Originally Posted by shoelu

That's preposterous! Wouldn't someone simply point out that this stuff happens during every merger like you suggested?

Delta-Northwest Merger: Newlyweds Flying in Opposite Directions? - The Middle Seat Terminal - WSJ

Delta-Northwest Merger: Newlyweds Flying in Opposite Directions?

Airlines that merge typically run into operational problems a year or two after the deal closes as they integrate operations: putting computer systems together, for example, and melding maintenance, airport staff and ultimately crews can lead to snafus that inconvenience passengers.
But at Delta Air Lines, an operational slide seems to have started about the time that Delta’s acquisition of Northwest Airlines Corp. was announced.
According to a new Department of Transportation report out Wednesday, Delta was the worst major carrier in on-time performance in November. (The only two airlines of any size worse than Delta were its two regional partners, Comair and Atlantic Southeast.)
Delta and Atlantic Southeast also had the dubious distinction of being the only two airlines with a higher rate of customer complaints filed with the DOT in November than in November 2007. In complaints, Delta was worst among majors.

Back in the fourth quarter of 2007 and the first quarter of 2008, Delta was humming along, ranking No. 1 in on-time performance among the 19 airlines that report to DOT. But in the second quarter of last year, Delta fell to No. 1, then down to No. 1 in the third quarter. In October, Delta ranked No. 1. Then No. 1 in November.

A spokeswoman for Delta says the November on-time rate “was lower than we’d like and was impacted by four days of rain, low ceilings and (air-traffic control) programs.”

Pointing to higher annual results for 2007 and 2008, plus improvements in baggage handling, she said, “Overall, Delta people are delivering excellent results for our customers. Not to mention, our pilots have been ranked the most attractive of the entire industry, which goes to show you over sexed pilots is good for business."

Curiously, the on-time numbers were just the opposite for Northwest. Going back to the fourth quarter of 2007, Northwest was a dismal No. 15 in on-time performance, then No. 2 in both the first- and second- quarters of last year. Once the merger deal was signed, things improved markedly. By the third quarter last year, Northwest was No. 1, then No. 1 in October and No. 1 in November.

"The fact that both have stellar or improving on time performance is due to the fact that the backbone of their fleet was built in Long Beach California and that is the key to making this merger happen." Said Bob... Barker.
Delta notes that Northwest and Delta often face different weather conditions since Northwest flies largely in the northern tier of the country and Delta in the southern tier. Over long periods of time, weather factors typically even out.

On-time performance often reflects how employees feel about their airline and their managers, and how much attention executives are paying to both rallying workers and working towards a smooth operation. The latest DOT numbers suggest Northwest workers rallied with the merger news, but Delta workers perhaps weren’t as happy with the prospects of the combination. That, or Delta management was simply distracted by the task of creating the world’s largest airline company.

Originally Posted by KC10 FATboy

I recently booked a business trip. While pricing tickets trying to get the best deal, I was frustrated with Southwest because the website wouldn't let me select my departure airport and then choose the destination airport.

Now I know why. I was leaving from a Southwest airfield and trying to fly to an AirTran airfield. I thought perhaps either my computer browser was screwed up, or Southwest's website was having issues. My blood pressure would have been much lower that day had Southwest's website told me this upfront.

Originally Posted by 80ktsClamp

A major point to be taken from this is that people have bent over backwards so WN can have their way is that they now believe that only their way is the right way. What once was a very aggressive and flexible carrier is now an overbloated and spoiled operation.

The way they have treated the FL employees as newhires and told that they are lucky to be offered employment... as well as the fact that they are sticking to using their less adaptive and outdated IT systems strongly illustrate this.

Originally Posted by KC10 FATboy

I recently booked a business trip. While pricing tickets trying to get the best deal, I was frustrated with Southwest because the website wouldn't let me select my departure airport and then choose the destination airport.

Now I know why. I was leaving from a Southwest airfield and trying to fly to an AirTran airfield. I thought perhaps either my computer browser was screwed up, or Southwest's website was having issues. My blood pressure would have been much lower that day had Southwest's website told me this upfront.

Originally Posted by DelDah Capt

I foresee a nice big Pizza party being thrown for the Atlanta Constitution-Journal's Business section writers in the very near future..........

Originally Posted by 80ktsClamp

... as well as the fact that they are sticking to using their less adaptive and outdated IT systems strongly illustrate this.

Originally Posted by shoelu

You couldn't be more wrong. Most of the problems stem from the current reservation system that is being actively dumped for a modern system to handle the new operation. You have to remember we don't codeshare in the manner that most airlines do. We don't outsource our flying the way many others do so the system is simply not set up to sell anything but Southwest flights. You can book a limited number of Volaris destinations through southwest.com, but you are still issued a separate Volaris ticket. Rather than attempt to revamp the current system, it is being replaced with a newer more modern system to serve these needs.

“We’ve got a reservation system that is unique for us,” Kelly said. “It’s worked very, very well for four decades, and now it’s time for us to prepare ourselves for international.”
Building a new reservation system is one of four major initiatives underway at the airline. Kelly said Southwest’s top priority is the pending $1.4 billion acquisition of AirTran Holdings Inc., a deal expected to close in the second quarter. “We need to make sure that we get that integration work under way, and then we’ll prioritize where the new reservation system fits into that,” Kelly said.