I hope it works out that way. I, too, enjoy flying as inexpensively as possible, but I understand that paying $500 or more to get all the way across the country in one day is a bargain.

Watching the news reaction to the merger there were comments like "What is this going to mean for the consumer? It might mean prices go up. I sure hope not, flying is expensive enough already."

Meanwhile these are the same reporters who, two weeks earlier, were commenting on how four airlines had gone out of business in a matter of weeks and where saying things like "What is wrong with the airline industry?"

Obviously airlines should be as efficient as possible in order to keep costs at a minimum while providing good service and a profitable business. We all know what the problem is though, everyone undercutting everyone else.