Northwest-Delta Merger Imminent
MinnPost: NWA-Delta merger means a triple whammy for state
- Reduced competition, leading to higher airfares.
- Poorer customer service from the merged airline.
- Lost jobs.
*sigh* Ugh. That MinnPost story also details the long, painful relationship the state of Minnesota has had with NWA.
Bitter Bob Collins is following the action on MPR’s News Cut blog and taking your questions.
All I want is Southwest Airlines. That’s all I’m asking. When the hub-and-spoke system means there are 12 flights a day from here to Detroit for no less than $300, something’s not right.
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I fly NWA a couple times a month for work - 180k miles the last two years. I’m super bummed about the merger, but I also realize it’s inevitable. NWA is bankrupt and changes have to happen. Will that cost consumers more, probably?
Is it up to the Governor of Minnesota to inject himself into the business discussions? I don’t think so.
This morning a story on MPR said Delta offers more worldwide flight options beyond KLM, thus international prices should stay competitive. Of course, local shuttles — like Mesaba flights to Duluth — may certainly disappear. If that’s the case, it’s up to MSP itself to open up to discount airlines like Allegiant Air.
As for customer service, I’m scanning the Aviation Consumer Protection Division Reports, and Delta is ranking ahead of NWA most everywhere.
I don’t see how customer service could get any worse with the merger. I’ve got enough frequent flier miles to go just about wherever I please for free, and yet when I took my vacation last year I got in the car, because I didn’t want the stress and unpleasantness of flying with NWA.
As for NWA being bankrupt, that’s a direct result of the takeover mania in the 80s. Northwest Orient owned some of the most valuable real estate in Tokyo and had a lock on most asian markets. All gone to some corporate raider’s pocketbook.
Sigh.
I almost wish NWA had gone bankrupt a few years ago. At least then, it would have left a void at MSP that would have quickly been filled by the southwests of the world.
Now, we’ll still have to deal with Deltalwest bullshit, and massive layoffs!!
I almost wish NWA had gone under as part of the bankruptcy. At least then, it would have left a void at MSP that would have quickly been filled by the southwests of the world.
Now, we’ll still have to deal with a Deltalwest monopoloy bullshit (which gets even larger), and massive layoffs!!
SWA won’t touch MSP under those conditions.
the only thing we can hope for is that Deltawest reduces their flight presence here.
I doubt it’ll happen, but when the whole thing hinges on what the pilots union decides about their pay… On the one hand, more power to the people. On the other hand, seems like it’s awfully easy to stop it from happening. Or maybe it was too easy to propose a merger in the first place.
In other Northwest news, this PerkChoice thing is now available. Use miles for half a flight, cash for the other half. Since apparently no one can ever find roundtrip flights that are even remotely convenient with their Worldperks miles. Pay attention, though. It’s really easy to overspend. (via Minneapolisyncrasy)
Wow. Nobody invited me to the party where I was going to be roasted, and now the comments are closed.
Erica, just curious, is there something I said to YOU that earned me the adjective that you used?
Actually, no. I was just riffing off Dave’s post. In fact the one conversation I had with you was very pleasant.
Ah, OK, I’ve been confused today because Aaron Landry also posted a buy-in to "people he’s talked to" concluding that I "don’t get it" when it comes to online issues and I don’t believe I’ve ever actually talked to Aaron in my life, either.
And there’s a guy named Tom who says he "hates me" because all of his communication with me "is like that" (a direct answer, I guess) and as far as I know, I’ve never talked to HIM either.
It’s a troubling thing, actually. Very troubling, indeed.