The Alaska Airlines acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines is different than the JetBlue acquisition of Spirit, but why? If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click here. Both support LiveAndLetsFly.com. If you haven’t followed us...
Avianca (Abra) Setting Pace In South America
Avianca has announced tie-ups with a couple of airlines in a landmark deal in recent weeks and is quickly setting the pace for growth and change in Latin America. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new...
UPDATE: Merged Already? Did American Airlines Match My US Airways Status?
In 2015 US Airways and American Airlines merged which came with its own benefits and complications. This post discusses an early merger of the two loyalty programs. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click...
The United Merger: One Year Later
One year has passed since the day United and Continental officially tied the knot and what a year it has been. I predicted in a blog post late on March 2, 2012 that the transition would be bumpy and...
The Lawyer Behind the AA-US Merger
Never underestimate the capacity of one man to make a difference. The pages of history make that clear and as the dust settles around the almost certain merger of American Airlines and US Airways next week, we are now...
At Least Someone Cares at United Airlines…
I was encouraged to read on Flyertalk about a recent exchange between a United Airlines 1K member and a legacy United customer service agent: Last week my phone rang. It was a lovely female agent from the Premier line....
United Airlines Fights Their Iraq War
With my apologies to Glenn Tilton… A piece in the Chicago Tribune on Sunday captured the frustration many of us have experienced flying on post-merger United. Essentially taking a “mileage run” from Chicago to San Francisco to Las Vegas...
American Airlines Hints at Potential Merger with US Airways
After weeks of repeated denials that it was even considering a merger with US Airways, American Airlines has agreed to “study” the prospects of a marriage between America’s third and fifth largest air carrier by traffic. American Airlines says...
US Airways and American Merger Announcement Imminent?
I am hearing some rumblings tonight that an announcement is coming as early as Monday morning that US Airways and American Airlines may officially tie the knot. With news on Friday that American Airlines’ labor unions have thrown their...
How Did the United Airlines IT Transition Go For You?
I’ve been dealing with a number of family issues over the last week, so I apologize for the brevity of recent posts and the noticeable gaps between them. Just to warn my six readers, the next couple weeks don’t...
Armageddon for United/Continental Passengers on 03 March?
At 0100 Central Time on Saturday, 03 March, United Airlines will flip the switch, transitioning from its Apollo Reservation System it has used for the last four decades to Continental’s in-house SHARES system. Will the transition be smooth? History...
A Zone of Twilight Between OnePass and MileagePlus
As Continental OnePass and United MileagePlus work to fully integrate in March, the next month and a half will be tricky for those elites looking to take full advantage of reciprocal benefits but who never linked accounts. Last March,...
Continental Airlines on the Phone vs. Continental Airlines at the Airport
I learned something today: do not bother to call Continental Airlines if you find your flight is delayed and want to re-route. Just go to the airport and sort it out there. Perhaps I just take it for granted,...
A Closer Look at United Airlines’ $550MN in Onboard Product Improvements
Fozz already nicely summarized the $550MN enhancements coming to United Airlines’ onboard product, but here’s a closer look from Scott O’Leary, Managing Director of Customer Solutions at United with my commentary below: Improved long-haul comfort with more flat-bed seats....
US Airways: We Love Fees, Charlotte, and Mergers (but not Pilots)
Ely Portillo of the Charlotte Observer covered the US Airways monthly employee meeting in Charlotte on Tuesday attended by CEO Doug Parker. Here’s a quick rundown: On Fees: Parker said he understands that fliers hate the new fees, but...
United Systemwide Upgrades Can Now Be Used on Continental Flights!
Ben reports that United systemwide upgrades (SWUs) can now be applied on Continental flights. For now, you have to call to request the upgrade, but within the coming days this should be available to request online. I gave Continental...
Systemwide and Regional Upgrade Reciprocity Coming to Continental/United this Summer
Good news for holders of confirmed upgrades instruments on United and Continental: your upgrade options will soon widen. This morning I received the following e-mail from United: We understand how important upgrades are to you. Currently, elite members of...
Continental/United (Partially) Align Standby Policy
United and Continental have made changes to their standby and same-day confirmed flight change policy that bring the two carriers closer to alignment. Good news for Premier Executives–standby and even confirmed same-day changes are now free on United and Continental....
United, Continental Pilots Butting Heads Over Seniority
The dust of the merger hasn’t even settled yet and already Continental and United pilots are quarreling. Let’s hope this sibling rivalry is ironed out faster than America West and US Airways pilots have worked out their differences (we’re still waiting on that)… On...
Bickering Over the Post-Merger Identity of United Airlines
With a Continental merger drawing near, the LA Times featured a great article yesterday on the struggle over the re-branding of United. I won’t quote from it, but it discusses the ongoing debate over the livery of the merged...
