Originally Posted by
iaflyer
They did talk about it at the road show - but in the general sense of, "this might be a way to reduce to load on the schedulers". I got the sense that it wasn't a priority.
Plus, there is probably some discussion with DALPA on whether a email or text message is actual notification or just a "heads up" as it regards to the contract.
No the "reality" is that if DAL went with a SMS technology which is existing and really cheap, many pilots and fa's would claim they did not get the text. This would in effect nullify any benefit for the company and for the pilots. It would a "nice to know" kind of item, but with no real operational impact. That is the "issue" with SMS.
Moving to a message read notification like RIM software et al, requires money and outfitting the pilot and FA communities with a device that could knowingly support the software. Well 20K FA's and 12K pilots is a ton of a expenditure for this option. AKA, the ROI is very low. Add to the fact that some may opt not to read it, not know how to read it, or lose the device, sink it in a toilet, etc. See the issues with the true cure all? Now multiply the issues you have had with your phone by 30K+ and it is a department unto itself.
That is why DAL is taking the time to do this correctly, and for the most bang for their buck. It is not that they do not care, it is that they are actually trying to find a solution that will not cost close to 10 million bucks.