Originally Posted by cslusarc (Post 876152)

Although pilot costs are fixed in the near term, they'll become variable when management decides to rationalize capacity by retiring aircraft and not filling vacancies as pilots retire. Although fares are variable, management has less control in setting them these days as internet driven sales has put more power with the consumer, who are more likely to vote with their feet when they select which airline they'd rather fly.

Like organized labor, I dislike management from taking large bonuses. I do like the idea of shareholders setting performance based pay supplements for both management and line employees.

In the next set of CBA talks I'd like to see both pilots and management find ways to improve quality of life and reduce costs. I'm a fan of Allegiant because they control their costs having all their flying as day trips not requiring overnights stays on the road. Would you like to fly for DAL and get to sleep in your own bed every night if you drove DC9s and M88s? This would require pilot bases to be diversified beyond the current hubs or allow pilots to port where they begin and end their trips like WestJet.

For example I think that HNL would be a decent place for a pilot base for the 744, 330 and 7ER.

Originally Posted by Carl Spackler (Post 876196)

Couldn't be that some guys are migrating north to be more senior could it? Nah. That would make me a speculator trying to come off as factual...kinda like you!

Carl

Originally Posted by Carl Spackler (Post 876188)

Yea opinion is so much cooler than facts. ;)

Carl

Originally Posted by forgot to bid (Post 876180)

FWIW, talking to a buddy that was ATL 767 B on reserve living in base, he bid off and started commuting after he was being used "every day" but coming up with 69 hours of credit. So I think thats not every day but the point is it was a lot of work that he found 73N NYC commuting a better deal.

I like 88 ATL reserve, the money hurts, but the lifestyle has been good for me.

Originally Posted by Pineapple Guy (Post 876232)

I've moved down in relative position in ATL, CVG, LAX, and NYC. And I've moved up in relative position in DET, MEM, MSP, SEA and SLC.

Originally Posted by Gnewt (Post 876257)

Anyone know where this place is?

Originally Posted by LandGreen2 (Post 876233)

must have been June/July??...i flew my first trip in a month ATL 767b last week!

Originally Posted by Denny Crane (Post 876222)

Nobody's mentioned it yet that I've seen.................what happened to Texas Super????:)

Denny

Originally Posted by DAL73n (Post 876217)

Actually, I totally disagree with you about pricing power. When our load factors are at over 80 percent we are essentially flying full most of the time because so much capacity has been taken out of the system. If you look at the internet and technology it has been a double edged sword. If you want to see the biggest disconnect it is SWA as a low cost carrier. Very often, if you try to get a TV "sale" fare you better do it quickly because it's not there very long. All the carriers have gone to "Just in Time" pricing and you never know exactly what is the best time to get a great fare. It could be 6 months, 2 months, 2 weeks or the day prior. OR, the fare you saw now may not be there in five minutes (particularly if you need more than one seat). There is very little excess capacity on any of the airlines right now. How did the business make $8 Billion dollars this year? The key is not expanding too quickly now so that if the economy is flat next year we can still make money.

Originally Posted by Gnewt (Post 876257)

Anyone know where this place is?

Originally Posted by forgot to bid (Post 876261)

The honorable Denny, be nice. However, if OU had lost, I'd laughed. OU and OSU are trying to play each other in the national championship so for the first time one of the two could actually win a big game. Of course I'd laugh if it was a 7-7 tie and had to go to OT. :rolleyes: