That's actually incorrect. I know of two BoD members who were discussing it just from a route over-lap perspective. The side-bar about NWA was a temporary distraction. The CAL MEC spun up on full alert not once but twice due to a likely DAL transaction that we were told was about 11 hours from happening, but was subsequently scrapped. Most "players" and "betters" assumed it would be DAL.

I fully agree a transaction was in the works between UAL and USAir, but as I recall the federal government said no to that. Quite amazingly, the same reasons the government said no to that deal were the same reasons the government said yes to the new UAL/CAL deal. Just had to give some gates away to SWA at EWR. That was also at a time where both airlines were looking for a life boat to rescue them. Both assumed they would be good for each other, but neither thought the government would say no. Sort of like getting asked to the prom, but your dad says no you can't take the car.

Pre-911 and slightly post 9-11 it looked like either DAL or UAL to those that had good intel. Otherwise, in 2000, the IACP had no incentive to merge with ALPA. The IACP liked the way that SWA and APA were doing business on their own, and to a large degree was very successful in getting our first contract, getting out from under the PEP, and pushing through the scab love fest created by the breaking of the union (ALPA) during the strike. it wasn't perfect, but it was on a good path.

Listen, I am still PO'd about PBS, and how it was sold to us, so there's just some stuff I am not going to forget. I don't bring it with me when I go to work, but after 25 years of the constant lies from both management and ALPA I prefer to just listen and nod. I know it's all lies now. 20 years ago, I bought it hook like and sinker.

I still maintain that neither employee group had much of a vote in this, but I fully know that ALPA and ALPA's merger and fragmentation policy made it possible.