It's a very large give back when looking forward to the mass retirements and mass amounts of training, IOE trips, that would be generated from those retirements. A very large amount of pilots at all could would benefit from LCA trips. Imagine when we retire 800 per year. Many pilots could earn triple pay going forward should we not give this up. If we do give it up, imagine what it should be worth when weighted against the future retirements/training. Imagine, the company is thinking two contracts ahead. Seems were thinking two contracts behind if the concession rumors are true. Once that ball gets rolling how many pilots would be on double or triple pay? might be better off waiting for that than a small raise now.

The one thing that will happen is that Dalpa/Alpa will show it's true beliefs as far as negotiations and pilot worth. Never has there been a better time to negotiate. There is no bankruptcy, no recovery, etc. that they can hide behind. This time they will have to stand on there own. There are no excuses this time. Previously the concessions were balance against the economy and recovery, even though there were disagreements all the economics were a gamble in many pilots eyes. This time it's pretty clear business is great. In other words, there can be no argument for concessionary contract or zero cost contract. It should be at a minimum 90% in our favor. Wheels are in motion and probably not much one can do to change whats going to happen. However, out of this will come the certainty of what Dalpa stands for. Against uncertain economics at least half the pilots gave Dalpa the benefit of the doubt. It will be interesting if Dalpa shows up with the same plan of a trade off for a contract. Well we'll see how the group feels about that when there is no argument against the backdrop of a bad economic situation. I will be curious to see how the pilots react as a group just as much as what Dalpa will deliver.

Interesting times when all the excuse are gone!