Originally Posted by
Mercyful Fate
You are right, because that kind of stuff is the pilot part of the code. But, the pilot group cannot control the part of the code that allocates fare breakdowns for markets, frequency, what aircraft go into what time slots, how flights are authorized for overselling, what regionals are going to fly what markets...you get the picture. It all is still under the DL code, but are different pieces of the puzzle.
So the pilots don't control marketing, snack selection or which regionals fly what markets? Um, ok.
Actually we do have more control over the regional system than you allude to. Things such as the CPZ flow/bump and flush coupled with seat pull down if we furlough absolutely does have some level of control. So do our restrictions on the operation of non permitted types as well as how we deal with the "separate certificate trick" attempts to circumvent them. We also have controls on stage lengths and hub to hub flying, which does control who flies where on what.
To any extent that the company is free to pick and choose which regional in their "portfolio/armada" that is only because that particular flying is specifically exempted in our scope clause, which otherwise would have controlled that, too. Yes, we choose to allow some outsourcing, and within the constraints of that, the company is free to bounce around.
Its still our code though. We still control it. As far as a pilot group is concerned, there is no other function we care about other than control of who flies the code. If there was, we wouldn't have that stupid 45 degree canted oversized logo on the tail like everyone else, but on the other hand we'd probably still have the ugly snoopy nose paint job, so I'll call that one a wash.
If we controlled FA uniforms, we probably wouldn't have mandated purple either. IMO replacing Blue Diamond Smoked Almonds would be a step above the peanuts, but again, we don't concern ourselves with such things, and we don't control the snack code, just the flying code.
For that matter, they can pretend to operate other airlines within an airline if they want to. They are free to take part of the fleet, paint it green with a logo that looks like it was from the free section of a public use logo sight, give the FA's different uniforms, eliminate first class and call it some ridiculous name. But since we own the code as far as who flies it, we'd still be the ones to fly it IAW our PWA/CBA.
But you are right in that they can change the napkins at any time. We are powerless to stop them, as we don't own the napkin code. We only own the flying code, which is all we really care about anyway.