Roll Inverted and Pull

Anomalous? Why not just say Abnormal? You are making me pull out my dictionary.

Invisible Man

Shorter drive to EWR then JFK or LGA.
IM

slowplay

Both of those are patently false. If NWA converts options into deliveries over the next 5 years, then it might outnumber DAL orders (not options). But you didin't include NWA attrition of the DC-9 and 747-200 in your numbers. Secondly, you erroneously assume NWA pilots will retire at age 60 because of the frozen defined benefit. There are already 200 pilots over age 60 on the list; how does that logically flow to a "wave" of retirements due to the DB. DAL pilots receiving a PBGC benefit from priority category 3 have no incentive to stay either, as their benefit is frozen at age 60 as well.

I guess red book/green book mean nothing to you, huh...

Opus

So, what's your point Slowplay?

If you're against this merger then we are on the same page.

If your goal is to bash NWA and convince us that we are second class citizens without any social redeeming traits and that we should be happy with any SLI DAL puts to us, well, that is not going to happen. It is b/c of the red/green history that we are not going to play that step child role.

Sorry for the short tone but I am getting a little fatiqued of all the NWA bashing. DAL pilots instead of reminding me that we are still flying DC-9s, yes I know I wish we had a replacement but we don't, please text your mec and tell them to pull out of this deal. That is what I have done.

slowplay

Simple, really. To counter misinformation that's being put out by individuals with an obvious political bias.

You are against a merger of NWA and DAL. I don't care if a merger occurs between NWA-DAL. To attempt to make your point you assert as fact that which is not. I prefer not to see that happen. Reasonable people can disagree, but that disagreement should be based on fact. I have not maligned either the NWA pilot group or airline, or the DAL pilot group or airline. But it appears the facts make you uncomfortable.

I'm fine with that.

Fishfreighter

I'm not so sure you're incorrect, crunchie. After all, a seniority list merger with Alaska would include widebody fences to protect the "career expectations" of Delta pilots. That's what Anderson was referring to. Even if some of the guys dropped a bit in seniority, their widebody seats would be guaranteed.

Of course, we'd expect equal fences around SEA, ANC and LAX crew bases, but I think virtually all DAL pilots would accept that "hardship".

Fishfreighter

IF we had an NSL, then these debates would all be moot.

When the "career expectations" argument comes out, its wallets talking.

I rue the day that the United/USAir gorillas deleted "DoH" from the Merger/Frag policy and replaced it with "career expectations."

Scoop

Opus,
You make some good points. I think we are both on the same page, both against the merger. For the record I agree that the quick movement for FO's at DAL will not last forever but at what airline does it? DAL management will only go through with this deal if they keep the DAL name and headquarters in Atlanta. NW management apparantly does not feel this way about NW. IF NW prospects are so much better than Delta's then why is management willing to fold the whole company into Delta? Don't misunderstand me - I think DAL and NW are in very similar situations, some would give a slight edge to DAL, some to NW, but apparantly your management does not feel as strong about the Northwest name and MSP headquarters.
Also, I have heard that the NW MEC said they would agree to arbitration. If this is true why would they agree to that unless they thought they had something to gain. I think DAL pilots would be crazy to agree to arbitration because we have nothing to gain. We lose on DOH and we would also lose with relative senority. DAL is bringing more widebodies to the party and more narrowbodies and both pay a lot more than NW current rates. You guys may get raises as stand alone but so what - so will we. You guys have aircraft orders - so what, we can order aircraft also. You say all orders are booked until 2014. Maybe, maybe not, but there are other ways to get aircraft - we recently received 15 757's from American and are deep in negotiations with Air China for a bunch of MD-90's, along with our current orders I think we are looking pretty good. I would be thrilled if we start getting more aircraft in 2014 because we have no planned aircraft retirements, and orders for the next few years already in place. The bottom could drop out of the economy but that would affect all airlines. NW has a lot of potential upside but that can all change very quickly, DAL is currently doing what you guys are hoping for - growth. Also, for the record is the NW growing or shrinking its mainline fleet this year? You guys have a ton of retirements - but if you are parking a lot of airframes they could cancel each other out . And I wouldn't count on 100% of your pilots retiring at 60.
Scoop - also a product of the public shool system.

Invisible Man

I have a question. I keep hearing that Delta has some kind on note due in 2012. I was told 4B. Is that correct?
IM

Fishfreighter

Scoop,

If indeed the NWA MEC was willing to go to arbitration and their essential position was DoH, they didn't learn anything from AAA MEC's mistakes.