Originally Posted by
Wasatch Phantom
Shiz and ACL,
When I think of the cost of a hotel I am thinking about what Delta pays, not the advertised price.
I was recently at the Holiday Inn in Minot, ND. I wonder what that costs Delta? HMMM, not swanky enough for our MEC though, I'm sure. What about the Ramada in Fargo? Nope, I'm betting that's not up to their standards either, even though those hotels are good enough for line pilots. You remember them, don't you? They're the ones that pay union dues.
Sorry fellas I'm "cost conscious". I want to make my hard-earned (and heavily taxed) dollars to go as far as possible. I believe deep-down that be it a duly elected government official, or a union representative, they have a moral and indeed a fiduciary responsibility to spend money wisely and conservatively. I suspect that opinion is shared by a significant percentage of pilots at Delta, and at other ALPA represented carriers.
But if you want to have a meeting where you're briefed by some high power folks in Washington, then how much is it worth to get them to Minot, and how much will it cost to fly them out and put them up at Che Radisson Bismark? Being cost conscious involves the bidding and negotiating process that ACL described. I don't think this has anything to do with what's good for the individual, but what benefit can be gained for the whole. There's obviously something that your MEC leadership feels can be gained for everyone from a meeting in Washington, and not much that could be gained from a meeting in Fargo.
But if you want to think that your current career expectations are solely the result of luck...fine.