So what does this mean to us?

United has no clue how to run an airline and AA is setting up for more pacific ops out of LAX.

What we do with that.. we'll see. We're picking a fight with the eskimos (is that racist?) out of SEA to build up our Asia hub, and AA is taking advantage of UA's ship without a rudder in LAX for Asia.

Man, the Long Green Mile just got really long for AA pax. I had heard we were getting the UAL gates in 6 for some of our gates at ORD. Hopefully you're right. AS moves out of 6 back to the north complex.

Like this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_naIlPqv8c

LAX is the only place without a dominant legacy carrier going west. It is also the only place where they CAN have a shot at being that dominant carrier. It will take some doing though. They had to make a stand somewhere on the left coast. UAL has SFO and we will own SEA. Doesn't leave much that can be profitable. Gonna be a catfight in LA.

RK, we're all good. I wish you were in town - I'd be happy to have a beer with you.

I see that many of us have strong feelings about pay banding, & I appreciate the opportunity to learn some of the arguments concerning the issue.

I agree that pay banding is, basically, selling jobs for money: a reduction in training churn equals a reduction in required pilot positions. I also understand (all too well) how much it stinks to be at the bottom, and how having new pilots coming in under me on the seniority is a very positive thing.

But here's the thing: I keep thinking about UAW, and how that union's relentless pursuit of inefficiencies in the name of jobs wreaked so much havoc on the industry with which it was supposed to have a symbiotic relationship. I don't think Uncle Sugar will protect us from Emirates or Norwegian or anyone else, so our airline needs to compete on this uneven playing field now and in the future. It needs to do that by running a superior operation from the perspectives both of our customers and our financiers. If we can help with that, and line our pockets in the process, we should consider it.

That said, I'm open to the possibility that, upon serious consideration, pay banding reveals itself to be a bad idea. What I'm really interested in, at the moment, is whether this is any idea with any legs in the union or whether it's just APC banter.

Right now in LAX, its going to be AA with 10 widebodies and 122 total ops, UA with 6 widebodies and 119 total, and DL with 19 widebodies and 79 total.

So I'm sitting here waiting for a class date, feeling like I've found the Golden Ticket. Then I read this:

Bummer.

Yeah, me too... :eek:

You are safe, Hrk. Don't sweat it. Welcome aboard.

Yep.... that idea isn't going to happen any time soon.


And newK: Your suggestion for World Wars last night was excellent! I can't wait for the next episode.