Airtran shifting the role of some of their RJs

[Colonel Savage]

The situation at Airtran is a little different. Scope relaxation or a different payscale for a 100 seat aircraft will possibly affect 63% of our pilots as the 717 makes up 63% of our fleet. At Delta, much easier for senior guys to let a few DC-9s get replaced by a few E-170/CRJ900s if they get something in return (better pay, retirement).

At Airtran, you only have to go back 5 years to get to the 50% seniority point. I would imagine at Delta it takes at least 15 years. Tougher for those guys that have been there 15 years to remember where they came from and tend to sell the junior guys down the road more often.

Good points all, Max. Just keep an eye on ALPA, they like to homogenize pilot contracts.

 

[maxblast72]

True, but it makes up more like 70 % of our block hours.

Actually, it is the other way around. Due to higher aircraft utilization rate, 737 flies a higher percentage of total block hours compared to their fleet size. From March bid pack, 717 flew 27,663 block hrs (62%) and 737 flew 17,020 block hrs (38%) even though the aircraft split is 63%/37% (86 717s/50 737s).

 

[scarlet]

Yeah and the captain pay at ALG. is what 86-95 for the first few years as CPT. on a POS 80.

 

[CA1900]

While your introductory fare may be lower, a pax on Allegiant still has to pay the booking fee, the baggage fee, the fee for selecting a seat, fee for a soda, etc...

AirTran also charges a baggage fee ($15) and a select-a-seat fee ($6-20 per segment).

 

[Colonel Savage]

AirTran also charges a baggage fee ($15) and a select-a-seat fee ($6-20 per segment).

How much were you charged for that thing you're smoking?

 

[BEECH-SLAPPED]

Yeah and the captain pay at ALG. is what 86-95 for the first few years as CPT. on a POS 80.

Yeah, you're right. They're not as well-made as the CL-65, which will be around for decades to come.

 

[CA1900]

How much were you charged for that thing you're smoking?

Free sample. :laugh:

But if you think I'm smoking something regarding AirTran, go try and book a ticket for yourself. $15 for a bag. $6 to pick your seat ahead of time. $20 if you want an exit row. And you'll pay it twice if you're making a connection in ATL.

 

[Colonel Savage]

Free sample. :laugh:

HAHAHA...Good one!

 

[eaglesview]

My only advice is be careful not to talk down or diminish in any way the flying you do at the same time you're trying to defend it. The walls have ears...

And absolutly hold the line, just remember SCOPE is not exactly ALPA's strong suit. Look at what's going on at DAL right now.

You got that right. ALPA will give away the store if they think it will bring one more dime there way. Them secratary's are expensive. Tranny folks will figure it out soon but it will be too late. Welcome aboard.

 

[Britpilot]

You got that right. ALPA will give away the store if they think it will bring one more dime there way. Them secretaries are expensive. Tranny folks will figure it out soon but it will be too late. Welcome aboard.

Really? and I thought it was the pilots who vote on pilot contracts, silly me.

 

[maxblast72]

Airtran has a special merger agreement with ALPA that allows ALPA national to impose whatever contract they want on the Airtran pilots without a vote. ALPA also negotiated a section in the merger agreement that allows them to shut Airtran down for a month or two if it benefits another airline they represent.

 

[DonVerita]

Nobody have a heart attack. He's just kidding!

As for Alaska buying AirTran. Doubtful. I actually heard it was the other way around.

But how could any of this happen given that AirTran is going to buy Frontier and then merge the whole thing with JetBlue.

Ahhh the rumors you hear standing around the Pepsi machine (or Coke machine for you ATL guys).

 

[Citrus531]

A 717 captain on the bus said Allegiant is looking like a dance partner for us

Ahhh starting rumors....kinda like the SW rumor I've heard for the last 5 years.

 

[realmanofgenius]

are ya'll gonna do the waltz? or the bump and grind? or the gator? (ya'll have a lot of frat boys at the tran?)

 

[dooork]

Good points all, Max. Just keep an eye on ALPA, they like to homogenize pilot contracts.

Shouldn't pilot contracts within the same "union" be homogeneous?

 

[Eagle757shark]

Nobody have a heart attack. He's just kidding!

As for Alaska buying AirTran. Doubtful. I actually heard it was the other way around.

But how could any of this happen given that AirTran is going to buy Frontier and then merge the whole thing with JetBlue.

Ahhh the rumors you hear standing around the Pepsi machine (or Coke machine for you ATL guys).

AirTran buy Alaska, with what? Do you know how much Alaska is worth? Midwest, ATA gates and slots how did that turn out? Why do so many assume AirTran is buying anyone? Mergers and acquiring other airline assets, hmmm...this management team has not a good track record.

With the amount of money in the bank, Alaska would probable be doing the buying if they wanted. Southwest is not interested in the corporate culture at AirTran. With AirTran's debt load and low unrestricted cash level, I doubt there will be a purchase of Alaska.

 

[Colonel Savage]

Shouldn't pilot contracts within the same "union" be homogeneous?

Therein lies the debate on whether a company that's losing money should pay its employees the same wage/benifits as a company that's making money (or losing significantly less money).

What if one group has industry leading duty rigs, or ironclad Scope? Should they give them up for "industry standard? (As has happened in the past)

 

[gt1900]

Alaska could right a check right now for AAI if they wanted. And they wouldn't even have to get outside financing, even though they would. AAI can not buy Alaska, but Alaska could buy AAI...

 

[Colonel Savage]

...Mergers and acquiring other airline assets, hmmm...this management team has not a good track record...

I thought ValueJet bought AirTran back in the late 90's and kept the AirTran name? Seems to have worked out OK from a growth and profitability angle.

 

[Eagle757shark]

Alaska could right a check right now for AAI if they wanted. And they wouldn't even have to get outside financing, even though they would. AAI can not buy Alaska, but Alaska could buy AAI...

I agree with you bud. Alaska is smaller than AirTran and Alaska has almost 4 times the amount of cash in the bank. If anyone will be doing the buying, they will be doing the buying from Seattle!