Sadly, you're right. I'm just one guy.

If you want things to be more expensive, need to replace the Capt's who have retired....and, might be just me, but I don't think I've heard of a single trip canx due to a lack of Capts.

The bid will produce 352 new Captains. We'll have a TA by August of this year. Heard it here first...

When will the bid be out?

Will the TA be ratifiable? I know for me, personally, the longer the delay has been the more I expect in return.

The proof is "in the pudding." I'll believe in the Easter Bunny when it's in writing a ratified.

If Management wanted to conclude Negotiations (having a Contract in place in time for '14 Peak) why string us along for so long? Does the company fiscal year coincide with August?

Getting a new Contract will be 90% mental, the other 50% is physical"

Mgmnt will offer the MOAB's. In conjunction with this, a TA will miraculously appear. We'll be so blinded by the MOAB's, we'll sign a half-@ssed TA, and the company will shortly thereafter cancel the bid......because of lack of simulators/instructors.

yes, the glass is half empty.

Ah, no. I doubt anyone is going to sign a contract just because a bid came out. I've been here 20yrs and I'm not signing a contract because we have been in negotiations for a while. There are too many fatigue issues that need to be addressed. If we sign a contract, it needs to include everyone on the seniority list and address all the issues, accepted fares is just one of the issues.

Sorry already deleted it.. I think it was in Chairmans message or some thing or another.. It was a sentence or two about manning and a bid.. It didn't really say much but did note a big bid soon..

TA info from Council 79

Here are some highlights of the TA’d sections:
• Traveling Expenses (5)
o Industry leading per diem
o Modest expansion of catering parameters
o Expanded availability and use of hub sleep rooms o Fatigue group oversight of rest & break facilities
• Relocation Expenses (6)
o Enhanced air travel benefits during relocation o Increased FDA allowance for Section 6 moves o Added domestic partner benefits
• Deadheading (8)
o Established a jointly developed “approved” DH carrier list
o Expanded higher class of service requirements internationally o DH duty limit now 22 hours
o Rolling Deviation Bank
o Ability to join scheduled DH mid-trip and “un-deviate”
o New DH fare system
o Expanded front-end deviation check-in
o Enhanced deviation check-in procedures
o Established Hotel Cancellation Bank
o Limited deviation DH ticketing fees
• Miscellaneous Flying (9)
o Provide a mechanism for humanitarian and publicity flights o Codified QA Observations program and PIC authority
• Leaves of Absence (13)
o Updated language on returning crew position following LOA with new
Section 24 provisions
o Modified language Military Leaves of Absence to follow federal law
provisions
o Removed old “FLMA-type” leave since FMLA now covers pilots
• Medical Standards (15)
o Change to CBA language relating to pilots returning from LTD and ability
for reimbursement for medical exams to qualify for FAA medical
• Filling of Vacancies (24)
o New system bid procedures
o New ITU bidding procedures
• General (26)
o Increase in annual uniform allowance
o “No harm” jumpseats to all bases
o Improved new aircraft acquisition language
o Known Crewmember (KCM) contractually required
• FDA LOA
o New housing allowance index for HKG
o Lowered trigger for housing allowance increase
o Home ownership allowance increased
o Expanded household goods storage ability
o Enhanced air travel benefits during relocation & annual return travel o Increased shipping weight allowances
o Company required to relocate terminated or retired pilot
o Codified wire transfer fees
o Expanded GT allowance when relocating
o Increased educational benefits.

As Machiavellian as the other guy's point about the next bid was, i was thinking one of the reason's this bid could be so large is to get it done before a new cba imposes flexibility with training dates and ITU bidding. The training letter for this thing could stretch out two years or more depending on the state of things with the 75/76.