News and notes from around the interweb:
- What is fuel dumping?
- American is permitting voluntary changes and ticket refunds for Venezuela travel as a result of that country imposing new Visa requirements on American citizens.
- Would American Airlines buy Alaska? Historically the price for the Seattle-based airline has always been too high. And the DOJ would certainly demand a pound of flesh (off the top of my head, slots at O’Hare and gates at LAX). It would be a strategic complement. Of course one might argue similarly about an acquisition by ‘Anyone But United’.
- Terry Maxon has daylight images of American’s new Boeing 787
- Why every day will be like a bad weather day at LAX… for the next 3 years.
- Passengers feel sorry for toddler traveling with loud, obnoxious parents (HT: Paul H.)
- The Pets on Trains Act is tucked in alongside $7 billion in subsidies
There is no way AS should be allowed to be part of AA. HA, WS or VX can merge with them, as well as B6…but there is no way any of the giants should be allowed to get larger.
I don’t get the ‘Anyone But United’ statement. I know they don’t have any codeshares so does that mean they’re not friends?
@Eddy – United and Alaska have too much overlap on the West Coast to be able to do a deal, DOJ would fight in court to reject it outright
Any chance AS and WN marry? Theres little overlap and neither gets me where I want to go completely, but together they will.
I didn’t realize that ORD was slot controlled.
AS clearly complements the rest of AA’s route network even after the integration of US. AA has next to no presence through the northwest and particularly between the key cities of SEA, PDX, SFO and LAX let alone smaller cities throughout the region. Granted the AA/US merger creates an issue of size, but it cannot suggest a reduction of competition or routes. AS has much too good an F cabin and Y cabin service/amenities ethos to have much in common with WS. Obviously AS should remain an indie and ultimately phase out its DL relationship and strengthen the one with AA.
Southwest is allowing you to change upcoming flights to, from, or via LAX to any other available flight without upcharge. Just go to their Change Reservation page, enter your info, and look for the big yellow box explaining the opportunity for a one-time change.
Airlines are wayyyyy to big and already demonstrating appalling levels of customer service with abusive behavior to customers that have their luggage lost or have other customer service issues.
Hold times are soaring with some customers waiting 6 hours to speak to an agent!
That’s only one of a number who happen to make it into the press so American actually responded
Doug Parker is not fit to run the airline based on his past US Air horrendous performance
No more merging at all!!!!
Relationships/partnerships possibly but allowing Delta and United a license to kill was the first fatal mistake We continue to see the disturbing trends and devaluations from their programs down to the very ticket prices that are quickly becoming extortionate in a number of markets these behemoths typically control
I feel sorry for families and anyone not reasonably well to do. Its going to get rough out there.We already have 1200 roundtrip deeply discounted fares out there in economy with advance purchase rates
There will always be some sweet spots but the big picture isn’t looking bright.Within two years or less I predict the worst is yet to come from Parker.
We may just be calling these days the good old days!
At least for me, the “what is fuel dumping” link took me to a malware site…
Leave AS alone. The AA/US combination has already purchased three other excelleny West coast carriers, with nothing to show for any of those actions today.