http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25083833/

Prediction: They won't be around much longer. At least not in their current state.

Why isn't this in the Airlines forum?

Does anyone remember when Delta was crowing loudly about how much it wanted to "remain an independent entitiy" and then didn't THAT all change?

My understanding is that United did not have the cash necessary for the merger with USAirways.

Question now: will the government ONCE AGAIN bail them out or finally allow a major carrier to go bankrupt DESPITE the whining by politicans in Chicago about the loss of jobs at OHare or in Virginia about the loss of jobs at Dulles?

Do you think we might actually GET BACK to the so-called "free market economy" so many Republicans keep telling us we have?

My future travel plans are based entirely on my hundreds of thousands of miles with United. I have my fingers crossed that they will be worth something to someone.

No airline can survive with the current business model and the crisis in fuel costs.

Death spiral watch.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25118405/