What would be THE worst is losing PHL as a hub AND losing any miles. While USAir is not a great airline, we are able to fly a lot of places direct and I have decent luck with award seats recently.
karens - regardless of what they do with PHL as a hub, you won't lose miles. So far, at least, merging airlines have combined their respective FF programs. They may need to tweek the rules, but they won't wipe out miles.
dfr - I agree re: miles. But they sure are de-valuing them.
I don't understand the new rules of some airlines where you can no longer use double miles to secure a coach seat. I would think airlines would like you to burn through more miles.
I don't understand the new rules of some airlines where you can no longer use double miles to secure a coach seat. I would think airlines would like you to burn through more miles.
On domestic flights I'm not too sure what will happen, as PHL does have a very large amount of O and D traffic, but I think if a merger took place, more international flights would be added to Dulles, since UA operates a MAJOR intl. operation there.
No expert here but I would imagine that as with any mergers the strong parts of the company are maintained by the NEW OWNERS. Why would the new merged company forfeit
a hub city????
It would just be added, AA has more than one hub, no???
a hub city????
It would just be added, AA has more than one hub, no???
Sarah - AA has more than one hub, but remember BNA, RDU, SJC, RNO, and most recently (as well as most relevant) STL?
AA bought TWA for their routes, their MD80s, but most importantly, STL as another east-west hub to supplement DFW and ORD.
9/11 came, and STL lost most of its mainline flight. It's now much smaller than when it was TWA's main domestic hub.
AA bought TWA for their routes, their MD80s, but most importantly, STL as another east-west hub to supplement DFW and ORD.
9/11 came, and STL lost most of its mainline flight. It's now much smaller than when it was TWA's main domestic hub.
Sarah - in addition to rkkwan's comments, none of these mergers will work without some major restructuring and costs cutting. A merger, without this, is a receipe for economic disaster.
For ex, DL has major hub at CVG; NW has one in MEM. If their merger is approved, I expect one of those hubs is going to be severely reduced or "disappear". They're too close together to continue "as is". Rkkwan's examples with AA are a case in point.
As to PHL, I would expect there would still be a major operation there, but US/UA could well decide to concentrate a lot of flights at IAD, where UA has a major presence.
Just my thoughts.
For ex, DL has major hub at CVG; NW has one in MEM. If their merger is approved, I expect one of those hubs is going to be severely reduced or "disappear". They're too close together to continue "as is". Rkkwan's examples with AA are a case in point.
As to PHL, I would expect there would still be a major operation there, but US/UA could well decide to concentrate a lot of flights at IAD, where UA has a major presence.
Just my thoughts.
Sarah - Delta flys direct to Salt Lake City out of PHL. Park City is close 30-45 min. drive from there. I was hoping USAir would add a direct flight to SLC, but that's one of the few cities they don't fly nonstop to.
Denver flies direct from several carriers - Usair, United I know for sure. The ski resorts are bit farther from Denver - Breckenridge, Winter Park, Keystone, etc. are about a 2 hour drive from there.
Denver flies direct from several carriers - Usair, United I know for sure. The ski resorts are bit farther from Denver - Breckenridge, Winter Park, Keystone, etc. are about a 2 hour drive from there.
Sorry, karen, but I try to avoid connecting in PHL at all costs. But, then again, since US is such a lousy airline, I try to avoid it at all costs, as well.
IAD is far better suited to be a hub, and since the DC area has more people, it makes more sense to make IAD the main hub and downgrade PHL to a "focus city," as US did to PIT.
IAD is far better suited to be a hub, and since the DC area has more people, it makes more sense to make IAD the main hub and downgrade PHL to a "focus city," as US did to PIT.
