American + United Merger That Never Happened - What If?

So, I was reading about all those big airline mergers we've seen over the years, like Northwest into Delta and Continental into United. But here's a fun 'what if' for you guys - what if American Airlines and United Airlines had merged?

Honestly, it would've been wild. Imagine the size of that airline! They'd probably have a massive fleet and a network that covers just about everything. Not sure if it would've been good for competition though. With fewer big players in the market, I'm guessing ticket prices might've gone up, and service quality could've been hit or miss.

Also, thinking about all the hubs they have... it would've been tricky to manage. I mean, which cities would stay as major hubs? Would they have closed some?

And what about the frequent flyer programs? Combining those could've been a nightmare or a dream come true, depending on which side you're on.

Anyway, curious to hear what you all think. Do you reckon this merger would've been a good or bad thing for us as passengers? And how do you think it would've changed the industry? Let me know your thoughts!

Man, that would've been something else. They'd have had a fleet to rival the world's biggest, for sure. But yeah, the hub situation would've been a headache. No way they'd keep all those airports as major hubs. I bet we'd have seen some big shifts in airport priorities. And combining frequent flyer programs? Total chaos, at least initially. Plus, fewer airlines usually mean less competition, so not great for our wallets. But imagine the routes and connections they could've offered!