It's about time:

 

http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/13/us/airline-merger-antitrust-lawsuit/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

 

 

I tried to book a flight last month for next April and the prices stayed stagnate no matter how far I booked out. One used to be able to get cheaper fares the farther one booked out, not today. This merger crap needs to stop now...

Glad to see the DoJ are putting their "big boy" pants on.  I hope this isn't just theater or some other ruse.  Love airliners, but I hate traveling (airports, security, delays, cramped quarters, airlines, all of it).

The cynic in me tells me lobbyists will quash any resistance to the merger.  I do think prices will increase with less when the merger is eventually approved. 

Glad to see the DoJ are putting their "big boy" pants on.  I hope this isn't just theater or some other ruse.  Love airliners, but I hate traveling (airports, security, delays, cramped quarters, airlines, all of it).

 

 

The cynic in me tells me lobbyists will quash any resistance to the merger.  I do think prices will increase with less when the merger is eventually approved. 

It is interesting what one user has to say about the article.

 

"Here's why the CNN article is misleading (aka = "spin" by omission). This is not about fare pricing and what benefits the American public. This is strictly a pork barrel fight.

It is the State's attorney generals (referred to as "anti-trust officials") who have filed suit to stop this merger (19 states). The only reason is that these states worry that they will lose a hub, or service cutbacks to smaller cities.

[TX, AZ,FL,WV,WI,SC,VA,OK,NB,AR,CA,MN,IL,ID,MS,PA,TN,NY, MS, MN and Washington DC]

They want to force US/AA to sell their slots in DC to other airlines; the result is the airline would be forced to cut service to smaller cities to recoup the loss. So, you end up with each state attorney general fighting to save their airline service in their state. It has absolutely NOTHING to do with what is good for Americans, or what is good for the employees of the airlines - politics and self-interest as usual. AND it has absolutely NOTHING whatsoever to do with "fares going up.""

It is interesting what one user has to say about the article.

 

"Here's why the CNN article is misleading (aka = "spin" by omission). This is not about fare pricing and what benefits the American public. This is strictly a pork barrel fight.[/size]

It is the State's attorney generals (referred to as "anti-trust officials") who have filed suit to stop this merger (19 states). The only reason is that these states worry that they will lose a hub, or service cutbacks to smaller cities.

[TX, AZ,FL,WV,WI,SC,VA,OK,NB,AR,CA,MN,IL,ID,MS,PA,TN,NY, MS, MN and Washington DC]

They want to force US/AA to sell their slots in DC to other airlines; the result is the airline would be forced to cut service to smaller cities to recoup the loss. So, you end up with each state attorney general fighting to save their airline service in their state. It has absolutely NOTHING to do with what is good for Americans, or what is good for the employees of the airlines - politics and self-interest as usual. AND it has absolutely NOTHING whatsoever to do with "fares going up.""

 

This guy must know something. I have to agree on all points here...

 American politicians don't care about people. They care election day and after that they do whatever the highest paying lobbyists want. Doesn't matter which party. They are exactly the same. One pretends they care more about people.

Presumably services to small cities being cut would be bad for Americans living in those cities no? I mean sure, maybe people should look at the bigger picture, but isn't it going a bit far to call preserving flights to smaller cities simple self-interest? Isn't a state attorney fighting to preserve airline service for the people of her state simply doing her job?

 

I'm not an American and I don't know any of the backstory here, but it sounds like things are not quite as simple as that comment is making out.

Presumably services to small cities being cut would be bad for Americans living in those cities no? I mean sure, maybe people should look at the bigger picture, but isn't it going a bit far to call preserving flights to smaller cities simple self-interest? Isn't a state attorney fighting to preserve airline service for the people of her state simply doing her job?

 

I'm not an American and I don't know any of the backstory here, but it sounds like things are not quite as simple as that comment is making out.

 

You actually are right here. Preserving slots for one's constituents is exactly doing one's job in the represented district. That being said prices have went up and deals are hard to find no matter how fare in advance one books. This will only get worse with letting these airlines consolidate and drive out competition. Seeing DC is the capital this puts the problem squarely at DC's front door which is why red flags are up. There's no problem when servicing issues affect lesser known cities but when it's at the countries capital push back has to happen. I hope this endeavor is squashed outright and we actually bust up the other ones down the road like 'Standard Oil' (now Exxon/Mobil which Bush allowed to re-merge). Bringing back regulation will most likely have to happen as well as it's unsafe underpaying pilots and cutting corners everywhere possible. This kind of greedy business practice will come to a head just like the housing bubble in which I hope people aren't dead in the process...

Cities like Fargo and Duluth, Casper, Elko they need those subsidies so regional routes can be served with air-service. Mergers too many approved nowdays and competition is dwindling.

Was politican would careless about shareholder value want protect those jobs and multiper effect those jobs bring.

Again, legacy airlines are trying to become profitable (or more profitable) with an outdated business model.  The airlines that are serving the public best are making money without charging bag fees or nickle-and-diming their customers.  Legacy airlines are trying figure out the best way to board aircraft now that everyone has a carry-on and the overheads can't hold them all, while JetBlue and Southwest avoid the problem by letting us check our bags for free.

The dinosaurs are quickly on their way out.

 

Plus, Douglas Parker, the putative CEO of this joint venture between two crumbling legacy corporations is, in my opinion, a complete jerk.

I can't believe that lobbying is still legal. It's one thing in spirit, as anyone has a right to "lobby", but what they are doing it bribes. Plain and simple.

 

Amazing.

 

 

Sent from my Apple communications device.

The dinosaurs are quickly on their way out.

 

Plus, Douglas Parker, the putative CEO of this joint venture between two crumbling legacy corporations is, in my opinion, a complete jerk.

Wow, I sure hope we last at least another couple of years until I can retire. For a crumbling legacy carrier, we sure are making a lot of money!

Well yes for your sake I hope so as well. But let me just say I've seen much worse customer service and relations from these two carriers than many others in recent years. American used to be my favorite but seems plagued with maintenance and scheduling delays now.

 

US Air/Air West, well I just have a grudge against Drunkard Driving Parker, that's all.

 

 

Well yes for your sake I hope so as well. But let me just say I've seen much worse customer service and relations from these two carriers than many others in recent years. American used to be my favorite but seems plagued with maintenance and scheduling delays now.

 

US Air/Air West, well I just have a grudge against Drunkard Driving Parker, that's all.

So your opinion has no basis in fact, it's purely emotional. Not a problem.