Me: We actually need to be at Terminal C.
Cab driver: No. This is the right one. See, it says American Airlines.
Me: Yes, but I am flying USAirways.
Cab driver: They are the same now. They had a corporate merger.
Me: There is still a lot of integration to happen before they’re one airline. For example, I need to be at Terminal C where the USAirways gates are housed.
Cab driver: No sir, they are the same. They had a merger.
Me: This is amusing since I have plenty of time. You know it takes years to complete an airline merger. among many other things, there are regulatory issues, administrative integration. American only recently exited bankruptcy. The affinity programs have to be reconciled. And the ground operations have to be reconciled. For example, I need to be at Terminal C. By the way, the meter is still running. Am I paying waiting time for this?
Cab driver: (yells out the window to the red cap) Hey, where is the USAirways gate?
Red cap: Terminal C, man. You got the wrong terminal. It’s Terminal C. Terminal C.
Cab driver: (laughing) It’s Terminal C. You were right.
Me: While I enjoyed discussing the corporate maneuvers of the airline business, where did you get the idea that they were in the same terminal?
Cab driver: I saw an ad for the new American Airlines, so I thought it would be the same gate.
Me: Where did you see that ad?
Cab driver: In the newspaper
Me: Well bless you for reading the newspaper.