OpenClimb

FullOfLuv: That's a very insightful post.

Of course there's uncertainty no matter who you work for, but hoping a Legacy carrier continues to survive and provide decent working conditions is certainly different than going to work for a lower end carrier and hoping it morphs into something better.

It's a subtle concept, but seeing it in writing has helped me clarify some of my internal debate.

Bolo

Full of Luv, I am feeling it! Great post! I find that a lot of (young) new hires are hoping that this airline will become great and that our management team will be happy to share a piece of the pie with all of us. This is not the case at F9 at all! History will repeat itself in our management tactics and what happened at Spirit (Indigo)is happening here at F9.
While ALPA is not a Utopia, I believe they will accelerate the process in getting us where we need to be faster and more effectively then our current union. ALPA has already dealt with Indigo once before and has intimate knowledge of their play book.

sulkair

Yes, I liked the post too. Only one point of contention: I don't think lumping ULCCs into the 'risky' penny stock category with on demand cargo etc. is accurate.

NK and F9 ULCCs have never not been profitable. In-fact they are wildly profitable. I feel Spirt's somewhat longer history has proven the model's viability.

I will agree that by going to or staying at either of these two airlines there is HIGH risk that you're selling yourself short with respect to pay and benefits, but it is highly unlikely the doors will close overnight.

...

Bulldog319

Full of Luv was actually making a statement about opakapaka's previous airline, Aloha. To be fair Aloha was probably higher than SWA in the pecking order of careers in 1989 when opakapaka started there so the overall statement was really not that relevant toward opakapaka's evaluation of ALPA in that situation.

FOL does make a relevant point about choosing places like Frontier if better options present themselves, The people we are hiring today are either the most convincing liars from their interview group or are huge, huge gamblers.

etflies

Looks like ALPA overwhelmingly passed. 93% of eligible voters cast a ballot and of those, 93% voted in favor.

Cruise

Congrats and welcome!

sulkair

That is a phenomenal level of unity - you must admit.

VegassBus

Welcome aboard Gentlemen!

NoCoairbus

I read Full of Luvs post and I have to disagree with his premise. I was talking with a gentleman last night who's father in law did proving runs for TWA over South America in the 30s. That airline is gone. Pan Am, the original 747 buyer, gone. Air travel is a constantly changing business and those who adapt quickest succeed. It's almost purely a commodity now. Passengers go online and buy the cheapest seat they can find from points A to B. They might want a "free meal" or mor leg room but they continue to show they are not willing to pay for it. Costs rule and the airlines with the lowest costs will be successful. Those with higher costs won't. And I'm talking about running as highly efficient an operation as possible. Not paying their employees less. Pilot and flight attendant costs are a very small percentage of an airlines costs anyways.
All you have to do is look at Europe where the ULCC model has been around longer and see who the growing airlines are. Easyjet, Ryan Air, etc. the high cost legacies have been hurting for a long time.
The legacies will have an advantage when it comes to long haul, international flying but that's only a very small percentage of their business.
The ULCC are here to stay because Joe Blow doesn't have loyalty to any carrier and all he cares about is the cheapest ticket he can find.

aewanabe

Welcome to ALPA guys. The association is FAR from perfect, but it's provided us here at JetBlue with a voice and relationship with management that we did not previously have.