The
saga of the ailing American airlines took a somewhat positive turn with the announcement that after three years of
bankruptcy, United Airlines is leaving behind its Chapter 11 status. The Associated
Press takes a look at the issues and problems still facing the airline, which are prodigious. The airline underwent
a rather serious Jenny Craig slimming down process and says that it has now embarked on "a new beginning." But
such a new beginning is going to be tough given the amazing success of low-cost airlines and the cost of oil prices
which, Exxon notwithstanding, has hurt a lot of big companies.
We’ve covered the airline crisis in the
context of frequent flier miles and remain rather dubious about where the big airlines are headed. So we reiterate our
"use them!" coverage when it comes to miles you have accumulated.