Originally Posted by sailingfun (Post 1150055)

You have to attempt to view it from a management standpoint. They have spent five years in a reeducation campaign with the other employees that Delta will only be able to pay industry standard wages. They are correct in their cost assumptions to an extent. This is perhaps the most brutal industry around on companies that let costs get out of line.
A pilot contract that is viewed as above the abstract they have created with the other employees will lead to big problems. After our 2001 contract they had to follow up with a 17 percent raise to the mechanics when things started to get ugly there.
I suspect they will be willing to put forth a contract with some impressive numbers in the out years. They will not put out anything near what I or most pilots expect in the short term. The collapse of talks at UAL and the 1113 action at AMR will leave the company thinking and serious raises for the pilots will put their pilot costs way to high and that they will have other costs with non union employee fallout. The package they put forth will be back loaded while the package we want and deserve will have to be front loaded. I see the gap between the two as far to big to be bridged before we go to the NBM. The NMB has made it clear we can expect a very long process if we go that route.
Again this is going to be a long difficult contract with a lot of choices that have to be made. Don't start spending raises now. They may not come for 5 years.

Originally Posted by nwaf16dude (Post 1150656)

DALPA board is stoking the 717 rumors again. Somebody's wife's brother knows a mx guy that says its a done deal. Anyone have any more info? Anyone want to make up some?

Originally Posted by Jack Bauer (Post 1150636)

Alaska Airlines makes a pitch for a new, direct flight from Washington to Portland | OregonLive.com

Alaska Airlines makes a pitch for a new, direct flight from Washington DC to Portland

Originally Posted by tsquare (Post 1150559)

Marginalizing your strike experience? Uh.. no.

Originally Posted by tsquare (Post 1149347)

Now now... cut the big man a little slack. After all, HE's been on strike. That right there automatically makes his opinion not only extremely valuable, but one that the rest should take without question, and because he KNOWS what success is all about. He told the company to stuff it and walked out the door. And... he flies Super DUPER Premium. That makes him a better pilot than ANYBODY else, because as we all know there are only about 5000 of those airplanes ever built, and it is a skill set that only the best of the best of the best (with honors) could ever hope to fly...

More experienced
Better skillset
We're not worthy

Originally Posted by tsquare (Post 1150559)

I just don't bow to it as being anything that makes you an expert in anything.

Originally Posted by tsquare (Post 1150559)

You had the balls to stand up to management and walk out the door.. good for you. It also means that your MEC failed.

Originally Posted by tsquare (Post 1150562)

Quite the contrary, it does affect me. I also work in a base that has 80% commuters as do you. Funny, but you don't seem to think that that is a HUGE QOL issue for many.

Originally Posted by tsquare (Post 1150562)

Talk about being unaffected... when was the last time YOU sat reserve?

Originally Posted by Carl Spackler (Post 1150556)

Yup. Who would want SWAPA's scope if it meant 14 days of SC. Scope doesn't affect you anyway...right tsquare?

Carl

Originally Posted by acl65pilot (Post 1150648)

And Emirates plans three more US cities this year.

And USAir registered a few domain names for a merger with AMR.......

Originally Posted by Scoop (Post 1150650)

Gloopy,

SWA currently has many QOL advantages over DAL - A reserve system with basically all short calls is not one of them.


Scoop

Originally Posted by TenYearsGone (Post 1150659)

The last time the rumor came up (December-Jan), I called a MX friend of mine and he said he had not heard any mechanics training on the 717.

THings might be changing, Ill give him a call.

TEN

Originally Posted by hoserpilot (Post 1150757)

Carl, I've had a hard time lately keeping up with this thread so bear with me. I absolutely do not want 14 days of short call. I live in base and bid reserve to improve my quality of life. I love getting paid to drink beer and float on my boat all summer on long call. I invite all of you to join me and the redneck yacht club on west point lake. Usually 4 boats, bikinis, beer, wake boarding, bridge jumping ect... Life is good. Short call kills my fun. I'm all for scope but don't sell out by getting rid of long call.

Thanks,

Hoserpilot