Originally Posted by
Viper25
They furloughed. And unfurloughed because of the bailout. And the pilots got back pay.
Delta sent furlough letters and would’ve done the same thing if not for an 11th hour LOA and the government bailout.
The American furlough during COVID wasn’t actually a furlough. It was a threat of furlough that didn’t truly happen, despite a tiny gap between (repaid) unemployment and the bailout. If the bailout by chance happened to be slightly earlier, that gap wouldn’t exist at all and they’d be the same as Delta (not furloughing).
The fact that American’s furlough “failed” is actually what proves my entire point anyway.
Again. The industry has changed. I’m with you. But the nasty thing about furlough is personal and familial upheaval. I flew with at least half a dozen American furloughees. Two didn’t want to leave, but at the time felt there was no other choice. One has since moved on to DAL. They would tell you it was a harsh experience to go through.
But again, your point is clear and we are in a new era, as the kids say.