AIP Synopsis
 

SWAPA just put out the AIP synopsis. No big surprises from the previous short bullet points JW put out. Still looks good to me thus far. Waiting for final contract language. SWAPA BOD will vote on it in approx. 2 weeks, then if it becomes a TA we will have 15 days minimum to review contract language and for road shows followed by a 30 day voting period. So, the earliest we would see a membership ratified TA that would become our new CBA is around 1 November.

Did anyone else notice all of the language in section 5 about ETOPS, ETOPS bid groups, international domiciles and international hotels? Lots of very specific language. My guess is first quarter 2017 will be interesting.

Remember Barco, this is Southwest. We have to reinvent the wheel with everything so things will go VERY slow....molasses slow.
Don't get me wrong -- glad we have an AIP, just don't expect to see Gary announce ACTUALLY going to 50 new cities next year.

Yeah, I definitely took notice to that. ETOPS, ETOPS bid groups (EBG), near international domicile language, and how about the part about near international red-eye flights? Think Bogota to BWI, that type of flying. Also, Hawaii to the mainland has a lot of red-eye flights (all ETOPS of course).

I think the company's been doing a lot more planning and negotiating behind the scenes south of the border than anyone of us realize. Just my gut feeling.

I think you're giving them a lot of credit. [emoji23]

Lol. Yeah, you're probably right. Btw, the 3% red-eye flying override is grossly inadequate, however it does cover "any" flying that is done between 01:00-04:00 base local time. Taken at face value I assume even flights like the ones that get into the West Coast cities late at night would qualify if you're East Coast based?

That's how I understand it.

Well, that's good at least if indeed that is the case, but am I the only one that finds 3% a very anemic override for punishing your body the way a red-eye does? I think back to how my body feels after touching down on the East Coast in the early morning and even a 10% override doesn't make up for that pain.

And no override for international?! Gimme a break. What extra compensation are the EBGs going to get for the added effort of ETOPS training and maintaining currency?

Can anyone post the details for us outsiders?

I am not so sure on that red eye pay part. If it is like TA1, then one would have to operate over both the 1 am to 4 am times. Push after 1 or block in before 4 and no redeye pay for you. 30% would be a start as far as redeye pay. Waiting to see the details. Same for the international domicile. There had better be language regarding housing, schools, transportation etc. Growth will be south. Apparently, millions of retirees will be flooding south because they have saved so little for retirement. Their relatives will want to see them and some will travel for American doctors. Rumor for what the future growth strategy is.