Northwest & Delta merger...FF programs unchanged?

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Here's my email from Northwest advising me of the merger and discusses the "no-change" position of WorldPerks.

Northwest email said:
As a valued Northwest Airlines® customer and WorldPerks® member, I wanted you to be among the first to hear that we have announced an agreement to merge with Delta Air Lines. Subject to regulatory review, our two airlines are joining forces to create America’s premier global airline which, upon closing of the merger, will be called Delta Air Lines.

By combining Northwest and Delta, we are building a stronger, more resilient airline that will be a leader in providing customer service and value. Our combined airline will offer unprecedented access to the world, enabling you to fly to more destinations, have more flight choices and more ways than ever to earn and redeem your WorldPerks miles.

You can be assured that your WorldPerks miles and Elite program status will be unaffected by this merger. In addition, you can continue to earn miles through use of partners. And once the new Delta Air Lines emerges you can look forward to being a part of the world’s largest frequent flyer program with expanded benefits.

The combined Delta Air Lines will serve more U.S. communities and connect to more worldwide destinations than any global airline. Our hubs – both Delta’s and Northwest’s – will be retained and enhanced. We will be the only U.S. airline to offer direct service from the United States to all of the world’s major business centers in Japan, Asia, Latin America, Europe, India, Middle East and Africa and within North America.

Both airlines bring tremendous strengths to this new partnership. Our complementary service networks form an end-to-end system that is truly greater than the sum of its parts. This is a merger by addition, not subtraction, which means all of our hubs – both Northwest’s and Delta’s -will be retained. We will build upon both airlines’ long history of connecting Japan and Asia to communities in the U.S. and throughout the world.

All of these positive benefits of our combination mean that we can:

* Offer more schedule options and more opportunities to earn and redeem frequent flyer miles in what will become the world’s best and most comprehensive frequent flyer program.
* Continue to serve our current roster of destinations and to maintain our hubs in Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York, Salt Lake City, Amsterdam and Tokyo.
* Improve our customers’ travel experience, through new products and services including enhanced self-service tools, better bag-tracking technology, more onboard services, including more meal options, new seats and refurbished cabins.

While we work to secure approval of our merger, which may take up to 6 to 8 months, it will be business as usual at both airlines. We will continue to operate as independent airlines and the people of Northwest will remain focused on providing you with the very best in safe, reliable and convenient air travel. At the same time, both airlines will be planning for a seamless integration of our two airlines, one that delivers to you the enhanced benefits that will earn and retain your preference.

As we work through this process, we will keep you informed at every step along the way. Thank you for your business and we look forward to serving you on your next Northwest flight.

Sincerely,

Todd A. Anderson
Director
Pacific Marketing & Distribution Planning
Northwest Airlines
 
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The merger website has the following information:
Delta and Northwest: Creating America's Premier Global Airline
What changes can SkyMiles and WorldPerks members expect as a result of this transaction?

* Customers will be able to fly to more destinations, have more flight scheduling choices and have greater ability to earn and redeem their SkyMiles around the world.
* Customers can already earn and redeem frequent flyer miles on both Delta and Northwest flights. Shortly after the deal closes, we will announce a plan for consolidating miles into one account, and because of the breadth of the new network, customers will have greater opportunities to earn and redeem miles. As with all of our operations, there will be no combination of frequent flyer programs until the transaction closes.
* Customers will have the ability to earn miles with more than 100 worldwide hotel, rental car, retail, financial and travel-related partners.
* The merger strengthens the SkyTeam alliance and the many travel benefits associated with these airline partners, in an increasingly competitive global airline environment.

So I believe it's situation normal for a while, and then they'll try and work out how to merge the 2 FF schemes together.

It'll probably be called SkyPerks or something crazy like that.
 
I think we can expect to see quite a bit of turbulence before this "merger" is completed.

The NWA pilots are up in arms about their lack of seniority within the new airline, so expect to see a few fireworks before it's all consumated. All the plums are going to the Delta pilots (that's why they agreed to it).

Just another situation where the major party (Delta) rides roughshod over the minor party. It'll be fun to watch!

Might give CO and UA a few things to think about.
 
Lindsay Wilson said:
Investors have panned the deal to merge Delta and Northwest Airlines. The ambitious plan to create the world's largest airline increases costs but may not improve revenues...

No news there then. This is what Robert Crandall had to say about it...
Ex-American chief slams mergers, predicts higher prices - SmarterTravel.com.

Also, would you want to have anything to do with a merged airline that had over $10 billion in losses in the first quarter of the year?...
http://news.airwise.com/story/view/1208957300.html
http://news.airwise.com/story/view/1208956407.html.
 
Looks to be done.

Delta buys Northwest to create biggest airline | U.S. | Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Delta Air Lines swallowed rival Northwest Airlines Inc on Wednesday in a $2.6 billion merger that created the world's biggest airline and prompted new speculation about further industry consolidation.

The all-stock transaction, the first domestic airline combination in three years, closed after clearing its biggest and last regulatory hurdle earlier in the day -- U.S. Justice Department antitrust review.
 
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