Why merge an overstaffed Major with furloughs (Comair) with an overstaffed Regional without furloughs (Mesaba) ? Delta would probably rid itself of some CRJ200s in the process which would make the new organization more overstaffed. Who then gets furloughed ?

The NWA/Delta merger presents enough pilot intergration problems; they don't need another headache. Comair pilots are going through rough times (read their threads) and it's understandable that they would see a merger as a better alternative to the disolution of the company.

Mesaba and Comair have different company "cultures." Merging them would result in ill will, trauma, more furloughs at a company whose morale would be at the same level Comair is right now.

 

EXACTLY why they would WANT to do it in the first place.

I really don't think it would be that hard to do with mid-length fences and a continued flow through.

As far as the other words you used; we are professionals and there is no GOOD reason for anyone to harbor those feelings at a regional when you should feel grateful to have a paycheck period.

And I am a proponent of mergers if they are for the betterment of the whole. Even when I get screwed.

 

Ok. Theres is so many things wrong with this thread. First of all. Comair is a Major now?

Wow... those of you working at comair should feel really screwed if thats true. Because your pay rates are nowhere close to those of Delta, NWA, United, American, etc.

Second off... to say that because Mesaba has a more junior pilot group means that they should automatically be placed below Comair pilots is plane wrong. I don't know about the rest of you people, but I did my research before I went applying for jobs. And that research showed me that even though I would get paid a few dollars more an hour at Comair, I would be looking at a longer upgrade compared to that of some other airlines. That was an important point in my decision making, because I was willing to give up some pay in order to be able to move up the ranks quicker. Now presumably those of you who did their research and went to comair were OK with waiting longer for the upgrade because you were getting paid more as an FO. Now if you didn't to your research, i'm sorry, but these are things that should have influenced your decision of were to work.

Now, if we were to staple Mesaba to the bottom of Comair, you're telling me that all the Mesaba guys should be penalized for wanting to work at a company where they knew there was a more junior work group. Now if you integrated a seniority list based on current positions it would be the best of both worlds, those that knew going into their job that they were going to be flying the right seat for a while... well you're going to be doing just that instead of being magically boosted into a captains seat at the expense of a bunch of other ppl. Those who worked for lower wages in order to get the quicker upgrade would get to keep the quicker upgrade they earned.

Third. All of that being said, a Comair-Mesaba merger is impractical, and doesn't make fiscal sense.

I say we let this tread die.

 

So I guess you have this whole aviation thing figured out. If a company is upgrading within a year it will always be like that. That is awesome. Guess I misunderstood that Mesaba got screwed a few years ago and furloughed.

 

[quote=joethepilot;562837]Ok. Theres is so many things wrong with this thread. First of all. Comair is a Major now? Wow... those of you working at comair should feel really screwed if thats true. Because your pay rates are nowhere close to those of Delta, NWA, United, American, etc. quote]

Technically yes Comair is a major and not because we think highly of ourselves or anything like that. But because of how much revenue comair does annually (something like over 1billion) that’s what constitutes a major, and not the plane size like the Legacy carriers you just rattled off.[/COLOR]

 

Actually, the DOT (and this website, mind you) considers Comair a major airline based on quite a few statistics. Would I consider them a major? No. And I work(ed) there.

Noone here that is actually talking common sense wants to staple Mesaba to the bottom of Comair's list. Date of Hire is not fair, neither is straight ratio.


Isn't this what people get on Mesa pilot's case about? Willing to work for peanuts just to cut to the front of the line?

Actually, I chose Comair because at the time I was hired, upgrade had dropped to about 4.5 years, which I was perfectly content with given the fact that the pay was higher (pre sham bankruptcy paycuts) and I was able to live in base and not bother with commuting. If the planets align and I get recalled to Comair, I'm looking at a 12 year upgrade... which is not cool, but I'll live with it until I can find something better.

Yourself going to Mesaba could have turned out quite ugly. You benefited (I assume) from all of the folks that struggled through the bankruptcy and waited on long upgrades as well. If you had been months earlier, or had NWA or Delta not selected Mesaba as the current "Chosen One," you'd have a longer upgrade than you currently do. Who would you have gone to then, GoJet?

I would agree with some of that. Why would it be fair to a 6 year Comair FO to find himself junior to a 1 year FO at Mesaba just because "you went to work for lower wages in order to get a quicker upgrade." If that is your feeling on the subject, I say lets go Date Of Hire. I'm the most senior furlough at Comair (at the moment) and my date of hire would put me senior to 60% of your pilot group. Is that fair? Who gives a blank, it helps me out. See what I mean?

You consider yourself a "professional" pilot, yet you still don't see anything wrong with this statement?
Actually, if I was a CEO, I'd want to keep my costs down. Why pay 2 or 3 seperate sets of ground handlers to do the same job? Consolidate them into one. Delta has.

Why would I pay 3 sets of management teams? Consolidate them into one.

Why would I pay 3 sets of pilot/FA groups? Consolidate them into one or two. Leaving Compass still leaves the chance for whipsawing, which Richard Anderson and Delta love to do.

 

the fact is that you sound very junior at mesaba and are concerned about your position which is completely understandable. If this merger were to ever happen someone is going to get screwed. yes- you could be pushed down by potentially a lot of comair guys and that decision of earning less pay to get to the majors in 3 years...well, just blew up in your face. Or... guys with 2 years or more seniority at comair that are currently furloughed could be junior to your 6 months at mesaba. life isn't fair let alone this stupid airline biz thing.

 

UMMMM.....this is really interesting...........

 

What financial gain is there to be gained by merging two wholey owned carriers? Delta would waste tens of millions of cash to achieve nothing more than eliminating a couple of puppet jobs ie Spanjers? They have the integration they need with RHS. Why take two assets and give them more leverage against DAL and take the ability to liquidate them when the time comes? Not to mention if a consolidation happened Allegheny-Mohawk Labor Protective Provision is federal law. DOH is out. Fair and equitable is the term used or percent of seniority. Look at NWA/DAL and USAir/America West(which wasnt under the LPP, but an arbitrator ruled the same way). This is the dumbest debate ever.

 

You guys (Comair, Mesaba) actually HAVE 15 year captains? Wow...