Originally Posted by 80ktsClamp (Post 1389390)

I'm proud to be used. :)

Originally Posted by sinca3 (Post 1389362)

Who would be the "Flag carrier" for the US? That's the problem as I see it, as there are three national majors that Could compete world wide. In those countries that subsidize their carrier it is the only one available.....Emirates, Qatar, Aeroflot, Ethiad, South African, Singapore, etc.
So who would be the lucky recipient of govt hand outs?

Originally Posted by newKnow (Post 1389372)

So, it seems there are some who want the government to help all the airlines, but not to have bailed out any of the auto manufacturer's? :rolleyes:

Got it. ;) :D

Originally Posted by newKnow (Post 1389388)

I used you, my friend, but most of my response was not for you. ;)

Originally Posted by 80ktsClamp (Post 1389390)

I'm proud to be used. :)

Originally Posted by tsquare (Post 1389456)

There is not necessarily "The" flag carrier. DAL/LCC/UAL are all flag carriers, and the United States government should protect them from foreign state supported "competition". It is an attack on many fronts by many different opponents.

And I don't think that (DAL anyway) is looking for government handouts. DAL wants (for example) ExIM to stop loaning cheap money to a foreign competitor. Cheap loans to emirates? Why? I also believe that DAL also would like some sort of policy that cuts short the potential for cabotage to occur in this country... similar to a policy that the Japanese have. That is an issue where management and labor had absolutely better be on the same page, and for those that think a proactive engagement style of relationship is idiotic, you better rethink that stance with regard to this issue. Once the camel is in the tent (pun absolutely intended) we are in deep doo doo.

Originally Posted by alfaromeo (Post 1387943)

I run a consulting business and here is how a real business works. When they require me to be away from home I charge them for travel time to and from my home. I charge them for the hotel where I stay. I charge them for the airfare. I charge them for the meals. I charge them at least 8 hours a day or what I work. There is nothing that gets done for free. Conference call - charge it. Run a quick analysis at home - charge it. They gladly pay as this is the way business works.

My wife quit her job last year and my total income was up massively from 2011. That's because, even for only half a year, I charged someone every hour I worked. No more freebies. If I flew a trip then Delta paid the bill if I was working for my clients then they paid the bill. It is amazing how much more money you can make when you are not working for free. This year is going to be much better than the last. In 2011 my hours per month were in the bottom 30% of the pilot group, not this year. This April I will work half the number of hours I did last April and my pay will be double.

It is conversations like this that just make me even more happy that I am not doing ALPA work anymore. There is nothing more frustrating than putting in unpaid hour after unpaid hour and then being accused of being a thief by the people you are working for. Why don't you ask Nu Guy or ACL about how many hours they work uncompensated? I am sure their eyes have been opened. I doubt a day goes by that they don't do some ALPA work.

So please continue on with the ALPA bashing I know it makes you all very happy. I have work to do for my clients and yes they are getting charged for every minute. That is how real business works. It is so much more lucrative not having to work for free.

Originally Posted by tsquare (Post 1389458)

This is a total non sequitur argument. Neither of us are making any such claim. This is about policy, not handouts. The US government will gladly let DAL/UAL/LCC fail on one hand while actively supporting carriers like emirates with ExIM bank loans. Or maybe I am wrong in my view of this...

I know it's old news but DL has sued Ex-IM bank over this very thing. No help from Uncle Sam on this one.

Originally Posted by tsquare (Post 1389458)

This is a total non sequitur argument. Neither of us are making any such claim. This is about policy, not handouts. The US government will gladly let DAL/UAL/LCC fail on one hand while actively supporting carriers like emirates with ExIM bank loans. Or maybe I am wrong in my view of this...

I know it's old news but DL has sued Ex-IM bank over this very thing. No help from Uncle Sam on this one.