Just Say No to the Northwest/Delta Merger

I'm not a fan of Northwest Airlines. Yes. I like their prices from time to time, but I am less than impressed with flying with them and their customer service. I am all for playing by the rules. I really am. I can even somewhat get behind rules that I think are unfair. They are the rules and what I agreed to when I bought my ticket. However, the customer service reps and flight attendants do not have to cruel and condescending when I am playing by the rules. Also, I'm not for the double standard that they can break their rules if need be, but they won't budge an inch for the customer. It has been years since I flew with Delta, but it too is not on my top airline list. I vaguely remember my flight times being changed and having no way to realistically make my connection and the airline fail to notify me...as did Expedia and when I figured out the issue on my own Expedia told me to call Delta and vice versa.

This proposed merger makes me sick to my stomach. Call me a pessimist, but I see the worst case scenario here. The world's largest airline would be a monster. I can already see the play ground bullying. Little airlines that are already struggling are going to fight their way into oblivion. The already horrendous airline fares are not going to get any lower folks. One big airline means less competition. As they kill more smaller airlines, that means even less competition. I was not exactly a huge fan of ATA, but al least it was an option. I'm actually really pulling for Frontier. I only flew them once, but they seemed like a pretty quality airline. Still these smaller low cost airlines are already in trouble. If this merger happens, you might as well put them on an endangered species list. That means bad news for us travelers. Fares will continue to rise and quality will continue to fall. Remember the good old days when even flying in coach meant you got a meal? Now we are to the point where you have to pay $2-5 for snacks. Beverages will be next. Plus if you think the fees and surcharges are bad now, this is just the beginning. Air travel will only suffer if this merger is approved.

I'm not sure how airline travel has come to this. Yes, they took a hit after 9/11. Yes, I know that there are airlines that barely make their operating costs back on some flights. Fine I see that there is a problem. I understand some of this comes from customers demanding the lowest possible fares...but I also see that some of the blame of airlines. I think some of their poor choices and poor treatment of customers coming back to haunt them. I can't see this merger making things better for anyone...except Northwest's and Delta's bottom lines. Well more so the new merged airline's bottom line. I get that it is a business, and that making a profit is the desired result. However, in a world where airline travel has become dubious, this may just make a miserable situation horrendous.

I'm dreading the day that my only choice is an airline that has rude customer service reps, and outrageous prices. I'm thinking that day may be closer than I would like it to be.