Originally Posted by
Alan Shore
I must have. My apologies. You asked why they won't even try to get back to UAL +1, and I responded that we're already beyond that.
I have no idea, Timbo, and I have no control over them other than with my vote. I do know that my reps are committed to maximizing our returns at every opportunity. I know that's not as glamorous as full restoration yesterday, but it's put a whole lot of money back in my pocket that was not there before.
C2K happened not only because we were united and the MEC was more manly than the one we have today, but also because the market value of the industry, i.e., pilot compensation, was higher than it is today. Using the very thick hairs on their collective chests, the MEC of the day capitalized on that market and leapfrogged UAL by a percentage point.
All I'm saying is that we must recreate that market somehow in order to have the same leverage that we had back then, or find different leverage than what was used back then.
You don't think Delta's $Billion PER QUARTER is more leverage than the $1 Billion Delta made in all of 1999?
And how about the upcoming retirement wave? And the 1500hr. rule? You don't think that adds more leverage than we had in 1999-2000?
And what about the consolidated industry, fewer fare wars, record earnings. Is that not leverage?
And what about our 401K's in our name, vs. losing a DB plan if you walk? Is that not more leverage than we ever had in 1999?
If we don't have more leverage now, we never will!