ALK at $21.56 and falling

[AKMD80GUY]

I wonder how the stock buyback and other lip service to the board and investors are working out for ya Bill. As much as I once loved to work for Alaska, I sense the Eskimo will be no more. $900 mill in the bank and closing in on a new all time low stock price is not good.

After viewing the operation from the front seat for so long, I can say for sure that we are in deep deep trouble. The Just Do Your Job is having an effect but not the effect we think. On time is still only around 75% and yet we fall. Record setting profits and yet we fall. 7.1 CASM including fuel and yet we fall.

Unfortunatly for the pilot group, we can't say that we can help restore the operation if you just pay us. Pre Kasher Plus is not going to help. We could do everything in our power to help but the operation is in such disaray that we can only watch.

Bill, you not only F'd the pilots but you F'd everyone that worked or works for Alaska. Take you Golden Parachute and get out, we don't need you, we don't want you. You can take Saretsky, Johnson and all the other Horizon retreads with you because when we all end up based in ATL, IAH or DFW, they will not need you'r brand of Bul#$&@t.

 

[ReverseSensing]

Bill Ayer and his cadre of yes-men at Alaska and Horizon are impossibly arrogant to ever take your advice, but I'm glad you're offering it anyway. It sickens me to witness the fawning and groveling that goes on at the head of two once proud, now slightly pathetic airlines.

 

[ferlo]

I'll find another job if this one tanks. I don't give a F about the eskimo one way or another anymore.

 

[Andy Neill]

Here are the peaks from the last 6 weeks compared with the present:
ALK 27.89/21.63
CAL 37.79/27.60
AMR 27.89/20.26
DAL 21.05/16.63
UAUA 51.60/39.50
LCC 33.45/20.85

You could place the charts one on top of the other and they would pretty much trace the same pattern.

 

[JumpJetter]

Maybe you should overlay the oil price chart on the airline stock price. That's what it's all about.

 

[DashTrash400]

ALK is sitting at about half of it's 52 week high.

 

[kingair1]

Its a struggle for me to keep a 100 % positive attitude going to work and Ive only been on board for less then 2 years. I can't imagine how bad it is for others that have been with ALaska before the pay cuts. I agree that ALK has a lot of work to do. I do have to ask myself, where is the "Alaska Spirit " the company portrays we have.

 

[PHXFLYR]

It ain't at LCC,that's for sure!!


PHXFLYR

 

[On Your Six]

Maybe Delta would buy it if the stock continues to lag. Complementary route structure, similiar fleet type, Alaska could feed DAL's international routes out of LAX, not a merger of equals, etc. It could work.

 

[SpoolDaddy]

I DH'd up to ANC for simulator training in September and was so disheartened with the state of my former co-workers at Alaska. I missed the last rally due to training, but will be in SEA for the next one. I wish I could revert to my former juvie and slightly criminal self, I have some great modifications in mind for a few choice cars in the lot at angle lake. I don't know how BA and his wonderbuddies look at themselves in the mirror, though they are fantastic representatives of the modern american dream... don't build a great company, instead, build yourself a palace. Best of luck to my former Bros and Sistah's at Alaska.

 

[kingair1]

It sucks when you have to lie during the interview process. They have the guts to ask you how you feel about the pay cuts and if you were flying with a Captain that is upset because of the pay cuts. I wanted to say its the worst thing you could have done to a pilot group that gave more then 100 % to get the job done !

 

[popgoesbubble]

Gee is it really that bad up there at Alaska? maybe Now I won't feel so bad about stringing that Recruiter along for 3 months about a job offer. I ended up not returning her call it sounds like I'm at a better company in the Long haul.

I had alot of positives at my current company No Commute I live in Southern Cal, vs Commuting to ANC. Company paid Medical, Lots of growth with new a/c delivers. Lots of hotel and airline points and miles Upgrade within 8 months been here for 2yrs 2months and better pay.

I'll never get to fly a 737 here we only have I think 3 left but I'm at the point in life its not about how big the plane is its all about QOL and how well the company treats you.

Good luck hope it gets better for you guys. If Alaska had called me back in 2003 I would have been there in a heart beat but with those new pay scale you have I'll make more as a 3rd year captain then a 12 year SIC.

Not flaming alaska pilots just saying its sad to see how things have changed for the worse at a company I always wanted to work for when I was a atudent pilot back in the early 90's

 

[SWA/FO]

Any rumors about LUV - codeshare, buyout or merger?

 

[Mea25000]

I heard from our union pretty recently that they think we are being shoppped by SWA, DAL, AMR, and CAL. Only a guess but I would think the worst fit would be SWA...way to many differences. And to be honest I would really like to stay away from the SWA staple gun.

 

[120% Torque]

Here are the peaks from the last 6 weeks compared with the present:
ALK 27.89/21.63
CAL 37.79/27.60
AMR 27.89/20.26
DAL 21.05/16.63
UAUA 51.60/39.50
LCC 33.45/20.85

You could place the charts one on top of the other and they would pretty much trace the same pattern.

Andy, Just curious are you retired or working somewhere else since skywest let you go? I mean this question respectfully.

 

[popgoesbubble]

I heard from our union pretty recently that they think we are being shoppped by SWA, DAL, AMR, and CAL. Only a guess but I would think the worst fit would be SWA...way to many differences. And to be honest I would really like to stay away from the SWA staple gun.

I would think that Alaska and CO would be a good fit as CO doesn't really have a strong West Coast Op and this could give them 3 Hubs to grow out of and launch flights to Asia. I'm not a big fan of CO have friends that work there and say its a slave ship 90hr block lines min days off plus that and the scabs over there. As much as I think this would be a good fit I'd hate to see Alaska get absorbed. Would rather see Alaska and DAL better Pilot group.

 

[FlyinGuy]

Why is everyone so excited about mergers??? Has anyone been watching what has been going on at LCC!

 

[Andy Neill]

Andy, Just curious are you retired or working somewhere else since skywest ....

I'm trading my stock portfolio full time. Thanks for the concern. I've made several successful trades on declining airline stocks as a matter of fact.

 

[bravodude]

I heard from our union pretty recently that they think we are being shoppped by SWA, DAL, AMR, and CAL. Only a guess but I would think the worst fit would be SWA...way to many differences. And to be honest I would really like to stay away from the SWA staple gun.

Let me see if i get this you would rather merge with someone who has not been profitable, who has not traeted their employees with respect and who has not asked for any paycuts just because you are afraid of a "staple gun" that doesn't exist.

I hope you get your wish for LUV'S sake.

 

[vixin]

That staple gun also comes with pay protection or better.

 

[regionaltard]

Bill Ayer and his cadre of yes-men at Alaska and Horizon are impossibly arrogant to ever take your advice, but I'm glad you're offering it anyway. It sickens me to witness the fawning and groveling that goes on at the head of two once proud, now slightly pathetic airlines.

"A cesspool of incompetence where the biggest chunks float to the top." Yeah, you can quote me on that.

 

[Mea25000]

SWA/FO asked a question and I answered it. Then I put my personal opinion that I think AS and WN are not a good match... both as companies and for my own career. Right now I will finish 1 on AS seniority list and would imagine it would not be in the top 200 at WN. My preference would be AS independent with a house cleaning at Angle Lake and a contract that paid us what we are worth. But if that is not going to happen I think we fit better with a Legacy carrier then a LCC. I am not putting down WN... I don't see why its treason on this board if your number one preference is not SWA.

 

[popgoesbubble]

Well said MEA25000

I Just Flew on you guys down from SFO AS690 great flight 100% full. I would rather see you guys stay Independent, Clean House and get a nice pay raise to where it should be then merging with anyone.

Hey when I was Interviewing they told me Alaska was thinking of moving Horizon down to LAX and providing feed into you hub in LAX from airports in CA do you see this happening?

 

[Benhuntn]

You are right you and AS would not fit here. Will you be number one at DAL? I doubt it! I think though that you would fit better there than stapled here. I hope all works out for you so you don't have to face the issue. Either situation would probably add turmoil to your life.... Good Luck.

 

[Eagle757shark]

SWA/FO asked a question and I answered it. Then I put my personal opinion that I think AS and WN are not a good match... both as companies and for my own career. Right now I will finish 1 on AS seniority list and would imagine it would not be in the top 200 at WN. My preference would be AS independent with a house cleaning at Angle Lake and a contract that paid us what we are worth. But if that is not going to happen I think we fit better with a Legacy carrier then a LCC. I am not putting down WN... I don't see why its treason on this board if your number one preference is not SWA.

If I may, no one is basing their business decision off what a pilot wants. I think that is part of the problem with us pilots, we think that decisions in the board rooms are made to make our lives miserable. With oil trading near $100 dollars a barel and all the airlines trying to control pricing, it is a sure bet that some form of consolidation will come. I think that so many folks talk about mergers because they look over their shoulders regarding the choice they made in the airline they work for. Our society has the impression that bigger is better and leads to more security. I think deep down inside we all want to be apart of something bigger because we think it is better. Alaska has been around a long time will the name continue, only time will tell. On that note, I've seen folks mention CO, Southwest, and Delta as possible merger partners. However, you could see AirTran in the mix at some point. AirTran and Alaska could be a good fit via route structure and fleet. A third party could be involved to bring these two relatively equal in size airlines together. (Alaska: 116 aircraft, AirTran: 137 aircraft) Mergers usually come out of nowhere and are totally different than expected. 2008 could open up some unique mergers....time will tell.

One more thing. Why is it important to you to be number one on the seniority list? If you make captain someday and become a line holder with a decent schedule, is that not enough? I don't understand this type of thinking......could you explain your thoughts and why that is so important to you. I pray that I keep my health and strength and that God will allow me to continue to pass my medical and continue to do what I love. Next, I hope that my company makes smart business decisions that will allow me to continue with my career. Of course I hope to upgrade to captain someday and hopefully enjoy the quality of life that I've worked so hard for. This is still the best career in the world.....now only if we could unite to preserve it!

 

[ferlo]

Why don't we all just put down the hypothetical staplers and move on with our lives?

 

[Baze]

Why don't we all just put down the hypothetical staplers and move on with our lives?

I'm afraid to put down my stapler. It's a red Swingline, you see, and I'm afraid Bill Lumbergh (Ayer?) will take it away.

Sorry, couldn't resist... Ferlo is right. Let's not worry about this stuff. It's out of our control anyway. If we get bought out or end up merging with another company, then we can discuss the issues, etc.

Until then, go to work and fly the contract. Do YOUR job.

 

[av8instyle]

One more thing. Why is it important to you to be number one on the seniority list?

Because you get your 1st choice of line, step trading, vacation, and training. Next.

 

[CesnaCaptn]

Hey when I was Interviewing they told me Alaska was thinking of moving Horizon down to LAX and providing feed into you hub in LAX from airports in CA do you see this happening?

When was your interview? That plan surprises me.
It seems like the CA market is saturated out of LAX. You have Eagle, United Express, and Delta Connection offering feed, not to mention heavy WN intra CA flying and Expressjet branded flying within CA.

Plus, AS just doesn't have the gate space. My own personal speculation is that the only way AS will expand in SoCal is if we take advantage of the the supposed new international flying that might start out of SNA. A company rep was quoted as saying that we are interested in starting Mexico flying from there.

 

[Eagle757shark]

Because you get your 1st choice of line, step trading, vacation, and training. Next.

Are you kidding me, you don't have to be number one on the senority to get all these things.