Since coming onboard the Delta ship, I've never understood the F-DAL guys concern with the FA's "me too's" or getting what we get. Maybe you guys can let me in on why you believe the FA's have to get the NWA commuter policy if we get it back, when they don't even stay in the same hotels as us.

I mean they don't get a "me too" for the Park Plaza or the Roosevelt, why do you guys think they will get one for call in honest?

I'm just asking as an uninformed North guy looking to learn the ways of the South and sweet tea. :D

New K

Come on up...they are serving sweet tea in the Micky Ds in MSP area now...hearesy:D

I'm sure it's not as good. :D

You saying I suck KC?! Take a number. There are a lot of people in line ahead but be happy because its a good group of people with good points, evidence and facts on their side. :D :o

I don't disagree one bit KC in that you shouldn't and don't have to have a commuting experience to be more conscientious about the passengers, the cabin and the "system" at large.

Its just as a commuter you have no choice but to experience what its like to be a passenger at the mercy of others whereas non-commuters like myself simply make a choice to put ourselves in their shoes out of good faith. Its a generalization of the entire industry really but given what I see on line it is by and large commuters who have that experience and thus that focal point.

Well, it's at least you +1.

I bet you've noticed that much of what Arpey says relates to why JAL shouldn't join up with DAL, while very little of it is a convincing argument for his own alternative. That's kind of telling... So far, I've noted the following points:

1) Don't do it because the JV will be so powerful it won't be approved. It's kind of a "don't eat that delicious cake because it'll make you fat" argument. Lame.

2) Don't do it because the expenses of converting reservation systems and airport signeage are too high. It's the "don't buy the better, newer house because you'll have to get the fiberoptics guys to install Fios, and you'll probably have to change your e-mail address to verizon.net" argument. Lame.

3) Don't do because you'll be a junior partner to DAL. It's the "my international consultant guy says that since I'm desperate, there might be a crazy angle in this, where I might convince you that you don't value money, you value loyalty, because you're Japanes" argument. Requires glossing over the fact that JAL will be TPG's beotch. Lame.

...

It's a little sad. Tears are next.

DAL is like an attractive pilot on the bachelor hitting on AMR's girlfriend. DAL is a new thrill, bigger, better friends, more roses, cooler motorcycle and has more to offer. Having been in thi... I'm sure AMR is scared.

Of course you do, that's why we're at Delta .. just kidding. :0

I understand your point. Commuters definitely get to see the operation from a different perspective.

But there are those of us who do take the passengers into a lot of considertion when making decisions up front. Unfortunately, there are many who don't.

I had a former marine f-18 pilot who thought going from level cruise to pegging the EVSI during a descent was no big deal. I said to him, "yeah, you and I have flown upside and pulled Gs, but we don't need to pin passengers and FAs to the ceiling." haha

Um guess what, they do get a meet too for those hotels. They just do not normally have the layo times we do.

Why do we state it? Because it is true.

That's exactly how I was thinking of this. The arguments being made are the same pathetic arguments that ... a friend of mine might have made to a girlfriend in high school...

With all that being said, and while I was agreeing with Johnson, I don't think the outcome is a foregone conclusion. Maybe AMR's arguments really resonate in Japan. Maybe the Japanese really are nervous about ATI approval. It's just that they're very defensive in nature.

Of course, there might be a reason they're defensive... After all, what are the odds the Japanes found a way to enquire as to the potential for ATI approval, either for AMR or DAL? Think maybe someone on the task force that's going to make a decision on JAL was smart enough to Google "DOJ"? Or are they just going to power through this, and hope for the best? Maybe Japanese politicians don't actually frequent back-rooms? Maybe their business men think chance trumps planning?

It's not that we are concerned that the FAs get it after we do - it's that the company thinks that way. If it costs the company say, $1 million to do something for us, in their mind, it actually costs $2.5 million because they also have to plan on the $1.5 million (more FAs than pilots) to give it to the FAs.

It's the company's simple way of keeping the FAs from unionizing...