look at that sleepy F*(k.

 

I doubt you'd be any worse off at the bottom of UALs list. With bases in SFO, ORD, IAD, DEN... at least you'd have some shot at a decent QOL.

UAL has way more high paying heavies than we do, and 787s coming online today.

UAL is all set in the Pacific, with great partners, HND access, Air Mike... they are much stronger than we are in Latin America, and while not tops in the Atlantic, (in this economy, not a bad thing) they have the best partner- Lufthansa. Oh, and huge retirements coming up.

We have: MD90's, no widebody orders, hats, 717s, replacement 737s for 757's, Alaska continues to expand at our expense, DC9s... A tenuous position in Asia that could result in massive furloughs if we get shut out of HND, and big exposure in Europe with a financially strapped partner AF/KLM. A shiny name tag for all the world to google, triple airport reserve in NYC. We are a distant third in Latin America.

And frankly, our base choices are not exactly inspiring. If I were junior and young, I'd be jumping ship too. The contract pain is short term, the prospects are very bright.

 

Fantastic. Why is hiring always "next" year and why is the big bid always the bid after this coming one?

 

If they get there contract worked out I would consider doing it...

When UAL gets is labor deal together they will have higher revenue hubs in much larger O&D markets, a larger network with higher % market share in nearly every market, and better alliance networks.

 

I'd consider it since I live in a major UAL hub but I'm too invested in DAL now to play the jumping game. Not to mention there is zero chance i'd go back to their first year pay either and start over. But I can see the appeal for its comsideration

 

I suspect the reason for all the talk of making SEA an Asia gateway is due to the fact that we have no plan B for HND. We'll have to overfly and Mgmt knows its coming. The impact on jobs won't be pretty.

Of course, when UAL snags our SEA HND slot for SFO, they won't put a stinking 767 on that route. 777, maybe a whale.

 

UAL will also be replacing a ton of 757's with 737's. And Alaska is not expanding at our expense. Did the allowable percentage of codeshare passengers not decrease with the new contract? We too have huge retirements coming up. A WB order will likely be announced before the years end.

The UAL route network is better, but we knew it would be before they merged. The HND situation will work out. I have a lot of faith in RA. He is a VERY smart man, and he does NOT like to lose. UAL could work out better, but it may not.

 

Actually, I disagree. To effectively compete with UAL as they move forward, DAL is going to need to grow and grow with large gauge jets. If they don't they will be marginalized with ual's hubs, s curve benefits in those hubs and their O&D ability.

The plan of capacity decipline as leverage works to a point but when Ual dumps a ton of capacity across the pacific we will need to respond in kind.

 

Just my 2 cents here: Watching a football game with a female announcer is tough. That is all.

 

I feel sorry for anyone who jumps ship at this point.

Although I am very dis-satisfied with our compensation, this is by far the sharpest mgmt team I have seen in 24yrs. Will they make mistakes? Who doesn't. But, I don't believe there is another team out there that even comes close.

Btw, according to a very high level network guy, narrow body plan nearly complete... next stop, wide body plan.

After the "left seat" symposium, it was very clear our team have back-up plans to the back-up plan. These guys are playing 4 dimensional klingon chess. (I believe the trainer deal will be just one example of what our team is capable.)

While ual has the best network, their merger is not going well and in my opinion will only get worst. Same with sw.

Good luck to the guys/gals that jump ship to the ual team or any other team, including sw (with the exception of fedex... due to their monopoly).

The grass isn't always greener.