DAL/Eagle.

DAL contracted with Eagle out there many moons ago. It was a short term answer to some short haul stuff out there they did not want to do.

Ohhh I see...cool bro.

BINGO!!!

How many McDonalds are owned and operated by McDonalds???

How many Holiday Inn's are owned and operated by Holiday Inn???

Crandall said it years ago that he would love to run American as a vitual airline with very few "American" employees.

It's all in the brand name.

And it's a complete PITA for the passengers as far as the transfer from DAL to AE goes. I KNOW, they shouldn't book flights with close connections, etc. But the set up is a complete disaster.

Concur on the poor service. I'm a Delta frequent flyer, and am supposed to get 70 pounds of bags for free. It's a big deal, because I'm hauling exactly 70 pounds, one bag a 50 pound oversize golf hard case. They made it clear that it wasn't what the "American" rules would allow.

American Eagle, out of San Diego, decided to charge me some outlandish amount of money for the short haul to LAX, where I connected with Delta.

Their response.... get Delta to refund you the money, which they did.

It is the easiest way to keep resetting labor costs. As a manager it is pure genius. That is why I see these air alliances as the next outsourcer. All of a sudden they will code the flying and airlines like AMR, DAL and CAL will become the third party operator. It is the end game in my opinion.

If wages go with this final step, people will bail on this profession. Got my parachute packed and strapped.

(On a side note don't you work for the airline that has yet to outsource? Doesn't that worry you?)

In reference to McDonald's It is a franchise, that provides the product for the third party to heat up. The main company still sets pay, and bennies as well as many other things.

I do not argue that. It is a short term fix that has become a long term deal. It has allowed DAL access to communities it has not served.

I wonder how long that agreement is for? If I'm not mistaken, did they move all the SAAB's out of LAX last year?

There was an ACTUAL DelCon carrier in LAX that could go to tall the places AE does with their planes with less of an ordeal for the customers.

Once again, it was due to the desire to not dilute a market that has not pricing power. (how I was told)

I'm sure that that is the first and foremost reason. I wouldn't doubt that trailing reason would be that AA and has a rather firm and solidified RJ/regional operation in LAX. Where DAL has proven to be rather fickle there.