Almost Done: Delta, NW to merge, Delta keeps name, HQ in ATL

[Art at ISP]

Phil,

What you said is what I have been saying all along. It's the fares, stupid.

We have advocated FAIR fares--like you said something in the middle. No more $99 transcons, but no more $1200 for BUF-ALB. There is a happy medium.

That said, it has not been proven that low fares are profitable-they are necessary marketing tools. Southwest is actually NOT the cheapest in many markets, but they market themselves to give that perceptiion--so they get business that way. Where they DO excel however is with unrestricted fares-their Y fares and high end fares are much lower than other traditional airlines, so it validates my point that if unrestricted fares were more REASONABLE (NOT CHEAP), more people would migrate a little higher (especially business travelers).

I know it's off topic, but again, consolidation and one or two failures would actually make the airline business more stable. The fact is one way or another, we are going to have to get used to paying more.

[Matt Molnar]

Deal could be announced this afternoon, both DL and NW's boards have scheduled emergency meetings for today where the deal could be approved.

[T-Bird76]

Well the only people that should be happy about this are the shareholders. The fact is this is a lose lose for everyone else. How many airlines are going to replace MEM as a hub or CVG or SLC?

[MarkLawrence]

As far as I remember, NWA doesn't have a West Coast hub and wouldn't that help NWA customers still having SLC as a hub?

[JetBlueAirwaysFan]

I have DL stock, how will this affect my shares?

[Matt Molnar]

Since DL is buying NW it shouldn't affect your shares at all.

[adam613]

I have DL stock, how will this affect my shares?

Your shares will probably go up right after the merger...sell before the combined airline tanks!

[JetBlueAirwaysFan]

I just found out what I had feared all along. My DL Shares went belly up after DL came out of Chapter 11.

[nwafan20]

I just found out what I had feared all along. My DL Shares went belly up after DL came out of Chapter 11.

Yeah.... Stocks before Ch. 11 are worth nothing.

[hiss srq]

The joke all day with pilots on frequency today has been "blah blah blah blah follow the Delta A319"

[JFKSTHEWAY]

This merger hasnt been in the books very long, and its starting to turn for the worst. All the hype surroundign the proposed merger now centers on what happens with the pilots. They are having issues with seniorority and and their respective unions which are in conflict. If this goes under, where will the companies go? UA? CO? AA?