Landry's President's Club, Marriott Silver, Awesomeness EXPLT
Posts: 20,420
I really want to read the transcripts from the case if the counsel actually tries to argue this in court..
Aug 15, 2013, 9:06 am
#1404
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 7,819
Aug 15, 2013, 9:21 am
#1405
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: ELP
Programs: AAdvantage, Amex MR
Posts: 2,314
LOL if that is the best defense the new AA/US has this will be a slam dunk for the government.
I did open a US credit card for the signup bonus in anticipation of the merger, but I would gladly use my 35k DM's on just a domestic award if it meant no merger. Reading about this pretty heavily for the last few days and it is clear US flyers and AA flyers are both happy with the airlines as is and don't want to come together.
I did open a US credit card for the signup bonus in anticipation of the merger, but I would gladly use my 35k DM's on just a domestic award if it meant no merger. Reading about this pretty heavily for the last few days and it is clear US flyers and AA flyers are both happy with the airlines as is and don't want to come together.
Aug 15, 2013, 9:28 am
#1406
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 413
I've been reading everything I can since the Tuesday morning announcement.. I wish I had known about this conf call tho. It must have been quite interesting based on the several articles I've read incl this one
American, US Airways Outline Defense, Seek Speedy Trial to Revive Merger
American, US Airways Outline Defense, Seek Speedy Trial to Revive Merger
“Of course,” the lawyers said, “there are connecting flights that are theoretically competitive but that’s true of any transaction in the airline industry.”
Aug 15, 2013, 9:33 am
#1407
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,397
If your argument is that we need an airline industry where everyone is 5 minutes from Chapter 11, and where airlines can't afford capital investments, regularly employees on their promised commitments, and there's no reasonable expectation that companies can offer return on shareholder investment, that's amazingly short-sighted.
Aug 15, 2013, 9:35 am
#1408
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 7,819
Which wouldn't even cover the cost of the fuel to fly you 5,000 miles, let alone the plane lease or purchase, the labor and so on. This was also at a time where most airlines were losing money like crazy during the recession.
If your argument is that we need an airline industry where everyone is 5 minutes from Chapter 11, and where airlines can't afford capital investments, regularly employees on their promised commitments, and there's no reasonable expectation that companies can offer return on shareholder investment, that's amazingly short-sighted.
If your argument is that we need an airline industry where everyone is 5 minutes from Chapter 11, and where airlines can't afford capital investments, regularly employees on their promised commitments, and there's no reasonable expectation that companies can offer return on shareholder investment, that's amazingly short-sighted.
When was the last time we had a fare war?
Aug 15, 2013, 9:40 am
#1409
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: SEA
Posts: 3,955
I'm getting kind of excited that this merger might not happen, even though I was initially for it. I'm starting to realize I'm better off as a bottom tier elite on US than any other airline's bottom tier. This could be a win for all of us kettles in disguise.
Aug 15, 2013, 9:58 am
#1410
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: PHL
Programs: Former long-time US GP; now AA dirt
Posts: 4,904