I think SIDA badges cost money, RAH doesnt wanna pay these monies? That's my guess.

I believe that's the general consensus at RAH.

How is DAL going to do that?

If you under-perform, you will get fired...or at least they will try (mesa, PCL 2008).

If you file BK, they can probably cancel your contract (mesa 2009).

If DAL files BK (again), they can cancel contracts. But the BK laws are more formidable now than in 2005.

Other than that, DAL is obligated to honor the existing contracts. They can ATTEMPT to renegotiate...but for example, why would SKW give a bunch of concessions now? Their contract is good for decades...better to hold DAL to their word for now, collect your due, and re-evaluate in 15 years.

Actually, if you look through the contract between Skywest/ASA(check SEC site), you'll see there are parts of the contract that are re-negotiable after 5 years.

When Delta dragged Comair into BK, they dumped our newest 200s as they had the most expensive lease rates. We're still flying 7011 (the oldest CRJ in America), despite having over 35,000 hours.

I believe we lost our newer 700s in the sham RFP in 2006, when Delta awarded 12 of them to SKW.

That's exactly what management wants you to think. Do you think Southwest pilots think the same thing? UPS?

Southwest and UPS are career companies. Their pilot groups have leverage. The regional game this day and age is nothing but gang warfare. Whipsaw at its best. Being industry best will leave you with nothing but a little bit of pride to thump your chest while your flying is being stripped because other companies do it cheaper.

It is not our job to worry if our rates are competitive. If you really believe the success or failure of your company hinges on a few bucks an hour we might as well all just burn our union cards because we have all officially become management TOOLS. I would have thought the demise of Mesa would have disproven the theory that the cheapest guy always wins but I guess there are still pilot's out there who believe they can somehow prop up a poorly run company by agreeing to work for cheap. Does anyone here remember Skybus?? There are many things you can do to help the company, like on time performance, etc. but pay is not one of them.

ATL S5 crews are NOT given sida badges because there is a 1000 dollar fine for SIDA badges not returned when an employee quite, leaves or is terminated. MGT determined that with the high turnover they have experienced in ATL amongst FA's that it was not worth the exposure/risk to the company. Thus crews can not get down to the crew room below D35 until at least 630 am in the morning....sometimes later. Result, is you have to have you flight bag with you if you are a commuter to an early line or even inbase to an early line. S5 operates flights for DAL out of B and E mostly occasionally A. And also flights for UAL out of the T gates. There are currently about 75 crews based in ATL. Oh and YES absent SIDA badges S5 crew members must go thru security every time they report in ATL ...no bypassing security.

From a Comair guy who got furloughed and went to Mesaba for an interview, after offering the job, background check and drug test ok, they rescinded the job offer.....??????......Then cancelled all other Comair guy's oncoming interviews.....btw, not the only one this happened to. Something is on the works.