Thanks Really,

I can certainly understand a relative seniority +/- position for the LCAL pilot group. In the LUAL proposed list, it's FAIRLY close to that (I think I'm +1.4) until you get down to the sticking point of where the furloughed pilots go.

The LCAL list didn't appear to be based on relative, as far as I can tell. It was a 1 for 1 slotting until there were no more LCAL pilots left, and then a straight staple for all LUAL pilots left.... which was after about 1997, whether they were ever furloughed or not, regardless of what they were flying, and no matter what number they could expect to retire at in a stand alone United. Thus, NONE of the ALPA merger policy tenets were followed.

For me personally, the frustration isn't that Katz went for a pie in the sky moonshot with the list. That's his strategy, and was at USAirways too. The frustration I has was after reading Ben's diatribe which focused on the unfairness of the LUAL list with regards to where our furloughed bubba and bubettes were placed. It just felt like he was using a slingshot in an extremely glass house to me. I assumed that when the LCAL methodology came out, it would be chalked up to strategy. Go as wide as you can and hope to end up in the middle. I didn't expect it to be supported as what ANY of us would actually like to see adopted. If the LCAL position becomes merger policy, we better hope and pray we never merge with anyone small, because you would have new hires becoming instant Widebody Captains.

 

I didn't know they paid differently by age?

 

That's true, I flew a LAS/DEN they had to remove revenue people and bags, not to mention the standbys that didn't get on, I talked to load planning, his comment was this is the result of our marketing department choosing routes for an airplane, without consulting someone who actually knows what the airplane can do. I wish we were ordering more 700/800 aircraft, the 900 is definitely suited to specific markets like transcons. They also run the 800 s to Bogota certain times of the year, and take a pretty good weight hit on departure back to IAH, that's definitely a 700 or 757 airport.

 

Look at Ben's cal seniority - it'll give you insight for his reasons.

 

I was referring to the LCO rules of the 2003 contract, not your career in general. I get your viewpoint and opinion. If we had voted no at each crossroads you would be making 300K working eight days a month with a pension at a robustly profitable UAL. It must be comforting to think that you can dictate the economics of the marketplace.

 

I do about 5 trips a month out to ITO, KOA, OGG, and HNL from LAX and SFO and have never been wt restricted in the -800. I don't remember ever flying a -900ER out there.

 

I noted it long ago. Just was hoping that the bigger picture would prevail. That's not to say we at LUAL don't have MEC members that write things they shouldn't, because we certainly do....

 

I'll be honest, I looked at the lists on both sides and did not read all the text on how they came up with there final list. So this is just "my" opinion and believe me nobody on our SLI Comm. has asked me what I thought!! My gut tells me the the truth 90% of the time, and if our list puts a cal furloughed pilot ahead of a ual non-furloughed guy "I" don't think it's going to happen! Nor do "I" think they should! This place would go Nuclear! I've got to many yrs left at this place to be miserable!! If you talk to the cal guys I think most know what fair is as do the ual pilots. There is just so much posturing going on by both sides I hope the arbitrators can see through it and come up with something fair!! The 2 lists have me 17% diff., and I can honestly say I wouldn't be that pleased with either one since I think they are both a little skewed!! Again, I hope when this is over we are both just a little p@$sed off but, not so much that we can't enjoy the rest of our career!! I've said it to the UAL guys I've flown w/I really don't know what to say since they have legit arguments at the same time I feel like I have one also! Good luck and looking forward to this being over!!

 

Yes it is comforting.

 

Agreed on all counts. Here's to hoping we can all just put this behind us and love on.... together.... When its over