V-Flyer

The long anticipated merger of United and Continental has just been announced.

http://www.unitedcontinentalmerger.com/

With CO being a major partner of VS what implications do you foresee for VS ?

I dont pretend to understand what implications there could be, but one thing i do know is that united have the crappiest internal J class ever and nowhere near as nice as CO offering internally.

cheer

Alex

Alex V wrote:I dont pretend to understand what implications there could be, but one thing i do know is that united have the crappiest internal J class ever and nowhere near as nice as CO offering internally.

cheer

Alex

... agree about UA's domestic services, but PS is much better albeit limited to the transcons. I don't get why the airline internetosphere has gone mental about this ... just another big airline, same old service and facilities and delays ... but mostly I do worry that CO's standards will fall to United!

Hardly surprising move. Am surprised however that they have gone with United Airlines as the name, using the CO livery and management team. The pictures of the new aircraft look just wrong!

Implications for VS? Well I guess it can go one of two ways really. Either VS distance themselves from CO/UA and stop all codeshare agreements or they get closer. Given that the CO management stays I would imagine it could well be the latter. However it also depends what CO/UA view is as well, lets not forget CO were only interested in a VS deal when they had no access to LHR.
If I was VS I think I would be hoping things stay just about the same, being best buddies with the world's largest airline cant do you any harm!

More of interest is what US and AA will do about all of this.

Not sure what US or AA will do.

UA-US stopped talking a couple of weeks ago so can hardly complain. AA are tied up with their links with BA.

They could make life difficult I suppose with the US regulators but that cuts both ways so there may be a little moaning but more likely to be going through the motions than anything serious.

Alex V wrote:I dont pretend to understand what implications there could be, but one thing i do know is that united have the crappiest internal J class ever and nowhere near as nice as CO offering internally.

cheer

Alex

I agree, having flown both, and for me Continental had the far better cabin and service.

I want to know, will my mileage accounts be merged ?

As for the combination of miles, I have just received an email from United about the merger:

After the merger closes, we plan to combine our loyalty programs and when that happens, your miles in both programs will be combined into one account.

Just got the same email a couple of hours ago, outlining the plans for the loyalty program.

I hope they keep Continentals approach of never expiring miles, unlike United, which have an 18 month earning window, so you have to keep it active.

Surely this is a no-brainer for Virgin. They must be looking to position themselves even more towards an (unofficial) Star Alliance role, as the connection options a merged UA and CO will generate must be a real earner.