United/Continental Airlines Potential Merger

[JB2K]

Anyone been watching the news???

United and Continental are trying to combine to create what will be the world's largest airline.

Currently, the boards of both airlines are supposed to meet, today and if all goes as planned, both airlines will make an announcement, Monday morning.

What does this mean for us?

Less choice, obviously -- especially if your airport is served by both airlines.

As both airlines are already part of the Star Alliance, I don't expect frequent flier mileage to be affected.

I imagine most of the current UA/CO hubs (Chicago O'Hare/Houston-Bush/Denver/Newark) will all remain intact

We'll wait and see...

 

[Ted in Halifax]

USA TODAY writes "United and Continental airlines have reached the precipice of a merger agreement that their executives hope to announce on Monday, a source involved in the negotiations said Friday. The announcement hinges on the boards of both airlines approving the deal, said the source, who is not authorized to speak for the airlines and requested anonymity. The board of United's parent, UAL, is to meet today. Continental's board is supposed to meet today and Sunday."

Sounds like it will happen ... if you can trust the news?

 

[JB2K]

Sounds like it will happen ... if you can trust the news?

After seeing Delta and Northwest merge last year, I am convinced that anything and everything is "in play"...

As for UA/CO, none of their "super-hubs" are located within close proximity of each other, plus they already share some degree of cooperation via Star Alliance.

Frankly, I am surpirsed not a whole lot of folks, here are commenting on this one (especially, the New Jersey crowd that makes up most of this board, as Newark-Liberty IAP is one of Continental's biggest hubs)...

 

[DebbieB]

I've heard Cleveland could be in trouble. Another blow for Ohio - Cincinnati has had a major scaleback since the Delta/NW merger.

 

[JB2K]

I've heard Cleveland could be in trouble. Another blow for Ohio - Cincinnati has had a major scaleback since the Delta/NW merger.

I've heard that, too (though CLE has recently been considered by Continental to be a third-tier hub when compared to Houston/Bush and Newark).

I know all about major blows to large airports -- here, in St. Louis, American Airlines recently began folding their hub operations, which will leave (at least) three dozen gates vacant by the time AA becomes "a destination only" airline.

And, of course, any UA/CO tie-up would further reduce airline activity/employment at the once-mighty STL...

 

[pr surfer]

I am only praying they keep Continental's standards of service. If they follow United's, then its another airline I won't be flying often.

 

[jerseygirl81]

I hav'nt heard about this although I was on continentals website checking flights for August. My DSIL works for cont. at newark,nj so hopefully this won't affect her job in any way. I do like that cont. offers a lot of non-stop flights to mco. I wonder if this will affect prices and service maybe I should wait to book, maybe they will offer a sale or maybe they will start changing their flights. Any opinions on that? Linda

 

[DebbieB]

I hav'nt heard about this although I was on continentals website checking flights for August. My DSIL works for cont. at newark,nj so hopefully this won't affect her job in any way. I do like that cont. offers a lot of non-stop flights to mco. I wonder if this will affect prices and service maybe I should wait to book, maybe they will offer a sale or maybe they will start changing their flights. Any opinions on that? Linda

This will take some time to get setup. I don't think August would be affected.

 

[pilotwife_02]

I haven't heard this either.

Funny a few weeks ago "word on the street" was United and US Air were in talks too. Guess United is merger hungry.

 

[JB2K]

It's now being written as "the world's worst-kept secret" -- there will be an official announcement later, this morning...

 

[JB2K]

I hav'nt heard about this although I was on continentals website checking flights for August. My DSIL works for cont. at newark,nj so hopefully this won't affect her job in any way.

It shouldn't, as Newark-Liberty will be considered one of the new United's "crown jewels" once the merger is complete.

As for employment, the only potential stumbling block would be when the unions start to merge seniority lists, etc. between United and Continental.

 

[goofy4tink]

I don't fly either one, so I'm not really worried. But....when these mergers start, you have to worry about others following suit. There was mention of AA merging with JB down the road. Now that would concern me.

 

[Tara]

I'm fine with it - I don't fly CO enough to notice any appreciable difference in service (I think it and United are pretty good, actually). For me, I think I'll have more options as a result.

 

[JB2K]

I don't fly either one, so I'm not really worried. But....when these mergers start, you have to worry about others following suit. There was mention of AA merging with JB down the road. Now that would concern me.

As there are few "legacy" carriers, left, who else could merge??

Currently, the only two who haven't made any "deals" yet are American Airlines and U.S. Airways.

The reasoning for these tie-ups are the extensive overseas routes these carriers own, which pretty much leaves the discount carriers (JetBlue/AirTran/Southwest) out of the game...

 

[Ted in Halifax]

http://www.unitedcontinentalmerger.com/

Looks like its no longer secret

 

[DebbieB]

As there are few "legacy" carriers, left, who else could merge??

Currently, the only two who haven't made any "deals" yet are American Airlines and U.S. Airways.

The reasoning for these tie-ups are the extensive overseas routes these carriers own, which pretty much leaves the discount carriers (JetBlue/AirTran/Southwest) out of the game...

USAirways never really completed their merger with American West. The pilots and flight attendents still have separate contracts. It would make it difficult to merge with another airline. They have twice talked to United and it fell through.

American bought out TWA years ago.

 

[dis_guy]

For us here in Canada I'm sure we'll feel some effects from this too. 12 months ago we could count on a decent fare from one of Continental, NWA, Delta or United, all of which had some good routes/connections for us. Now we'll be down to Delta and United. Not a biggie as we usually go with United anyway, but it may mean fewer choice fares being offered.

Time will tell.