United Airlines At Center of Potential Merger Hookups

(Reuters) — United Airlines is now in separate merger talks with Continental Airlines Inc. and US Airways Group Inc. for the second time in two years as carriers feel pressure to further cut capacity, build revenue and accelerate the industry's recovery.

Word of potential consolidation, confirmed by a source familiar with the matter, has pushed the shares of U.S. airlines higher.

Many Wall Street analysts have responded positively to the prospect of a deal, especially between United, a unit of UAL Corp.and Continental.

Baggage Bind: How Fees Are Affecting Carry-on Luggage

Southwest Airline passenger Robin Bonner, of Solon, Ohio, places her luggage into the overhead compartment on a flight from Midway Airport in Chicago to Cleveland, Ohio, April 2, 2010. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune/MCT)

By Julie Johnsson
Chicago Tribune

Posted: 04/18/2010 12:01:00 AM PDT

Every airline passenger is entitled to overhead space, right?

Wrong. On a typical domestic flight, six passengers share luggage bins that fit four wheelie bags, at most, leaving some fliers out of luck at a time when more opt to lug their bags, rather than check them, to avoid airline fees.

More passengers also are competing for that space because planes are again filled to near-record levels, the result of carriers' capacity cuts and a rebound from last year's recession.

Unite - The Union For Life

With over two million members, Unite is the UK's largest trade union covering every industrial, occupational and professional sector of the economy. Here you will find information about what Unite is doing in each sector.

Unite is the union that represents the British Airways cabin crew, among others.