Thread: US/AA merger developing story..So many questions..

So this may be a rumor from someone with a lot of time one their hands, but here goes:


This comes from a reliable source... I think!


INTERIM TRAVEL FOR AA/US AIRWAYS EMPLOYEES: We know travel is an important part of employment at American and is a privilege you value. Like much of the integration process, developing the employee travel program for the new American will take time and effort. We have two goals in mind: first, to quickly allow employees to take advantage of a broader network while not creating complicated processes for our airport colleagues; and second, to carefully and thoughtfully build an industry-leading travel program for the future as a combined company. In the interim, we are taking a three-step approach to travel for our people:




Interim Reciprocal Travel Program - We will quickly implement an Interim Reciprocal Travel Program that covers American's people and its wholly-owned affiliates' people when traveling on US Airways.
After-Close - We plan to thoroughly evaluate both travel programs and seek feedback from our people as we develop a new program. We will also consider opportunities to enhance the interim program after the transaction closes while we work on the long-term program.
Long-Term Travel Program - We plan to develop and implement a new travel program based on the feedback from our people that will be a model for the industry.




It's important to note that the Interim Reciprocal Travel Program covers travel between American and its wholly-owned affiliates and US Airways and its wholly-owned affiliates. American's current travel program continues unchanged, as well as all interline agreements except US Airways. Information for traveling on US Airways for personal and business use may be found below.




Interim Reciprocal Travel Program


On March 1, 2013, American, US Airways and their wholly-owned affiliates, including American Eagle and Executive Airlines, will have access to an Interim Reciprocal Travel Program that uses existing systems and processes as much as possible. Current American or US Airways travel programs for their respective employees and wholly-owned affiliates will not change. However, in addition to travel on their respective carriers, employees of the new American will have access to an Interim Reciprocal Travel Program.




Travel prior to March 1, 2013, is not included as part of this Interim Reciprocal Travel Program.




What to Expect When Flying US Airways for Personal Use


The details of this program are a work in-progress, but for now here is what you can expect:




American's people, including active employees and retirees, will have unlimited space available travel for themselves, their spouse/company recognized domestic partner and their dependent children when flying Coach (Y). This also includes American's wholly-owned regional affiliates, American Eagle and Executive Airlines




First (F) and Business (J) class travel are not included in the Interim Reciprocal Travel Program, as including them would create complexity at airports and in back-office processes that would leave us unable to implement the program quickly
Modified Zonal fares will be implemented for both American's and US Airways' people when flying on each other's aircraft.




Zone
Service Charge Range
1 $5.00
2 $5.00
3 $8.00
4 $15.00
5 $35.00
6 $35.00
7 $35.00
8 $50.00




When flying US Airways and US Airways Express flights, your boarding priority will be after US Airways employees, retirees and dependents, but ahead of other companies/airlines. This boarding order will also apply to US Airways employees traveling on American, American Eagle and Executive. During the interim agreement, US Airways employees traveling on American will board after American's, American Eagle's and Executive Airlines' people.




Your parents will continue to have access to one ticket per year for travel on US Airways. As an added benefit, the lower modified fares will apply.
Unlike traditional interline agreements, registered companions of American's people will have access to four tickets per year to fly on US Airways and its wholly-owned regional affiliates. Extended family and friends (D3) are not eligible for the Interim Reciprocal Travel Program.
Ticketing and flight listing procedures will be as they exist today.




What to Expect When Flying US Airways for Business Use


As part of the Interim Reciprocal Travel Program, people at American, American Eagle and Executive Airlines will have access to US Airways and US Airways Express flights for business travel.
Travel requests must be submitted using the OAL Company Business Travel form available on Jetnet. As for travel on American Airlines, booking may be made no earlier than 20 days prior to departure and should be made no later than 24 hours prior to a flight.
As part of the Interim Reciprocal Travel Program, business travelers may be upgraded to a premium cabin on a space-available basis. Travel will be non-removable, positive space.




We are pleased to be able offer our people almost immediate reciprocal travel privileges, and will share details about the after-close travel policies and long-term travel program as they are available.
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