Actually, the options question was grieved recently and the result was that the arbitrator found that 22 of the 25 options were still active despite the fact that the written agreement expired. This was a stunning, and almost laughable, ruling considering that AMRs argument was that the options were still valid because they had a secret verbal agreement with Bombardier to extend the options. Further, the company was required to notify the APA about the secret deal, but did not. The arbitrator did not have a problem with that violation either.

This goes along with the ruling that the 7300 employed AA pilot floor trigger for the commuter clause of the scope contract is not valid because the arbitrator ruled that furloughed pilots count as "employed" pilots. This ruling means that AA could furlough every single AA pilot yet not trigger the minimum pilot floor for continuing the commuter exception to scope. Also, a stunningly biased finding from a supposed neutral arbitrator.

One only has to use common sense and the obvious intent of the contract language to come to the conclusion that it really didn't matter what the contract said. Draw your own conclusions.