I just read on the SmarterTravel.com blog, a great resource for up-to-date travel news, that the United and Continental merger has been approved. What does that mean for B&B travelers? United and Delta could potentially control 41 percent of the domestic market. According to to the NY Times, United and Continental airlines' respective boards voted to approve the $3 billion deal on May 2, and the formal announcement came today, creating a "coast to coast behemoth with a leading position in top domestic markets".The merged company will maintain the United name bearing a logo more reminescent of Continental's.
What does it mean for frequent B&B flyers?
According to the merger site, Glenn Tilton, Chairman, President and CEO of the UAL Corp maintains , “Today is a great day for our customers, our employees, our shareholders and our communities as we bring together our two companies in a merger of equals, create a world-class and truly global airline with an unparalleled network serving communities worldwide with outstanding customer service." The site also promises "competitive fares", but time will tell. For many B&B travelers, rising airfares will continue to fuel the staycation trend, since the majority of B&B travelers are most likely to travel within 50 to 150 miles from home in the upcoming months. Read more here.