American Airline bankrupt

If US Airways and American Airlines merge, what will that mean for you? It probably won't surprise you to hear that it would likely lead to higher ticket prices.

Peter Greenbrerg has some interesting, but not unexpected comments on the future of airline fares, routes, and reward seat availabillity.....


"First, you can't see something like this happening for 18 months. There will be antitrust review before American could even leave bankruptcy. That said, [US Airways CEO] Doug Parker has been meeting with American's creditors, and, according to sources I've spoken to, promising to make them whole. If the majority of those creditors are on board, he's in a good position to pull this off.

And of course ticket prices will rise....

Anytime you shrink capacity and jettison certain routes, airfares have nowhere to go but up. They're already climbing: The cost of a flight to Europe is up 22 percent over last year.

There would be a merging of frequent-flier programs and a diminishing availability of reward seats. There's no point in giving away seats in a frequent-flier program if there are only three airlines. But the programs will stick around -- these companies actually make more money from frequent-flier programs than they make from being airlines. But instead of getting a free ticket, you'll get a toaster."

What would a US Air-American merger mean for you? - CBS News

Come on, who really knows what management for AA and USAir have up their sleeves. I never believe any of that crap printed in the newspapers or released to TV.

Whatever happens, I'm sure there will be fewer flights and higher fares, no matter who ends up with the airlines.

If AA & USAir combine it will be just like United & Continental - fewer flights, packed flights & higher prices with limited availability to use your FF miles. I have enough FF miles from Continental to upgrade when I book my Nica flights but even this far out (I am going 3/2012) there is nothing available or if there is it is many, many miles and large upgrade fees needed - getting to the point where it is not worth it to be an airline FF unless you are in the top premium elite levels! What ever happened to the so called anti-trust laws in the US!

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Originally Posted by jmbklj

If US Airways and American Airlines merge, what will that mean for you? It probably won't surprise you to hear that it would likely lead to higher ticket prices.

Peter Greenbrerg has some interesting, but not unexpected comments on the future of airline fares, routes, and reward seat availabillity.....


"First, you can't see something like this happening for 18 months. There will be antitrust review before American could even leave bankruptcy. That said, [US Airways CEO] Doug Parker has been meeting with American's creditors, and, according to sources I've spoken to, promising to make them whole. If the majority of those creditors are on board, he's in a good position to pull this off.

And of course ticket prices will rise....

Anytime you shrink capacity and jettison certain routes, airfares have nowhere to go but up. They're already climbing: The cost of a flight to Europe is up 22 percent over last year.

There would be a merging of frequent-flier programs and a diminishing availability of reward seats. There's no point in giving away seats in a frequent-flier program if there are only three airlines. But the programs will stick around -- these companies actually make more money from frequent-flier programs than they make from being airlines. But instead of getting a free ticket, you'll get a toaster."

What would a US Air-American merger mean for you? - CBS News

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Well, I'm uncertain what the outcome will be with American Airlines in bankruptcy court and if I can believe the chatter from US Air. Experts on the topic just appear to rehash the same rumors and add their speculations.

So, since American Airlines offers me better service to my areas of interest, I will continue to fly with them and have my AAdvantage Miles account stack up.

I have been checking around United and AA sites to see what fares are like this far out for my Nica trip in March and AA must have really cut down on their flights to Nicaragua since I only got 4 options to fly from Philly to Managua and they were all overnight flights. This time United/Continental seems to be winning the Nica race - many options to choose from and pretty good fares for both economy and business, however, options to use FF miles were very limited!

p.s. I just turned down a job offer with United - after reading many blogs from former and present employees of United - it does not look like a nice place to work and you would think that since they are a travel related business that they would be somewhat generous with their employee vacation time - suprisingly being able to use vacation time was one of the biggest complaints from employees - pretty non-existent or supervisors never let you take off!

Just in case you missed the winners in the 2012 Freddie Award (frequently flier junkies). American Airlines still has a high rating with this group.

Milepoint presents the winners of the 2012 Freddie Awards.

Program of the Year
Americas Airline: American Airlines AAdvantage
Americas Hotel: Marriott Rewards
Best Promotion for Earning
Americas Airline: American Airlines AAdvantage
Americas Hotel: Starwood Preferred Guest
Best Promotion for Redemption
Americas Airline: Delta Air Lines SkyMiles
Americas Hotel: Marriott Rewards
Best Redemption Ability
Americas Airline: TAM Fidelidade
Americas Hotel: Marriott Rewards
Best Customer Service
Americas Airline: American Airlines AAdvantage
Americas Hotel: Marriott Rewards
Best Elite Program
Americas Airline: American Airlines AAdvantage
Americas Hotel: Marriott Rewards
Best Loyalty Credit Card
Americas: Delta SkyMiles American Express

You know what I can't figure out about this American Airlines bankruptcy, is the news release that they just ordered a huge number of B787s. What's up with that?

I need to see American work out of this mess so I can continue to enjoy their service to South America.

American announced they would begin flying the first of its fleet of 10 new Boeing 777-300ER’s starting in December. Dallas/Forth Worth-Sao Paulo will be the first route the new aircraft fly in December, then service will expand in February and April to include routes to and from JFK and London as well. The new 777-300ERs will be configured as three-class aircraft and will include fully lie-flat First and Business Class seats, Main Cabin Extra seats, and international Wi-Fi capability.

American Airlines Boeing 777-300ER routes will include:
- Dallas/Fort Worth-Sao Paulo 3-6x a week
- Dallas/Forth Worth-London Heathrow daily service
- New York-JFK to London Heathrow daily service
- New York-JFK to Sao-Paulo daily service

You can read about their new planes here….

Boeing 777-300ER Widebody Aircraft | AA.com

I thought American Airlines had been using their B-777s on MIA - EZE route for some time. I know we were on a B-777 when we flew back from EZE just over a year ago.

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Originally Posted by kapper

I thought American Airlines had been using their B-777s on MIA - EZE route for some time. I know we were on a B-777 when we flew back from EZE just over a year ago.

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I don't know - it could be.

The routes mentioned above are ones with the NEW 777s recently purchased by AA. To mountie's point, it seems odd that an airline going thru bankruptcy is purchasing so many new large planes. But then again, the new plane orders may have already been in the pipeline.