SWA buyout?
 

I’ve heard from a lot of people recently that SWA has a lot of interest in buying Alaska. Has anyone else heard this as well? Do you think this could even be a possibility? I know they really want to compete on the Hawaii routes...

Do it, Southwest. I dare you!

Got some AS stock you're looking to dump?

SWA tried once before I believe. I thought I would never say this but I welcome a buy out of this dysfunctional ** show by any of the big 3 or SWA. It can't be any worse.

Once a supermodel and now an over the hill washed up ghetto corner street biatch. Truly heart breaking.

Right? So let me see... I'd have to say "southwest" on the radio, but in exchange I'd get more days off, better pay, no red-eyes, and the best scope in the industry? Hmm. Tough decision.

No way. SWA is way too cheap to pull the trigger on a deal like that. Maybe once another airline is on the ropes, swa will open up the checkbook again, but an industry and investor darling like Alaska is out of SWAs league and would come at a huge price premium that they wouldn’t be willing to pay. Besides, be careful what you wish for...Southwest is a great company, but it has its warts too, some of them genital warts.

I don't think it would ever survive any DOJ scrutiny as it would give Southwest a virtual monopoly on the West Coast.

It's "soutwet 5555".
Besides the bennies you've mentioned, we'll be able to actually trade and move around trips without ever having to entertain the thought of PBS! What a noble idea, right?
That's okay. Mizz Puzzlepalace has all sorts of nastiness on her you know what from messing around with Mizz & Mister Deadwood.

You mean other than Delta's hubs in SEA and LAX, United's hub in SFO, and American's LAX operation? Yeah. Total monopoly.

If the USAir/American thing worked for them, most things could be made to work.

Great first post.

Nevermind.

Maybe Frank Lorenzo wants to come out and play airline again.

Oh but his pegboy BM is here already. Makes Lorenzo look like an amateur.

https://youtu.be/q97cfvgjZuE

And you could have this!!!

Yeah I don’t see how it wouldn’t get approved. There’s gonna be more consolidation happening, and I don’t see how Alaska is going to survive without another merger. Southwest or JetBlue seem the most logical in my opinion.

Just wondering. If Alaska and JetBlue were to merge, would Horizon fly all the E190s? That is a head scratcher and a knee slapper!

Why would anyone want to get bought out by SWA and get Air-tranned.... no thanks

Maybe a possibility in the past, but not with the Virgin baggage strapped to Alaska. SWA would never spend the money for that bad deal.

It was a troll post. The dude has one post.

It honestly wouldn't surprise me. If nothing else to prevent an Alaska-Jetblue deal.

I think AAG leadership is more interested in cashing in than in growing a viable airline. I wonder what the exit strategy is for the guys with the golden parachutes?

That statement sounds exactly like what we at VX thought prior to the Alaska deal.

The so-called leadership group should have cashed out 3-4 years ago when the DAL rumors were swirling around. Instead, they stubbornly hung on to keeping the Alaska brand and pressing forward.

Many disenchanted employees and a panic purchase later, here we are. The Alaska brand is stale and tired. This management team is living in the past. They may as well sell us.

Talking to other pilots, most of us don't give a rip about this brand and the operation. We would love to be sold out so that we could be rid of BT, BM, and the rest of the pilot-hating exec team.

Sad, but 100% true.

Be careful what you wish for..the AT guys basically got stapled after their "aquisition." I don't think it would be different for AS. Jmho..CG

If I had to pick between being stapled and seeing the continuous and permanent subcontracting of flying, I think I might pick the staple.

We would probably have immediate schedule improvements and QOL even with a staple.

But I thought Alaska was a legacy

That term “legacy” means absolutely nothing. It was coined by an idiot CEO as a an anti-labor tool.

Instant ETOPS program.

^^t h i s^^

Hardly worth the cost of the VX debt.

Third time to bat and it might be. And that debt you speak of is Alaska’s debt not VX.

You've been flagged for gross BS. The SLI wasn't even close to a staple. The AT guys lost about 3-4 years from DOH but also got a huge pay raise. Many will deny the pay increase--but if you compare the payscalses for 2009 against 2012, the truth will be revealed.

Whatever helps you sleep at night..que WHACKMASTER in 3..2..1..

Bottom line..SWAPA and SWA mgmt held a gun to AT's head and made them an offer they couldn't refuse. Agree to an imposed SWAPA SLI..or be liquidated as part of a shell company.

Don't sugarcoat it now..just own it..it is what it is.

This business is ruthless. You guys were the the acquiring carrier..and you wanted access to ATL. To the victor go the spoils of war..so to speak.

My only point was that AS could expect the same treatment in the event of a SWA buyout.

And please keep your flags to yourself..thanks for the 717's..and have a nice day.:D

Delta's my vote.

Any ALPA would be for the best.

For only $8B and that debt from the VX merger. Plus adding a new fleet type to the airline. Would make no sense. Plus they are already the #1 domestic carrier in the US. I can't see DOJ not having problems with that.

I bet there are a ton of regional pilots hoping to get "airtranned" as well - those regional pay rates are 100% BS.

I don't think it'd be as dramatic with Alaska. First, Alaska pays better. Does someone remember what a 12 year AT FO made? It wasn't good at all.