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**Sijuki** · 04-15-2008, 01:23 AM

How about the Northwest Airlines and Delta Airlines merger? I got an e-mail on my phone this evening from Northwest about it. I'm sure some flights will go up. But overall it is a great improvement of routes for the new company. And probably an improvement for Detroit (not so much for Cincinatti)

But I'm not always sold on mergers... kind of like America West and US Air.

**TheJake** · 04-15-2008, 01:45 AM

I hadn't heard about it yet but it doesn't surprise me. It will be good overall for both companies but watch for more major merges after this. It's bound to happen soon!

**offhegoes03** · 04-15-2008, 03:35 AM

Just wondering, do mergers like these affect tickets bought before the merger? For example, if you had a ticket with Northwest and now the merged company will be called Delta, is your ticket still valid?

SGRHewitt · 04-15-2008, 05:44 AM

Yes your ticket will still be valid. And rumors of this merger have been going on for awhile now, so no surprise. What I gather is that ticket prices could increase. As long as Indy starts running Delta along with Northwest routes that they already do, I'll be happy.

Cincy is the worst delta hub. It seems like every flight from their to another Delta hub is more expensive than Indy to the same airport.

**Sijuki** · 04-15-2008, 09:57 AM

I have never flown Delta... I have always flown Northwest being from Detroit. Contrary to some people that I hear complain about NWA, I have never really had a problem with them. But anything that runs the risk of raising ticket prices always frightens me.

Yeah, after the Northwest/Delta merger... there is definitely going to be 2 or 3 more coming out soon. With all the talk of the North/Delta I knew it was only a matter of time. Although I will miss the Northwest name. Anyone out there gonna pick up Aloha or ATA?

SGRHewitt · 04-15-2008, 10:02 AM

I intern for a local travel agency here in Muncie. They're quite angry to hear the news. They're hoping that they keep NWA's customer service because apparently Delta trys to blame everything on the agents, NWA is quite helpful.

Regardless, full integration wont happen 6-8 months, at least from what my email says. Not to mention the legal process they have to go through. It could be longer, but I'm sure they'll float major bucks to legislature/FAA to get it done ASAP.

**TheJake** · 04-15-2008, 11:48 AM

then you have the US Airways / America West merger and they have been integrating for over 2 years now and the employees of the two companies are still on different pay scales!!

Mergers are completely retarded.

Ticket prices aren't going to change due to the merger, they're going to change due to the rising cost of fuel.

**Sijuki** · 04-16-2008, 11:06 AM

It will easily be 6-8 months before they even get approval to merge... then look for another 2+ years of integrating. Although us consumers will see the visual integration pretty quick. But the employees and everyone else will deal with the crap for a lot longer.

The only good thing is that NWA and DAL complement each other so there won't be alot of overlapping. But less competition will usually see a slight price increase. Yes, Fuel is also going to kill flight prices. BOOO! We need the solar plane damnit!

But I will miss my Northwest, never been a fan of Delta.

**mbo108** · 04-17-2008, 08:00 AM

Of course oil prices are the main driver but I think that ticket prices can rise because of the merger as well. As a result of the merger there will be less competition and that almost universally means higher prices.

**BelfastFlyer** · 04-17-2008, 12:53 PM

Shame to see NW go, I always liked their paint job :D

next big rumor is UA and CO will merg this year... I'm a fan of both airlines, I just hope that they don't cancel the EWR-BFS flight!

SGRHewitt · 04-17-2008, 01:52 PM

I hope your rumors are false, but then again. With all the budget airlines filing for bankruptcy. I guess this is just what we're coming too. Increased fuel costs, more demand/less supply, and less competition = higher prices.

I really think for the most part airlines are bargains, especially where the price of a round trip air is cheaper than driving in most cases. However, things will get out of hand if mergers become the trend. Monopolizing the industry will only do bad things I'm afraid, just look at the computer industry "Micros***"... But who knows, only time will tell I suppose.

xanthuos · 04-22-2008, 04:02 PM

I'm not happy about it. WorldPerks (the frequent flier program of NWA) is so much better than SkyMiles, and with retaining the Delta name, you can be sure that the merged airline will implement all of the SkyMiles rules and fees and ridiculousness. Ticket prices will increase because of the merger AND fuel prices because excess capacity will be slashed on overlapping routes. There can only be one minor potential benefit in the overlapping routes being combined & reduced and that is that the routes formerly served by RJs (especially with Delta...blech), may now have mainline aircraft on them. I understand how it is a good business proposition for both airlines, but I really wish they'd keep NW's customer service (where you actually talk to someone on THIS continent) and NW's FF program and elite benefits. I don't like Delta and I really like Northwest.

**micdans** · 04-22-2008, 10:37 PM

Agreed Matthew,

Acutally, I haven't really flown in the US with anyone but NW (being from MSP). Customer service is great, they always help. And when there is problems, they try to make it better.
I'm flying to MUC the end of may with NWA. I wonder if there will be anything new with the carrier yet. I haven't read much about when they will be integrating things...

**maracle** · 04-22-2008, 10:51 PM

Yeah, WorldPerks is ridiculously better than SkyMiles....I know some detroiters that are going to be really bummer out when they gut WorldPerks.

**Sijuki** · 04-23-2008, 10:07 AM

I have read in the rumor mill that they may keep some of the better benefits of WorldPerks. (i.e. no blackout dates, etc). But I realize it's all up in the air until the beginning of the merger really after regulatory review by the Big Cheese.

It's a sad day to see Northwest leave.

xanthuos · 04-24-2008, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sijuki

I have read in the rumor mill that they may keep some of the better benefits of WorldPerks. (i.e. no blackout dates, etc). But I realize it's all up in the air until the beginning of the merger really after regulatory review by the Big Cheese.

It's a sad day to see Northwest leave.

I did read some similar rumors - that Anderson is well aware of the qualities of NW's management in MSP compared to DL's and will (hopefully) be trying to bring those qualities into the merged entity. However, as with any airline merger, it's usually smoke & mirrors for them to get through the regulatory process (just like saying they won't close any hubs - an airline with SEVEN domestic hubs? Bullshit!) but once the merger is approved, then the bloodletting really begins. I don't have a hell of a lot of choice because currently, two major carriers serve Saskatoon - Northwest and Air Canada. I refuse to fly AC unless it is absolute necessity, so that leaves Northwest and what will eventually be Delta.

**Sijuki** · 04-25-2008, 03:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xanthuos

I did read some similar rumors - that Anderson is well aware of the qualities of NW's management in MSP compared to DL's and will (hopefully) be trying to bring those qualities into the merged entity. However, as with any airline merger, it's usually smoke & mirrors for them to get through the regulatory process (just like saying they won't close any hubs - an airline with SEVEN domestic hubs? Bullshit!) but once the merger is approved, then the bloodletting really begins. I don't have a hell of a lot of choice because currently, two major carriers serve Saskatoon - Northwest and Air Canada. I refuse to fly AC unless it is absolute necessity, so that leaves Northwest and what will eventually be Delta.

Yeah... I assume Detroit will be kept. Although it would be about appropriate that we spend billions to build a terminal around Northwest to have them not use it as a hub anymore. I think I could definitely see Cincinnati getting the chop. The more it sinks in, the less I like it.

xanthuos · 04-26-2008, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sijuki

Yeah... I assume Detroit will be kept. Although it would be about appropriate that we spend billions to build a terminal around Northwest to have them not use it as a hub anymore. I think I could definitely see Cincinnati getting the chop. The more it sinks in, the less I like it.

Detroit won't be going anywhere. CVG, while likely to get the chop, also brings in significant revenue as the CVG market (through Delta's control) usually has very high fares for O/D (originating/departing) passengers. The most likely hub to face cuts in the beginning is MEM.

xanthuos · 04-26-2008, 08:09 PM

Correction...since I can't edit my posts.
I meant to type (originating/destination) for O/D.

xanthuos · 01-20-2009, 10:11 PM

And Delta has now killed many of the things that Northwest fliers loved about WorldPerks. Let's see how long before the "new" Delta is back in bankruptcy again, since so many high-dollar business travelers will probably start shifting their business to other carriers.