What the Delta-Northwest airline merger means to travelers

Delta Air Lines has completed its $2.8 billion acquisition of Northwest Airlines, turning the two airlines into the world's biggest carrier.

Delta and Northwest closed the deal Wednesday just hours after the Justice Department said it had no antitrust objections.

Here are some questions and answers about the impacts on travelers:

Q: I'm flying on a Northwest flight in a few days. Does anything change?

A: No. You'll still check in at a Northwest ticket counter, talk to people in Northwest uniforms, and fly on a Northwest airplane. Delta said no flights will be canceled or changed, and flight schedules will not be changed immediately.

Q: What happens to my frequent-flier miles?

A: Delta said its SkyMiles and Northwest's WorldPerks programs will be consolidated, including the ability to transfer all Northwest miles to Delta. Delta said the programs would remain separate during the transition. Northwest passengers can already earn and redeem miles on Delta flights and vice-versa.

Q: How long will I see the Northwest name on airplanes and employee uniforms?

A: For several months. Delta executives, who are now running what used to be Northwest Airlines, say they will make a gradual and orderly transition to the Delta name. Delta said it will begin using Delta signs at ticket counters and gates next year. It could take as long as two years for some of Northwest's planes to be painted in Delta colors.

Q: What will happen to Delta and Northwest employees?

A: Delta has said no frontline workers will be involuntarily furloughed because of the deal. However, both airlines said earlier this year they would reduce their workforces as they cut capacity. To an individual worker, of course, the reason will make little difference. Workers are getting about 15 percent of the shares of the new company.

Q: What will happen to Delta's smaller hubs, like Memphis or Salt Lake City?

A: Delta executives promised on Wednesday that they're committed to those hubs. They noted that Salt Lake is the westernmost U.S. hub. The Northwest hub in Memphis is relatively close to both Delta's big hub in Atlanta as well as its hub in Cincinnati, raising doubts about its future.

But Delta President Ed Bastian — who will run Northwest during the transition — said Delta's gates in Atlanta are full, so new flights in the Southeast are likely to go to Memphis. "I think Memphis is going to be a very important part of our southeastern strategy," he said.