Airline Forecasts’ Vaughn Cordle argues a merger between Continental and United Airlines, rather than US Airways and United, would bring twice the additional market value to the ultimate company and would make for the better merger, especially when coupled with the developing Atlantic and Pacific joint ventures the two are working on. Many observers indeed suggest the US Airways talks are actually designed to provoke Continental's interest. A three-way deal might be better still, he suggests. Some unions may beg to differ - and the role of global alliances in the airlines' strategic thinking should not be underestimated.