pilot64golfer

Wrong. 9 straight quarters of profit is not "reminiscent of an airline long gone".

Eastern, TWA, Pan Am, Braniff all lost money for 10-13 years straight before either going away of being bought. United wasn't going anywhere with 50 787 orders and 50 A-350 orders (not even counting the 2011 order of 100 guppies to replace the UAL757s.)

It wasn't our CEO telling congress that UAL was going to "cease to exist".

In the video below Jeff Smisek says "Continental has become experts at losing money". This was about a month before the merger was announced.

CAL being purchase by UAL was good for both airlines, as is self-evident now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLUKI6GDJAI

pilot64golfer

You mean being based in LAX, SFO, SEA, DEN, ORD, IAD, and JFK/EWR? Because last time I checked that is where most LUAL pilots are based. And they are flying the Airbus, 757/767, 777, and 747 overwhelmingly. L-UAL pilots didn't even get to bid on guppy flying until the L-UAL guppies were already on the property.

There have been more CAL pilots bid into UAL bases than the other way around, and since the UAL side was a bigger pilot group, you'd expect it to be the other way around.

The reasons there are vacancies is IAH and EWR is because those are the bases most pilots left to go be based in LAX, SFO, ORD, IAD, and DEN. What do you expect us to do? Many guys have been pushed out of their base so they have to go somewhere.

I don't feel like anyone saved my career. I certainly think I am better off than before, but not because of SLI or anything like that. But because we have a stronger airline now than before.

I certainly don't expect to tell anyone they saved my career just like I don't expect that from them because it isn't true. Just propaganda from a failed ISL argument that no one believed, not because it was a "conspiracy" but because it was a ridiculous argument to support a seniority grab proposal.

Grumble

Couldawouldashoulda. CAL could've bought NWA in an all stock deal, but that's not what happened.

jdt30

Grumble,
I agree with your earlier post responding to Kilder's idiotic post, but to clarify it was a stock swap with UAL shareholders owning 55% and CAL shareholders with 45%.

gettinbumped

Your posts are like a fart in a spacesuit: you just pray to God you can avoid them at all costs.

Your revisionist history is BIBLICALLY bad. ALPA National was extremely obstructionist to the LUAL push to get our contract done. Moak and JP were constantly putting up roadblocks to JH's attempts to get things settled. So THAT theory is trash.

Second, where have you been?? You think LUAL pilots are wanting to fly Sparky, the 737's and 767-400 because your CAL metal is so cool???? First off, the 737-900ER's we are taking delivery of were LUAL's, and with the 757's drawing down, there isn't much else to move to. Second, after the massive Captain shove before the ISL was complete, it's simply a matter of seniority. I can assure you that after having thousands of hours in both airplanes, I would MUCH rather fly the A320 than the 737. However, I'm not going to give up 30-40% seniority to do it. I don't care what I fly. Just give me a good schedule and pay me what I'm worth. I couldn't care less about Sparky. Again, the LUAL guys want to fence to come down because we are getting CRUSHED on the West Coast as we transfer our wide body flying to Newark and Houston and Chicago (you're welcome) and close 777 SEA, 767 SEA, 747 LAX, shrink 777 LAX and 747 SFO. The growth out west is on the 787. THAT's why we want the fence down. Not because we are so infatuated with your flame thrower of a plane. The BAT's that are shoving the LCAL 756 pilots to the 767T are simply because the 767-400 is WB pay. Guess who's doing THAT was?? Call JP and thank him for unsuccessfully trying to create inflated WB numbers for the ISL. He made that bed for you.

You think the DAL guys care that they are flying someone else's cast off equipment? HECK no they don't. Do you think FEDEX pilots are bitter because they are flying our used 757's? Do you really think that we are LUAL are DYING to get into CLE, GUA, IAH, or EWR?? Might want to check those bid results before you start spewing your nonsense.

To the 99% of the LCAL pilots on here who are great guys/gals and see the big picture, I don't want this post to read like a carry a grudge. I'm happy that we are finally on one contract, have one MEC, one ISL, and the combined airline seems to be turning slowly towards some strength after a series of colossally beetle-headed maneuvers by our management. Hopefully we all rise together and benefit from the merger process.

reCALcitrant

It reads like you carry a grudge. Just like you said. Leave out the first paragraphs and then you're getting somewhere. I am happy to be flying with the LUAL guys. Can't wait fly with them when the fences come down on the 787. It's done, both sides have great dudes. I've enjoyed talking with the LUAL guys. Let's focus on the next contract. If we want one by the expiration we better start now.

gettinbumped

I'm sorry you feel that way, and I can understand why it would seem so to you based on my post, but I truly don't. The problem is when Kilder arrives with his manure spreader I feel compelled to reply. It's easy to post things on the Internet as "fact" and if no one calls you out for it, it becomes "the truth". So I apologize if my post came across as anti-CAL. It was really just anti-Kilder. For what it's worth, I think some of JSled's posts are in poor taste as well with regards to bumps etc, and I've said so here in public.

At any rate, moving along, and I'm looking forward to a bright future for all of us

Kilder

Wow!! talk about lost in a fart suit...

So now ALPA didn't want the contract to happen, somehow that is the new theory going around?? that and your 737's for the merger theory should make for some fun cockpit musings.

Now we are also to believe that UAL ordered the 737-900!! really??....c'mon bro, all UAL had was a 787 and A-350 pipe dream ordered way way way into the future..

You're losing flying from your UAL legacy bases because you had old, and inefficient aircraft that can't compete with the new modern aircraft that CAL brought to the merger.

CAL had 737 orders in place before the merger, and so did many other companies, how do you think that those 737-900 orders were magically placed ahead of all orders with Boeing??

All they did was take our current orders and convert them to UAL airframes to placate the UAL folk, then they made new orders to continue the removal of UAL's crappy 757's that will make a nice cargo jet.

The massive Captain shove happened before the massive seniority grab the ISL award gave you, while UAL pilots were looking at a lifetime of right seat duties with maybe a couple of years on the left seat, your buddies at ALPA and the arbitrators made sure UAL pilots got some semblance of a career on the backs of the CAL pilots.

With regards to your inflated WB numbers, that is how the CAL contract was at CAL, it had nothing to do with another of your theories.

CAL had the 777 and 767-400 as WB pay, so now we have more pilots at WB pay than whatever antiquated system your negotiating team was looking for, again another thing you can thank a CAL pilot for.

As for the bases, it is a matter of preference, there is no doubt that UAL brought a lot more bases that have improved the quality of life for many pilots on the CAL side, but again the West coast is getting the airplanes that a strong company would of had in the first place, something that UAL wasn't, yes it had some good quarters at the end but that was after massive concessions from it's employees, it's creditors and suppliers, something CAL didn't have and yet made money.

Never forget that a CAL 737 captain was making more money than your 747 captain, so how could you not start seeing some semblance of profit, after you beat your employees and degrade their career you can only hope to merge with an entity that will bring some semblance of respect to the proud airline that once upon a time everyone wanted to be in....

MasterOfPuppets

Well You are getting ignored by me both in the flight deck, in life, and on this board.

rwthompson67

"Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!"
Germans?
Forget it. He's rolling.