Merging airlines what about our tickets?

We need to buy our tickets for Dec to England soon as prices continue to go up daily. A month ago it was $648 now it $780 for one adult. We have 2 adults and 2 kids. But with some of the airlines merging what does this mean for our tickets? Will we still have them?  We NEED to go to England in Dec, but are not ready for using a rowboat!

In most cases the airline will continue to honor the paid ticket with little disruption to the consumer.

The airline I use most is NWA and they recently merged with Delta. They sent out a mass email to members explaining what is to come. It sounds like they are going to continue to operate as is for now, as two airlines but I am sure even after, each companies tickets will be honored. If you are worried at all, contact customer service for the airline you are considering booking with. I hope you find a good deal! 

When Lufthansa merged with United....The flights remained the same but I had a United flight number instead of a Lufthansa one and had to check in on United desk....A nice lady from Lufthansa directed me there accordingly.

When Lufthansa merged with United....The flights remained the same but I had a United flight number instead of a Lufthansa one and had to check in on United desk....A nice lady from Lufthansa directed me there accordingly.

For starters, Lufthansa never merged with United. They are both in the Star Alliance as are a bunch of other airlines. But they are separate and distinct airlines. It's a completely different deal -- they just codeshare.

Ladybugga, the tickets you buy on a pre-merge airline will be honored but the problem might be if due to the combination of schedules, they might decide to cancel your flight. You'll get a refund, it's true, but you might end up then having to buy tickets at the last minute which will be expensive.

So my advice is before buying tickets on an airline that might be in merger talks, to check their and their partner's schedule out of your city. If there's only one of them flying from there, you won't likely have an issue. It'll only possibly come up if both fly from that city and they'll be merging their flights.

Except for the Delta/NWA merger which was announced recently, the only noises I've been hearing are about U.S. Air and United.  If it comes, it won't come for quite a while since airline mergers always have to go through regulatory approval not to mention making labor unions play nice with each other is no picnic. In short, I don't think you'll have a problem.

However, I read elsewhere that United has been making bancruptcy noises again so if you can avoid buying tickets with them, I would.

For starters, Lufthansa never merged with United. They are both in the Star Alliance as are a bunch of other airlines. But they are separate and distinct airlines. It's a completely different deal -- they just codeshare.

Ladybugga, the tickets you buy on a pre-merge airline will be honored but the problem might be if due to the combination of schedules, they might decide to cancel your flight. You'll get a refund, it's true, but you might end up then having to buy tickets at the last minute which will be expensive.

So my advice is before buying tickets on an airline that might be in merger talks, to check their and their partner's schedule out of your city. If there's only one of them flying from there, you won't likely have an issue. It'll only possibly come up if both fly from that city and they'll be merging their flights.

Except for the Delta/NWA merger which was announced recently, the only noises I've been hearing are about U.S. Air and United.  If it comes, it won't come for quite a while since airline mergers always have to go through regulatory approval not to mention making labor unions play nice with each other is no picnic. In short, I don't think you'll have a problem.

However, I read elsewhere that United has been making bancruptcy noises again so if you can avoid buying tickets with them, I would.

We would be flying out of Indianapolis connecting to Chicago or Detroit and than onto London. My worry with that is a snow storm, but nothing we can do about that in Dec!

United is out they want $1012 for the same ticket Northwest wants for $781 today! So if United is on the way out I can see why! 

I do worry with you saying we may end up with refunds but may have to buy at the last minute. But I would hate to have to pay big money to fly last minute.

I'd like to go with BA, Virgin or KLM but whatever airline I look at we still have to get to Chicago or Detroit and that means Northwest, US Airways, United or Delta. So I need to make a decision on these 4 of who I trust more at being around in 7 months.

NW or Delta would be my advice. That's like choosing between an electric chair and a noose, but alas.

The airline I use most is NWA and they recently merged with Delta. They sent out a mass email to members explaining what is to come. It sounds like they are going to continue to operate as is for now, as two airlines but I am sure even after, each companies tickets will be honored. If you are worried at all, contact customer service for the airline you are considering booking with. I hope you find a good deal! 

Just an FYI (I fly for DL) ---they have not yet merged. Soon, with approval, but not yet.

NW or Delta would be my advice. That's like choosing between an electric chair and a noose, but alas.

NW is horrible. My wife has flied them twice, and both times they lost her luggage, the 2nd time they lost it, I got a phone call 2 months later from a sheriffs office saying the found garbage bags full of her stuff on the side of the road. They sent it to me, and the bags were full of puke all over her books, and clothes.

For starters, Lufthansa never merged with United. They are both in the Star Alliance as are a bunch of other airlines. But they are separate and distinct airlines. It's a completely different deal -- they just codeshare.

I stand corrected.

NW is horrible. My wife has flied them twice, and both times they lost her luggage, the 2nd time they lost it, I got a phone call 2 months later from a sheriffs office saying the found garbage bags full of her stuff on the side of the road. They sent it to me, and the bags were full of puke all over her books, and clothes.

That is terrible!