More Financially Stable - Delta or USAir??

[Bill From PA]

Although my 330 day window for buying airfare doesn't open until April, it's pretty obvious that our choice of carriers out of AVP, a small local airport for next Feb. will come down to Delta or USAir. We've flown both without incident, the cost is within single digits of each other and the arrival and departure times nearly identical. It all comes down to which is more likely to still be flying 11 months from now. I probably don't have to buy immediately, but soon after I bought in April of '05 for our March '06 trip I tracked the price for my dates and the cost went steadily up, so I'm not inclined to play a waiting game as in the past. The best price for 'our' dates has not changed much in the last 4 years, it's just that the best price doesn't last long anymore. I'd welcome any thoughts as to the relative viability of these two airlines.

Bill From PA

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Although my 330 day window for buying airfare doesn't open until April, it's pretty obvious that our choice of carriers out of AVP, a small local airport for next Feb. will come down to Delta or USAir.

Delta is in Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, facing the difficult task of once again becoming a financially viable carrier. The pilot's union is balking at further pay reductions. The government probably won't let Delta go under. However, in the unlikely case that the pilots strike, Delta could permanently cease operations.

US Airways has been through Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection twice in recent years. US Airways exited from Chapter 11 when they were recently acquired by America West. The combined airline is taking on the US Airways name. The new US Airways has a big bundle of money, and they're ahead of schedule in their efforts to achieve economies from the merger.

 

[grimley1968]

Sorry, but this question, to me, is similar to: Which character is sillier: Dopey or Sneezy? It seems like just about any US airline but SWA is in major trouble these days.

I guess Horace is right in that USAir is "relatively" in better financial shape than Delta, but that is a very relative thing. I wouldn't want to be employed by either of them, even if I was certified to fly those behemoth planes.

Editing to say: I'm sorry if my above first paragraph came across as insulting. While that was not intentional, I have re-read it and it could be seen as that way. It was a feeble attempt at humor. Sorry.

 

[Disneyjosh229]

I second US Airways. They came out of bankruptcy (although im unsure if they are still out) and I would expect them to last longer then Delta (in the event they go under)...

 

[bicker]

Which airline could you get travel insurance for, if you wanted?

US Airways.

 

[plutospup]

I think both will be flying one year from now. Of the two, however, I believe USAirways is much stronger. Doug Parker, the CEO of the new USAirways seems to have a long range plan toward profitability. Delta right now is just trying to work its way out of bankruptcy. With the rising price of jet fuel who knows how the airline industry will look one year from now.

BTW Bill, were you able to find breakfast at PHL on your last trip?

 

[ducklite]

I agree. US Airways seems to have come out of the BK pretty strong. I'd be leery booking Delta more than a month or two out until they get all their ducks in a row, particularly with their labor issues.

Anne

 

[Bill From PA]

Thanks for the opinions. On another thread someone commented that the current Delta dust-up will come to a head in April but my concerns are more long term. I'll have to look into travel insurance, I've never considered it in the past.

plutospup,

We found a stand selling hot breakfast items and had scr. eggs, bacon and sausage. As I recall it was very near gate C-27 and not crowded at all. We were lucky to have the time because that morning there were a lot of hotel guests waiting for the shuttle. We got on the first one to come after we arrived at the pickup point but a few minutes later and we'd have been 3 shuttles back.

Bill From PA

 

[bicker]

I'll have to look into travel insurance, I've never considered it in the past.

And if you thought to consider it based on what I wrote, please don't -- that's not what I meant. I don't consider travel insurance for a non-cruise vacation. Rather, I figure if a travel insurance underwriter is unwilling to sell me travel insurance (if I wanted it) because I'm flying a specific airline, then I'll take that travel expert's implicit advice and fly an airline that the underwriter is willing to sell insurance for.