Dept of Justice sues to block AA/USAir merger

[parttimegenius]

US seeks to block US Air-American merger

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

 

And I was just approved for a Citi AA Advantage card this weekend!!

 

As a USAir FF I was ecstatic when Citi gave me $10K and Barclays USAir would only give me $4. I was going to pull the trigger this early but I was still within my recent app spree safe zone and figured the 50K mileage promo wouldn't be around later this year when everyone was applying. Wonder what would happen if I closed the account right after opening - any thoughts?

[BDK]

US seeks to block US Air-American merger

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

 

And I was just approved for a Citi AA Advantage card this weekend!!

 

As a USAir FF I was ecstatic when Citi gave me $10K and Barclays USAir would only give me $4. I was going to pull the trigger this early but I was still within my recent app spree safe zone and figured the 50K mileage promo wouldn't be around later this year when everyone was applying. Wonder what would happen if I closed the account right after opening - any thoughts?

I would NOT do that. Don't be so hasty, I think this deal is going to go thru. And even if it doesn't, still a great card to have!

[hegemony]

I would not make any credit decision based on this news.

[parttimegenius]

Thing is I was hoping to apply for the other two Citi AA cards offering mileage promos in the next 65 days which would give me a total of $110k AA miles. That whole plan might be useless now if the merger doesn't go through.

[creditmmax]

Wondering if for some reason the merger is "blocked" will the Barclay US Airway card still be moved to Citi? or Will the Barclay card be PC'd to a different Barclay card? or remain "as is"?

 

Note: my old Barclay AirTran Card was successfully moved to Chase earlier this year, not sure if this is any indication of what my happen between Barclay US Airways card and Citi?

[cv91915]

The merger will go through.

 

Fewer choices for consumers...? Yep. Higher airfares? Probably. Will it go through? Bet on it.

[parttimegenius]

/>Wondering if for some reason the merger is "blocked" will the Barclay US Airway card still be moved to Citi? or Will the Barclay card be PC'd to a different Barclay card? or remain "as is"?

 

Note: my old Barclay AirTran Card was successfully moved to Chase earlier this year, not sure if this is any indication of what my happen between Barclay US Airways card and Citi?

[parttimegenius]

This is exactly what I'm gambling on. I'd like to think the industry has learned how to smooth the transition of a merger for its loyal customers so I figured long term, Citi was a good move. Now not so sure

[parttimegenius]

/>The merger will go through.

 

Fewer choices for consumers...? Yep. Higher airfares? Probably. Will it go through? Bet on it.

[parttimegenius]

CV - I thought the same thing this morning right after the PR. But now after spending alot of time on FlyerTalk and reading the analyst responses, this is more than just a move to get more concessions by the DOJ. Their statements seem to point to dissolving this merger once and for all.

[cv91915]

CV - I thought the same thing this morning right after the PR. But now after spending alot of time on FlyerTalk and reading the analyst responses, this is more than just a move to get more concessions by the DOJ. Their statements seem to point to dissolving this merger once and for all.

 

I will double down and maintain my opinion that the merger will go through. It's probably against the TOS of the board to openly wager actual money, so I won't, but let's talk in 90 days and see how this turns out.

 

[CV sets reminder on personal calendar, with a link to this post]

[BDK]

The merger will go through.

 

Fewer choices for consumers...? Yep. Higher airfares? Probably. Will it go through? Bet on it.

PLUS ONE!

[BDK]

Why American-US Airways deal is good

 

http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/18/opinion/spiller-airline-merger/index.html

[BDK]

Thing is I was hoping to apply for the other two Citi AA cards offering mileage promos in the next 65 days which would give me a total of $110k AA miles. That whole plan might be useless now if the merger doesn't go through.

Regardless of merger, AA miles are not useless. The REAL question is what will happen to US Air's Dividend Miles if the merger does go thru...

[jv01]

 

Thing is I was hoping to apply for the other two Citi AA cards offering mileage promos in the next 65 days which would give me a total of $110k AA miles. That whole plan might be useless now if the merger doesn't go through.

Regardless of merger, AA miles are not useless. The REAL question is what will happen to US Air's Dividend Miles if the merger does go thru...

 

US miles will be fine; they'll just become AA miles as has happened with every other merger.

 

The real real question is how much award redemption will go up by, how much harder it will be to get elite status and how much elite benefits will be cut by 1-2 years after the merger goes through.

 

Miles (and other loyalty program points) are not an "investment". Dilution is a fact of life, always and everywhere.

[cv91915]

Why American-US Airways deal is good

 

http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/18/opinion/spiller-airline-merger/index.html

 

I know that one isolated example does nothing to demonstrate a trend, but we're looking at tickets from San Diego to NYC on US Air (I have a $99 companion certificate) and everything's in the $700 range for non-refundable coach, PLUS we have flexibility to travel for any one-week period in April or May 2014 and that's the best we could do. It also didn't make a difference if we chose LGA or JFK. I didn't check EWR because I just don't fly into EWR to get to Manhattan.

[encoder]

Also having companion certs to use, what I've realized is that US Air is a bit smaller than United, Delta and American (which are, in order, what I usually fly) but on routes that involve their hub or focus cities -- routes they try to remain competitive on -- they seem reasonable. The only flight I booked recently, SFO-CLT, they were running a just a bit more expensive than United but this was for the Thanksgiving week so all bets are off.

[encoder]

Also, if you're anything like me (and from previous discussions I think you are), flights over 90 mins need to be in an exit row or premium economy, and cross-country flights simply have to be in First if there's anyway posible. I'm a big fan of flying exit/prem-econ on the Outbound flight and using miles to fly in First on the inbound. United makes this especially easy with their First Class Saver awards. In fact we're flying United home on an ORF-EWR-SFO flight the Sunday after thanksgiving, with that 2nd leg over 6 hours on the flight plan, for 25,000 + $5.

[cv91915]

Also, if you're anything like me (and from previous discussions I think you are), flights over 90 mins need to be in an exit row or premium economy, and cross-country flights simply have to be in First if there's anyway posible. I'm a big fan of flying exit/prem-econ on the Outbound flight and using miles to fly in First on the inbound. United makes this especially easy with their First Class Saver awards. In fact we're flying United home on an ORF-EWR-SFO flight the Sunday after thanksgiving, with that 2nd leg over 6 hours on the flight plan, for 25,000 + $5.

We are a lot alike in that regard. If I wasn't hoarding miles for a pair of tickets to Europe in First I'd just book that class of service for this trip to NYC with AAdvantage miles.

[direred]

Also having companion certs to use, what I've realized is that US Air is a bit smaller than United, Delta and American (which are, in order, what I usually fly) but on routes that involve their hub or focus cities -- routes they try to remain competitive on -- they seem reasonable. The only flight I booked recently, SFO-CLT, they were running a just a bit more expensive than United but this was for the Thanksgiving week so all bets are off.

 

If you fly out of SFO, US and AA are kind of sad compared to even Delta. But then SFO's a United fortress hub.

[cv91915]

 

CV - I thought the same thing this morning right after the PR. But now after spending alot of time on FlyerTalk and reading the analyst responses, this is more than just a move to get more concessions by the DOJ. Their statements seem to point to dissolving this merger once and for all.

 

I will double down and maintain my opinion that the merger will go through. It's probably against the TOS of the board to openly wager actual money, so I won't, but let's talk in 90 days and see how this turns out.

 

[CV sets reminder on personal calendar, with a link to this post]

 

 

Reminder went off today. Here's the update:

 

U.S. Airways, American Airlines merger cleared for takeoff by DOJ

 

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/nation/july-dec13/newswrap_11-12.html

 

I'd forgotten about this thread when I created a new one yesterday with this announcement (http://creditboards.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=520037&hl=).

Edited November 13, 2013 by cv91915

[Guest]

 

 

CV - I thought the same thing this morning right after the PR. But now after spending alot of time on FlyerTalk and reading the analyst responses, this is more than just a move to get more concessions by the DOJ. Their statements seem to point to dissolving this merger once and for all.

 

I will double down and maintain my opinion that the merger will go through. It's probably against the TOS of the board to openly wager actual money, so I won't, but let's talk in 90 days and see how this turns out.

 

[CV sets reminder on personal calendar, with a link to this post]

 

 

Reminder went off today. Here's the update:

 

U.S. Airways, American Airlines merger cleared for takeoff by DOJ

 

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/nation/july-dec13/newswrap_11-12.html

 

I'd forgotten about this thread when I created a new one yesterday with this announcement (http://creditboards.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=520037&hl=).

 

Is it still a good card?