US Airways and American Airlines to merge.
US Airways and American Airlines to merge.

US Airways and American Airlines have agreed to merge and will create the world’s largest airline. Before my phone starts ringing off the hook from my paranoid, frequent flier friends (read: travel junkies) worried about losing their miles and/or wondering if their spring break plane tickets will still be valid, let me just clear the air and say: Relax! Everything will be fine and will remain the same – at least for the short term.

Here are the two carriers’ combined new website (newamericanarriving.com) with all kinds of information including letters from both CEOs (American Airlines Letter | US Airways Letter).

US Airways surprisingly beat American Airlines’ social media team and delivered the first tweet of the news at 6:46am ET. American followed four minutes later and below are both airlines’ official tweets:

RT @USAirways: We are proud to announce @AmericanAir & @USAirways are coming together to create the new American http://t.co/xFIDpm80

RT @AmericanAir: We are proud to announce @AmericanAir & @USAirways are coming together to create the #newAmerican: http://t.co/LeABdDyp

They both tweeted that existing reservations and travel plans will not be impacted by today’s news.

Here’s some more important information.

While the merger is being completed, US Airways and American Airlines will remain separate companies, and both of our airlines are conducting business as usual.

They still must receive the necessary merger approvals to move forward before they can formally begin the integration process. They expect it will take six months or so to secure all of the necessary regulatory, stockholder and bankruptcy court approvals required for the merger to close, and during that time they will continue to operate as separate airlines.

  • The new American Airlines will offer more than 6,700 flights daily to 336 destinations in 56 countries around the world.
  • Their hubs will be:  Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Phoenix and Charlotte.
  • Your miles are secure and existing miles will continue to be honored. Likewise, your elite qualifying miles and your elite status, including lifetime status granted under the Million Miler are secure and remain intact.
  • Both airlines anticipate that the regional carriers they own – American’s American Eagle and US Airways’ Piedmont and PSA – will continue to operate as distinct entities.
  • There are 37 worldwide Admirals Club locations and 19 US Airways clubs around the globe.
  • Wi-Fi: 81% of US Airways planes are equipped with Gogo internet including all Airbus A321 aircraft. US Airways Wi-Fi page. Gogo is available on all of American’s 767-200 and 737 aircraft and most MD80 and 757 aircraft. American’s Wi-Fi page.

A good Q & A can be found here.

For the most updated information on the proposed merger visit www.aa.com/arriving or www.usairways.com/arriving.

 

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