Whoever you’re talking to is crazy. It’s a signed agreement between the labor group and the airline. It doesn’t hinge on representation! For the same reason that if we voted out IBT our contract wouldn’t go away, the retention bonus LOA won’t go away.

 

If every SY pilot votes for ALPA, just need 1/4 of the G4 group to vote ALPA for majority passage.
I’m sure every sunny pilot agrees our new G4 kin should get what they were promised. No qualms over here.

 

I think at last count we were hearing around 400 pilots had signed cards for ALPA at G4. I’m sure there were more in the weeds that would have signed if not for IBT scare tactics.
IBT will try to convince your MEC that they should concede the vote because of our larger pilot group. Don’t buy it, nobody here really wants to be represented by a truck drivers union.

 

Doesn't our contract for the retention bonus state something like it's only payable after we have a TA? If we switch to ALPA, Sun Country already has a CBA so there would be no TA, at least not until the next one.

 

I would imagine that in short order, very in depth explanations of the process will be presented to both pilot groups.

That said, I have it on good authority that ALPA will not concede as they did with Mesa. I expect to see the full showing of ALPA showmanship encouraging Allegiant pilots to join a real pilot union and finally ditch the truckers. SY MEC, when you see this PLEASE trust that our pilot group is begging for real representation.

In a merger, one group simply doesn’t fall under another groups CBA by virtue of the purchase. Here’s what I believe will happen:

1. Allegiant Ratifies TA/RB Payout (Q2 2026)
2. SLI Talks begin (Q3 2026)
3. Representation Vote is requested by ALPA (Q4 2026)
4. ALPA Elected (Q1 2027)
5. JCBA Talks Begin (Q2 2027)

Anyone on this forum who thinks “our retention bonus will be voided because it was a IBT deal” needs a serious lesson on what status-quo is under the RLA. Me thinks that ALPA is about to step up to the plate and take a swing at some real education VERY soon. It will be greatly welcomed, it’s unfortunate but some of our pilots have drunken too much of the GU KoolAid over the last 3 years, a point that bewilders me to this day.

SY folks, I think at the end of this looking back we’re all going to be grateful it happened. I apologize in advance on behalf of the naïveté of some of our pilots. They believe that the IBT wets the ink on their paychecks and that if they leave, the concrete shoes will appear. We’re two fortunate groups, we both fly for companies that make money. We should be proud of that fact and thanking our lucky stars either of us aren’t being swept into the NK F9 mess.

Cheers! It’s going to be a good ride.

 

I would be very happy with that sequence of events. That’s pretty optimistic that it would go that quickly and smoothly. I hope you’re right. Is there any good reason you believe this or is it just your gut feeling? For some of us who have been through two contract negotiations we remain pessimistic on the likelihood of a contract in Q2 2026. Last I heard negotiations weren’t going well.

 

You want to complete the JCBA first, then integrate seniority. Study US/AW to see what can happen if you try it the other way 'round.

 

If the G4 Eboard is smart they will sign a TA quickly to help us out during the seniority list integration. I think NK did one that essentially was pay and retirement. It brought them on par Jet Blue rates. It also stipulated that upon the mergers approval or rejection by DOJ, negotiations will resume immediately. If not G4 is really gonna get the shaft in the list integration

 

for one thing I believe the current contract at SY became amendable in Dec 2025. Second it does not work that way, Each side will work under whatever agreement they currently have tell both sides are merged and a new joint contract is signed. Alaska has closed on the deal with Hawaiian but both pilot groups are still working under their parent company contract. They are very close to getting their Joint contract done which will put both sides working under one contract, then they will start the process of bringing all operations under the Alaska cert. It is possible for the company to offer MOU or Short term contracts to bring the groups tell the joint contract is completed but we shall see if they will take that approach. Alaska did that via an extension of the contract with Alaska pilots.

 

Joint contracts are always first than seniority. That is how the Virgin to Alaska went and that is how the Alaska Hawaiian is going.