Another bid to buy Midwest Airlines?

[Afterprop]

. Have a good day . . .

 

[Steeler Fan]

Anyone else tired of this windbag, lear70? I for one am!

I'm actually interested in his perspective, as it seems he's has a good handle on the merger process. I hope our union takes advantage of his offer to help.

 

[Ty Webb]

Anyone else tired of this windbag, lear70? I for one am!

He has a dog in this fight, and his opinions are pretty sound.

Howsaboutyerself?


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[Lear70]

Anyone else tired of this windbag, lear70? I for one am!

Feel free to click the "ignore" button, you won't hurt my feelings.

Thanks for the vote of confidence, guys. Whether the NPA puts me on any committee or not, only time will tell.

To tell the truth, I wasn't planning on getting involved in anything until this whole Midwest deal came down the pike. Now... *sigh*

 

[stlflyguy]

The sad thing about this situation is the smaller airline to be acquired is an ALPA carrier.

With the TWA pilots suing ALPA for DFR regarding the American Airlines integration (or non-integration, depending on how you'd like to view it) the Union is backed into a corner. If ALPA vigorously defends the rights of the Midwest pilots they open themselves up to the huge embarrassment of why they didn't do it (huge embarassment = big $$$$ for the former TWA pilots) for the TWA pilots.

Should they look the other way and allow the AirTran guys to have their way with the Midwest pilots, the Midwest pilots certainly use TWA as a reference in their own DFR suit.

So, after the deal actually happens, it'll be interesting to see exactly where ALPA happens to take a stand....if they do at all.

stlflyguy

 

[SkiFishFly]

Lear,
Don't listen to those guys. They don't know what they are talking about. I have learned a bit from your posts on this thread.
Please do get involved. I would appreciate good representation on this - I have been here a little over a year and came into this expecting a 3 year upgrade. Please help us keep that.
I heard a rumor that we offered 4-1 to the Midwest guys. I hope this was an incorrect rumor. It seems to me this could offer a significant gain to the Midwest guys at my expense.
I hope we come up with something equitable that preserves the expectations of AAI pilots. The Midwest guys should be happy as AirTran should continue to grow - a lot more than Midwest would on their own.

 

[HalinTexas]

Airtran was not going to take any ATA pilots with the buyout offer in 2004. However, they were going to take a significant part of out outfit.

Take any offer with a grain of salt.

 

[Lear70]

We had the P2P update on Saturday morning; absolutely NO mention of any integration offer was made, and it was the first major subject of discussion.

It might have been "mentioned" at the suarez (sp?) in ATL last week, and I don't know on which side of the table it MIGHT have come from, but it's definitely NOT an offer that was extended as far as I know.

That would be VERY premature anyway, as it would be silly to get into big negotiations before Midwest's shareholders have even decided on it. Who knows, it might be "close, but no deal" from Midwest.

We all know how aviation works: one day nothing, the next day it's a mad rush to get everything done.

Halin' Texas, you're right, it would have been kind of a shoddy deal for an ATA pilot staple, but the Southwest deal didn't exactly work out well for them as I recall either. They lost a LOT of their flying, and exactly HOW many ATA pilots have been hired by SWA since that move? A pretty small fraction as far as my ATA buddies have to say.

Would you rather be stapled with a job and current growth ongoing or furloughed and looking at a regional again if you want to stay in the game? ukep.s. I'm talking about ATA, not MEH here).

p.s. How's Haygood? Didn't you guys get hired on about the same time?

 

[Flydaplane]

"Your posts on the subject seem to stray from fact, in an attempt to better your own bargaining position"

Nope, just stating what MEH's plans have been and I asked to "watch where you're swinging that fence." I didn't say there should be direct integration or a merge of lists. In fact, I didn't even make a recommendation, simply stated that there are people near upgrade at MEH (myself NOT included) as well as AirTran, some of whom have been waiting a lot longer than ya'll. Myself, I would benefit from the merger and pretty much any seniority integration, other than the fact that I may not get a cookie anymore.

Lear 70 and Ty, you guys need to relax and not see everything as a personal attack. 1898 posts and 3189 posts....wow, as my wife says "get a hobby". Ya'll take this board way to serious. Integration negotiations won't be solved on this board.

Now, what I really want to know is when are you going to start the Alaska merger?

 

[Ty Webb]

Oxygen Mask on, 100% . . Communications, Establish!

I heard a rumor that we offered 4-1 to the Midwest guys. I hope this was an incorrect rumor

Simma down, now!

The NPA hasn't even decided yet who will be on the Merger Committee (and Midwest's MEC hasn't either). . . They haven't even decided on a damm floral centerpiece for the negotiating table, let alone a list integration, so relax.

Any rumors floating around the flight deck are just mindless speculation, which is the byproduct of boredom mixed with mild hypoxia.

I know it is a big concern to all involved, especially to the FO's of both airlines, but rest assured, in the end, everyone will be equally unhappy.



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[FlyWolf]

"Your posts on the subject seem to stray from fact, in an attempt to better your own bargaining position"

Nope, just stating what MEH's plans have been and I asked to "watch where you're swinging that fence." I didn't say there should be direct integration or a merge of lists. In fact, I didn't even make a recommendation, simply stated that there are people near upgrade at MEH (myself NOT included) as well as AirTran, some of whom have been waiting a lot longer than ya'll. Myself, I would benefit from the merger and pretty much any seniority integration, other than the fact that I may not get a cookie anymore.

Lear 70 and Ty, you guys need to relax and not see everything as a personal attack. 1898 posts and 3189 posts....wow, as my wife says "get a hobby". Ya'll take this board way to serious. Integration negotiations won't be solved on this board.

Now, what I really want to know is when are you going to start the Alaska merger?

Well said flydaplane, don't know why some of Airtran guys (not all) are always on the edge. We forget sometimes that we are all just pilots. Oh, btw did you get the last MEC email explaining alpa merger policy?

Maybe some of airtran guys can answer this, is Airtran talking baout any future mergers? ie Alaska? that would be sweet

 

[Lear70]

Any rumors floating around the flight deck are just mindless speculation, which is the byproduct of boredom mixed with mild hypoxia.

Is that what happened to the SWA crew that decided it was time to strip down to skivvies in their attempt to seduce a F/A or two?

I know it is a big concern to all involved, especially to the FO's of both airlines, but rest assured, in the end, everyone will be equally unhappy.
.

No doubt.

 

[ultrarunner]

The MEC's are actually meeting? That cracks me up. IMO, that's just a waste of time and an excuse to go to ATL or DCA and drink beer and chase broads...oh wait...that makes sense....

...but in all seriousness...these two mec's are just wasting time. To argure they are getting a "head-start" in the event it does happen is nonsense. Plenty of time to argue over career expectations once a deal is made.

 

[AFcitrus]

I talked to one of our BOD members who was at the Airtran/MEH meeting/dinner. He said MEH guys came in and starting touting their integration strengths. One even quoted the dollar amount that MEH has in their M/A fund. Our guys just sat there and smiled knowing we are in the superior position no mattter how they looked at it.

This person also said that our BOD is very aware of AirTran pilot's concerns and have every intention of ensuring any possible integration would protect career expectations. It would do so not only from an FO upgrade time perspective but also a captain line holding perspective.

So let's just relax and see what shakes down if/when this deal is consumated.

 

[likeitis]

I talked to one of our BOD members who was at the Airtran/MEH meeting/dinner. He said MEH guys came in and starting touting their integration strengths. One even quoted the dollar amount that MEH has in their M/A fund. Our guys just sat there and smiled knowing we are in the superior position no mattter how they looked at it.

This person also said that our BOD is very aware of AirTran pilot's concerns and have every intention of ensuring any possible integration would protect career expectations. It would do so not only from an FO upgrade time perspective but also a captain line holding perspective.

So let's just relax and see what shakes down if/when this deal is consumated.

Knowing most of the parties involved I find this hard to believe. It is not in nature of the guys on the MEH MEC as it isn't in AP's. Seniority is important but just as important is both pilot groups working together to make sure if this merger happens that management doesn't play us. Both Tim and Joe could fuk up a one cow cattle drive. The only people the I have any respect for in either airlines senior leadership team are Fornaro and Dickson. Just so happens that when they came, both airlines began a climb towards profitability.

These 2 airlines blend well together because what one is poor at the other does well. There is much to learn from one another. It's obvious that most of Midwest's management will be gone but it sure would be nice if KG and SK could be shown the door also. The guy in SK's position at Midwest seems to be a good guy though I haven't had much interaction with him. Haven't heard any nasty comments which isn't the norm.

 

[FlyWolf]

MEH stock hit $14.15 today, whats going on? low fuel prices? anyone in the know

 

[mnboyev]

On the rumor that 4 stripes were gonna get painted on the left and right engines..stock tickers went a buzzing !! All in fun..don't get pissed

 

[FlyWolf]

On the rumor that 4 stripes were gonna get painted on the left and right engines..stock tickers went a buzzing !! All in fun..don't get pissed

lol..

Oh I will be confused on which side of the cockpit I can sit

 

[Murphy]

We'll paint airtran.com in caps on the left engine and airtran.com in lower case on the right engine.

 

[mnboyev]

I think a picture of Wisconsin on the side..and after the AirTran..place a banner that states 'We love the fine city of MKE!' We want to be the best care in air...Luv ya man! Cheers brother!