Let's see if I can address your stuff, as I understand it. The latest that is floating around here - reported by Reuters too - is CAL exploring an 'alliance' with American Airlines, while engaging in merger talks with United, who is also in talks with US Airways. Blah. I don't quite like the sound of any of that, but I don't write the news stories, I just report them.

Brief correction to the statement about DH. DH is now paid at 100%. It was not paid at 100% for a while (under POS '02) but snapped back to 100% last year. If there had to be a marriage with UAL, CONTRACTUALLY the only things I personally would like to see is adopting your work rules and our pay scales. I am skeptical that we would be so fortunate, but that doesn't mean I won't rally hard for it. Again, nothing personal but the rumors of how the seniority could be integrated spell disaster for my career, being quite junior at CAL already. A full 1/3 of our pilots have only a few years on property and have a sneaking suspicion that we could be thrown under the bus by our peers or the UAL MEC. Don't misinterpret my kicking and screaming over the merger talks as an insult to UAL, I just don't want to be furloughed and/or junior for the next 20 years.

Who cares what my opinion is, but I haven't found any combo yet that actually benefits anyone at CAL right now. Our leadership knows this, so the only thing we can hope for is the DAL/NWA thing not passing regulatory approval. Standing alone, someone will fall, probably sooner rather than later. I would prefer stiff competition for a while, rather than tethering multiple companies to each other that are all weathering a brutal economic storm. I am confident in CAL's ability to emerge near the top, as long as no mergers are allowed to happen. Eh, we will see.

PacMan is going to be taken down. It was a joke, but I realize not all share my twisted sense of humor.

 

Not on my watch LIFL.

The MC WILL be looking out for all those on the seniority list and Neal Schwartz addition to the committee is a big plus for everyone.

 

Yeah, I just heard he was added. I've heard good things. But I also heard that it's more a position for consultation and input. I.E. a figurehead for the bottom 1/3. Maybe I'm wrong? Has there been a proposed ratio of sorts, or is it all just b.s. floating around the rumor mill? Not that we're known for that of course.

 

No worries, I understand your concerns. There is no 100% fix in any merger scenario. We have done some unjust things to our furloughed/returnees in regards to pay longevity that still irritates me and I was not even affected. If I can count correctly there have been very few complete airline mergers that did not result in furloughs at some point down the line.

I agree with your sentiments about allowing competition weed out the survivors. It would be my hope that with the UAL route structure we could survive with a decent management team. ORD/SFO/LAX/IAD along with the Pacific and tons of LHR slots do help the airline. If we could just get someone to manage the assets. The Star Alliance is large and has good breadth of service. With some right moves perhaps we make it as a stand alone. Who knows it is a crap shoot no matter what happens. Reading the news articles they make the UAL/CAL marriage the most complimentary. Strong NYC presence, IAH for launching Latin/South America and the effects of being weeded out of Skyteam by DL/NW make a compelling combination.

Like you said we are all along for the ride and I would hope that if we are riding in the same car we can avoid throwing rocks at each other.

As for the PacMan, I thought it was funny and understand you were just having a laugh.

Cheers,
Lambourne

 

According to this article, CO is in talks with US and AA as well. I'm sure if they jump on bed with AA, CO would NOT be the buyer. so.......

http://www.reuters.com/article/marke...0080425?rpc=44

 

I live next to one of your hubs, and am surrounded by UAL people. With the exception of my neighbor's dog consistently crapping in my yard (started waaay before the merger mania) I'd like to think we all get along just fine. You mentioned the furloughee longevity, something I just learned about on a commute the other day from one of your hires from 2000 (or around then). He told me he was on Year 3 pay after nearly a 5 year furlough! What gives? I'm not sure what CAL's policy is on this, but perhaps I should familiarize myself.

 

All this jumping in bed with random people talk is reminding me of my days as a regional F.O. Ahhhh those WERE the days. I hope CAL's policy of selecting partners is more stringent than mine (i.e. pulse?).

As I always say: "You know what kind of girls I like? Girls that like me."

 

Just out of curiosity, what is your percentage on the B756???

 

Lineholder, not by much. Contemplating a jump to 73 when all this calms down, if at all. There is ZERO movement in this seat for me.

 

Continental and United Said to Be Closer to a Merger
By MICHELINE MAYNARD
Published: April 26, 2008
United Airlines and Continental Airlines are getting closer to a merger agreement and would like to wrap up a deal by the end of next week, people with direct knowledge of the discussions said Friday.
The negotiations, which have been under way for months, accelerated after Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines announced a $3 billion deal on April 14 that would create the nation’s biggest air carrier.
The talks between United and Continental are in an advanced stage but are not yet complete, the people who had been briefed on them said. They requested anonymity because the talks are private.
The two airlines would like to be finished by Thursday, these people added, although the negotiations could easily run into delays.
As with Delta and Northwest, United and Continental would like to win regulatory approval before President Bush leaves office rather than risk delays that could take place under a new president.
Meanwhile, Continental is getting ready to provide details of any possible deal, at least if its Web page is any indication.
The Houston-based airline has posted a link on its home page to a new part of its site that looks like it can be transformed into a merger information page, as soon as a deal occurs.
The page went live on April 15, a Continental spokesman, Dave Messing, said Friday, but only began attracting attention this week.
Mr. Messing declined further comment. A United spokeswoman, Jean Medina, said the company did not comment on “rumors or speculation.”
The link, www.co-industryconsolidation.com, sits next to a headline, “Latest News and Offers.” It is to the right of a form where passengers can book their flights.
“Welcome to a portion of our Web site designed specifically to provide Continental’s perspective on airline industry consolidation,” the site’s first post reads. “We will add new information to this section as it arises.”
Continental’s consolidation page features only a few links — one to news releases, another to a “Frequently Asked Questions” page that talks about what the Delta-Northwest merger might mean to Continental, and a third guiding visitors to company Webcasts.
But, as the welcome letter says, “Please check back here regularly for more information.”
Delta and Northwest also have their own new Web page, www.newglobalairline.com, which they posted April 15.
On Thursday, executives from both airlines sought to reassure members of Congress that the deal would not hurt consumers or result in significant job losses.
The two airlines blamed high fuel prices for combined losses of $465 million in the first quarter. Delta and Northwest filed for bankruptcy protection on Sept. 14, 2005, after fuel prices spiked in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Delta emerged from Chapter 11 protection in April 2007, while Northwest completed its restructuring a month later.
Shares of United’s parent, the UAL Corporation, fell 19 cents Friday to $15.21, while Continental closed at $17.22, down 46 cents. Delta stock closed at $7.01, down 25 cents, while Northwest fell 32 cents to $7.56.