Alaska Fleet Plan for 2013/2014

[igneousy2]

Okay...that chart didn't look like it did when I previewed it and now fi.com won't let me edit it...sorry. I think the link works though. If it doesn't...the 8-K's can be found in the investor section of www.alaskaair.com under SEC filings.

 

[Chief Pilot]

And Skywest will be flying the 92 seat equipment for us

+1

We really should have focused on scope during the last go around, but most people were more concerned with wages than job security. I don't necessarily blame them after the Kashstration, but I found that most guys didn't even realize how nearly non-existent our scope language is.

We are finally focused on job security issues, but this is how I see things playing out:

1. Company initially offers 3% pay raise at signing, then 1% per year for the duration of a 6 year contract.

2. Absolutely NO CHANGE to our practically non-existent Scope language.

3. Changes to retirement age to begin bumping it up closer to the federal retirement age--say 30/62.

4. Additional efficiencies in scheduling that limit our abilities further to actually have a life outside of work.

After we balk at the ridiculously low pay offer and thump our chests about scope and scheduling, management comes back with something on the order of 10% at signing, plus 2% per year for 4 years, with no scope changes, and the scheduling efficiencies they want. We all then eagerly sign off on that, because we are very predictable and greedy (see VSA levels and current premium trips that get flown when we get those nifty text messages from scheduling). We will then scratch our heads in wonder as Republic starts flying EMB175's, 190's, and 195's with Eskimo's painted on the tails and Alaska Airlines written on the side.

As was stated in an earlier post, we are trading in all of our small 737's for big 737's, which will leave a large gap in the size from a 76 seat Dash8 to a 156 seat -800 or a 180 seat -900. Are we going to continue to let our flying get outsourced? Are we going to continue giving up things in our contract for meager improvements in other areas when the company is making more money than anytime in its history?

I hope not, but I fear we will. I hope I am way off base with the above scenario and that our negotiating team is as capable as they think they are. We, as a pilot group, deserve better this time around.

CP

 

[igneousy2]

+1

Are we going to continue to let our flying get outsourced? Are we going to continue giving up things in our contract for meager improvements in other areas when the company is making more money than anytime in its history?

Yes. Yes.

 

[jonjuan]

After we balk at the ridiculously low pay offer and thump our chests about scope and scheduling, management comes back with something on the order of 10% at signing,

CP

Bam-company immediately got 60% yes votes right there. No need to read further.

 

[Capt. Kramer]

We can trade widebody fences for a fences around domiciles east of San Diego. Career expectations, right?

Unless SW buys you, in which case your career is over.

 

[thrasher]

No it wouldn't. Alask/SWA merge would work. Relative senority. I'm betting it's in the planning phase. SWA reducing in NW. SWA puts Hawaii on hold.

 

[RNP.15]

Not if AS gets date of hire.

 

[Ocity]

Not if AS gets date of hire.

All mergers go according to McCaskill Bond. SWA might be able to push around AirTran but Alaska Pilots can afford to go to War if need be. I can promise, the slightest whiff of any cram down douchbaggery will grind any merger to a halt in Federal Court for years.

 

[Boxboy]

All mergers go according to McCaskill Bond. SWA might be able to push around AirTran but Alaska Pilots can afford to go to War if need be. I can promise, the slightest whiff of any cram down douchbaggery will grind any merger to a halt in Federal Court for years.

SWA+AS merger could be the next USAir/Americawest debacle since SWA doesn't like to play nice. If it happens, fights on fo sho!

As for our pilot group signing on some pos deal, it's very likely since most of them have no cajones. Just look at the last timeuke:.

 

[igneousy2]

Make no mistake, our pilot group may not be unified when it comes to the importance of scope vs. pay, but if something like a SWA merger came down, we would all instantly be united.

...ahem...I mean Delta.

 

[wscrj]

Ah yes....it'd been awhile since I'd heard a "we're buying AS" rumor.

Now I'm current.

 

[Dan Roman]

All mergers go according to McCaskill Bond. SWA might be able to push around AirTran but Alaska Pilots can afford to go to War if need be. I can promise, the slightest whiff of any cram down douchbaggery will grind any merger to a halt in Federal Court for years.

SWA isn't going to shell out the kind of cash that it would take to buy AK, has anyone looked at what their stock price is? If anything, AK would be the buyer. Alaska is like Hawaiian in that their worth is tied up in their reputation for service and they have strong customer loyalty. AK and Hawaiian are very successful airlines (so is SWA), but paint another name on the side of either of their planes and much of what makes them successful would go away. SWA would have to pay a premium and than lose much of what they paid for. I think AK is way to different of an operation than SWA for the two to merge. Just because they both have 737's doesn't mean they match up well. For example, AK codeshares a lot with DAL, that would all go poof. Finally, I'm sure what SWA did to AirTran (threaten to keep the airlines separate) could never work with Alaska. So you're right, SWA could never run roughshod over them and simply couldn't have "their way" of doing business. Just like here in Hawaii, if they tried that kind of crap they would have their arse handed to them.
Finally, I AM NOT BASHING SWA HERE! They are very good at what they do, but it seems when I call out some of the narcissisim inherent in thinking they are going to do whatever they want (remember them saying they are going to kick Delta's ass?) I get labled a SWA "hater" I'm not. I've met a lot of good SWA folks and wish them all the best. SWA has done a lot to promote the importance of treating your employees well (Thank you Herb!) not to mention they when I laid over in PDX at the Monarch the staff always extended the 1 2 3 to us too!

 

[Mea25000]

AS will not merge with LUV.. LUV made a push almost 3 years ago when GK got the valuation of AS he ran to AAI. Although the 2.6 B market value looks like a steal now. AS may be forced to merge with Dal down the road but it will take a tremendous market cap erosion for this to happen. Never say never who knows. Been hearing a little interest in an airbus company... All stock offer in the low 600 million range with a new branding of the two iconic names... I guess if it happens we will all read about it in the paper... Pacific airways with a boy on some tails and a girl on others...

 

[MesabaDriver]

No way!!! I was told 5yr upgrades when they hired me... I went ahead and bought Capt stripes when I got my FO ones.

 

[Dan Roman]

Matter of fact, I've raised another point. SWA can grow buying airlines that has employees that don't mind being merged in, like Morris, but the jury is still out on the AirTran deal. If they try to grow by buying someone that doesn't want to be bought, like AK, they would totally upend the entire airline and basically kill what has made them successful. Look at what happened to Piedmont, they were an outstanding airline in much the same way as SWA. They merged with USAir (who was also one of the stronger carriers in the business) and went down hill rapidly. An unwanted merger can destroy an airline.
My take is this country is going to have 3 legacies and and the rest of us. SWA, AK, HA, JetBlue, Spirit, VA, Frontier and Allegiant. (sorry if I missed anyone)