US/UA Official Merger Thread II

[WhatBag?]

Try some international segments. There is definitely a difference. Even in coach.

Have you ever flown US internationally?

 

[AAA#6]

There is a very good possiblity Phx could lose 10,000 jobs and it has nothing to do with seniority. If the merger happens and headquarters is moved to Chicago, all jobs relative to the phx hub will be moved to ord. The company will most likely offer a transfer to all the phx based employees but how many will really take it? The same thing happened when HP-US merged, only it was the old US employees that lost out when their headquarters was moved to Tempe. Also, if phx loses its hub status and flights are reduced, there will be fewer jobs at the airport.

AWA/US did essentially layoff both US and AWA folks during our merger. They pitched that they would preserve all the jobs and didn't anticipate layoffs. What they did was offer transfers to PHX, PIT, PHL, CLT, etc to the synergied areas they needed to go to. When they offered a position in another city that offers no real improvement in wage or reasonable transfer benefits (like buying you house).....you get a resignation...not a layoff. Nice public perception play by Parker. And that's how they do it!

If US and UA merge both sides will lose. Just as PHX can lose, CLT and for sure PHL can lose too with IAD in the background. DCA Shuttle may be at stake, so there may be cuts there too. Don't be so close to kill PHX. It is a growing city with a very diverse economy. California based companies will continue to take the tax breaks and incentives that Arizona gives them to transfer to Arizona. When the economy recovers and housing recovers, PHX will continue to grow because it can. So I wouldn't be so quick to write off PHX. Same argument can be made for CLT, as North Carolina is also a very progressive state.

Seniority won't play a role too much, because if there are cuts they will be at the respecitve companies during the merger and prior to one operating certificate. You can't assume for seniority sake that there will be flushing and bumping from UA to US and vice versa. You will have two seperate certificates for some time.

 

[AAA#6]

Mike Flores, president of the US Airways chapter of the Association of Flight Attendants, says that today at US Airways, "It is mostly [former America West] managers making decisions based on west past practices. They were running a regional carrier and tried to bring that same regional mentality."

For instance, he says, "instead of looking to see how US Airways handled European flying or configured aircraft, they said 'we know how to do it better.' If they do that at United, and try to tell United how to fly to Asia, then we will have a major problem."

- The Street

Hmmmmm. Seems to be dejavu. Didn't USAir do the same thing to Piedmont. I remember all the PI signage coming down the day after the merger......Stupid quote.

 

[UAL_TECH]

Exactly! If a company is about to go out of business just let them do so. One less carrier in the sky equals less competition which helps revenue too.

That statement is just too humorous not to be repeated.

To assume that there would be one less carrier is not historically accurate.
UA may very will visit Da’Judge again, but it will be more of a leap frog effect than a liquidation.
In BK, UA will still survive with Da’Judge rubber stamping KERPs/SERPs/etc… all the while keeping the competition on the ropes until we do the full circle once again and everyone else does the BK dance ridding themselves of contentious ‘employees’ and/or benefits. :down:

I do not know of ‘any’ UA employee that believes a US/UA merger is a good idea.
We are all ‘mostly’ pawns/bystanders in this financial ‘sport’ (by our own fractionalized mindset).

Whatever the outcome for UAUA/LCC I wish ‘US’ all the best!!!

Take Care,
B) UT

 

[767jetz]

With mounting labor unrest between US and UA already brewing, with just the talk of a possible merger, I think the prospects of it actually happening are diminishing quickly.

 

[cynic]

With mounting labor unrest between US and UA already brewing, with just the talk of a possible merger, I think the prospects of it actually happening are diminishing quickly.

It's no worse than the internal labor problems at US. If their is a financial benefit to doing the merger, it will probably happen despite the misgivings of some labor groups.

 

[EMBFA]

With mounting labor unrest between US and UA already brewing, with just the talk of a possible merger, I think the prospects of it actually happening are diminishing quickly.

Yes, it will surely be determined by the opinions of a few idiots on an internet forum.

 

[gaucho99]

Try some international segments. There is definitely a difference. Even in coach.

In the last few years I have flown British to London, Air France to Paris, Air Canada to Whitehorse, and both American and Continental to Buenos Aires....I have also flown US internationally.....nobody is better or worse than anybody else....At least from my experience.

 

[AAA#6]

Yes, it will surely be determined by the opinions of a few idiots on an internet forum.

Exactly...everyone is a CEO on the web board

 

[Dog Wonder]

Exactly...everyone is a CEO on the web board

Where are my stock options?

 

[767jetz]

Yes, it will surely be determined by the opinions of a few idiots on an internet forum.

Careful now. You know name calling will get you suspended.

And FYI, I was referring to the official statements of both ALPA at UA and USAPA at US, as well as most of the other labor unions on both sides claiming that a merger with each other is very undesirable. USAPA refered to UA's "dismal balance sheet" and ALPA refers to US as a "toxic stew." Just read the news articles.

No mention anywhere about "idiots on an internet forum."

 

[elixir]

Well, it's good of you to tune it down 76...you've been one of the more caustic posters.

If the bean counters see the $$$...they'll do the deal, they don't give two hoots about what you or I think...just as they did with HP/US.

I think DP's big decision is whether to wait for a possible BK from UAL...it certainly sweetens and greases the deal...it's the preferred way according to him.

And I doubt he'll take a back seat to Tilton...count on that.

 

[UPNAWAY]

Just off the Press.

No US Airways, United deal before the holiday
by Dawn Gilbertson - The Arizona Republic
The merger talks between US Airways and United continue, but the pace is slow. No deal is expected to be announced ahead of the long Memorial Day weekend.

That could change if United accelerates the negotiations this week, a person close to the talks said. But as of Friday US Airways' top executives were not in the around-the-clock merger mode that precedes a formal deal. CEO Doug Parkerwent on a previously planned weekend trip.

There is some concern the airlines' window for completing the regulatory approval process under the Bush administration is rapidly closing.

A short regulatory timetable has been repeatedly cited as a driving factor in the two sides' desire to get a deal completed quickly. If it is not submitted for approval soon, the matter will be carried over into the new administration, lengthening an already long process.

Great a few more weeks of wondering and waiting!

 

[EMBFA]

Careful now. You know name calling will get you suspended.

And FYI, I was referring to the official statements of both ALPA at UA and USAPA at US, as well as most of the other labor unions on both sides claiming that a merger with each other is very undesirable. USAPA refered to UA's "dismal balance sheet" and ALPA refers to US as a "toxic stew." Just read the news articles.

No mention anywhere about "idiots on an internet forum."

Oh, sorry, official comments by a bunch of idiots. That changes everything.

"A pilot called it 'toxic stew'. I think we should call this off."

 

[Kittyhawk]

A couple of weeks ago the newspapers were reporting that US was in the early stages of merger negotiations with AA. That died and went away once CO rejected UA. Anyone know if those talks completely died off. <_<