SoCalGuy

Now that be full of "Sum LUV".

MILUAL

You know what I think is funny about this thread? A lot of the luv guys were talking smack about frontier/republic stuff and about how republic guys deserve good integration ect. (I think they felt slighted that frontier pilots did not run to the swa stapler praising how god like swa pilots are). It seems I remember they even sent a pilot to help republic with arbitration or something.. Anyway, Airtran is a hell of a lot more an equal with SWA then republic is to frontier. Airtran guys should dig up those post, and the help,or statements, from the swapa pilot that was helping republic. That would probably make their case right there.

1Seat 1Engine

Not true.

Any idea what the FAPA proposal for an SLI with Republic is? Get out the slimline. Ironic no?

BTW, how's that UAL/CAL thing goin?

FAULTPUSH

So why was he there?

FAULTPUSH

Can you point to another SLI that has somewhat resembled point number 2 above, and explain how AirTran/Southwest looks anything like it?

MILUAL

When the FAPA proposal was up(not sure if it still is), I thought it was too kind to slot in regional pilots anywhere on the list with frontier pilots, which I think started at the top of the FOs if I remember right. (Someone chime in if I am wrong.) Way better then the real world where a regional guy would have to apply/interview/get hired/start over on probation to get a narrow body airline job. If they got put below the bottom FO then it is a kick as$ deal not to have to do all that. On the other hand, Airtran is a narrow body airline job already.

If you can't see the difference then no reason to try to show you.

As for CAL/UAL? It's not as of now. I would expect same size equipment to be ratioed. Same percent on narrowbody before and after...widebody before/after...with no bump/flush and some smallish fences(5years) and then some allowances for exclusive equipment ect... Just a guess as of now.

WHACKMASTER

Owed something? The only thing I feel that I'm "owed" is a fair SLI being that we as an airline bring a hell of a lot to the deal. Don't believe me when I say that, believe your own CEO. He's been spouting off publically for a while now about just how much SWA needs this deal inorder to start growth again.

Btw, it's AirTran..........not Air Tran, and yes there IS two Os in Goose, boys.

FAULTPUSH

Going out on a limb, aren't you?

SoCalGuy

Since you asked....why not expound??

With this thread being a pop-shop with SLI emphasis, we'll focus on the fun stuff, your "SLI".

I think the key difference in the two Mergers (yours vs ours) is that in the "UniCal" gig, both pilot groups are keenly aware of the "road map" that our SLI will embark-upon, that being a board of Tri-Panel Arbitration (99.999%----> certainty)...."pretty simple/work a long time".....ALPA v ALPA as displayed per the DAL process.

Over the recent weeks in speaking with several co-horts over at SWA (both seats), and AirTran, the SLI has been the obvious 'talk of the town'. Through a 'previous life' in aviation, I have flown with/know FO T.W., one of your 6 or 7 Pilots on the SWA Merger Committee. I have much respect for him. T.W. is a very talented person, one in which the position requires during this type of Merger. With that being said, what stands out to many 'outsiders' of the Merger (me included), several of the SWA Pilots that I have spoken with see this not going to Arbitration....solution....using the "Swingliner Methodolgy"/or some close variation there of. In today's world of Airline Mergers, those would be tall/pretty unrealistic expectations (Just view McCaskill-Bond Amendment post TWA).

In the SWA/Tranny Merger, will there 'most likely' be LARGE base fencing?? I would bet the house. Will there be a "Staple Job" on a large majority ('all', as some SWA Pilots have expressed) of AirTran Pilots?? I honestly doubt it. With the above being said, that's where most 'outsiders' are rolling eyes. It obvious/and understood, the 'job' of the respective MC's is to fight tooth/nail.....but there's also a difference in being realistic vs 'expecting' to land "50 yards North of the 50".

I'll be the first to admit, I don't have a "dawg" in this fight.....he's presently disposed in another.....As one has said before regarding Airline Mergers, "Keep your expectations realistic so to digest any certain legal outcome".....probably more true today, than years prior.

Good luck on the SLI process.

4th Level

Let's be clear;

with regard to any SLI, it isn't about what each airline brings to the table, it's about what each labor group does.

The efficiencies gained by the combining of two airlines are separate and distinct from the issues surrounding the merging of two seniority lists (read, contracts). For proof look no further than AWA/US. The "airline" has successfully merged....the labor? Not so much.