Buckle Up

But might they cut back on some of those routes?
The good thing about this consolidation is that they have many complementary routes; Delta is very strong over the Atlantic and to Europe, while Northwest is strong in the West and the Pacific. But where they are serving the same routes, [those flights] will undoubtedly be trimmed.

With more flights and more passengers to handle, could it also mean more delays? And will my baggage make it?
I don't think it will create more delays. Maybe some services could becomes less customer-friendly. But troubles with baggage? Hopefully not.

I hear Delta pilots are generally happy with the deal, but Northwest's aren't. Why?
It depends on how they agree on seniority issues and things like pay and work conditions. If you work for an airline [that pays] a lower salary and merges with one with higher wages, you would be happy. But if it had less you wouldn't be happy.

Will in-flight service change? Can travelers expect even fewer amenities?
One of the best ways to have more passengers is to provide attractive in-flight amenities--for example, JetBlue is popular for its 23 channels of live television. If there's no competition, cabin amenities can be a way of saving of money. But in a merger, those cabin amenities may go—smaller legroom, less aisle services, and that's a major issue for passengers. But free peanuts and cola … I think they're safe.

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