Congrats to the APA pilots who voted no. Had we voted no 8-10 years ago at USAIR, UAL (me), and DAL, the industry would probably not have descended into the death spiral that it has become.

I voted no every time at UAL. If we had torpedoed UAL 9 years ago, I would probably now be a 9 year FO or Captain at another major airline in the US, making far more money than I would be as a Captain at UAL right now. Unfortunately all the ALPA represented pilots caved in to the 1113 threats that our companies used, and these threats were backed up by the ALPA cronies.

It is my belief (also worth 2 cents) that you guys finally did the right thing. I only wish we had the same cajones 9 years ago.

Section 1113 of the bankruptcy code was put into the US bankruptcy code in 1983 to PROTECT the interests of union laborers in court. It is not a threat, it is there to protect you and your interests. By voting no, you are allowing the law to be followed. I wish we had done the same. In the end, after two "voluntary" pay cuts and then voluntarily giving up our pensions, we ended up far below the companies original term sheet.

LEEDX:
I agree with most of what you said except that the judge will go by the term sheet. The judge is required by 1113 to look at the haircut that he imposed on other creditors, and make sure that if he abrogates the union contract, that it is in line with those cuts. Are there any recent precedents with pilots in recent bankruptcy proceedings? Unfortunately no. None of the rest of us in the industry had the cajones to stay in the game, and see the other guys cards, We folded.

Well done to you, the pilots at American, and good luck.