And SWAPA did well for you in your merger? They did terrible. They had to have the "big guns" come in and give a talk because the union couldn't get it done on their own. Then you didn't get a payraise at all, no stock, and then you alienated 1700 new "brothers." GREAT JOB SWAPA. They couldn't negotiate out of a paper bag. I am surprised you aren't begging for ALPA. All you got was 800 Airtran guys put in front of you, with huge stagnation coming up because of the lack of growth. Your new planes will replace old ones. Oh yeah, you might get a HNL flight, whooopie! Nah, you'll still be doing ELP to AUS.
Godspeed!
The OYSter
You know, for a supposed airline pilot, you really DO say the stupidest things. All you do is spout off buzz words and sound bites that contradict themselves. What did we expect SWAPA to get in an acquisition? We bought another airline. We already had the best pay and benefits. What we "got" was a trade: some of their seniority (2.5 years on average) for our pay and contract. Seems smooth enough. You blather on that we got screwed, and then we screwed Airtran. Well, which IS it? If we screwed Airtran, then WE did good. If WE got screwed, than Airtran made out. Pick one, for God's sake.
And as far as negotiating out of a paper bag, OR begging for ALPA, I'd have to suggest that you need a pee test ASAP. What did SWAPA negotiate? How about the strongest scope language ever in airline history, bar none. (I realize you don't know what that means; you should ask somebody else to explain it to you.) Delta's ALPA, on the other hand, hemorrages scope like it's that time of the month. You pay twice our dues, in effect to subsidize ALPA's regionals whose sole purpose of existence is to take your flying from you. Doesn't that seem stupid to you? SWAPA negotiated top tier benefits and raises (profitability-based) that made our pilots the best-compensated in the country, while at the same time, still helping the company make money. Imagine that! Delta's ALPA? Not so much. You're making profits now, but enough to pay you guys what we get? We'll see. If history is any indication, you'll posture and demand unsustainable costs until your company starts losing money again. You know, more money for less work, typical ALPA m.o. That's what happens when unions and companies consistenly pull in opposite directions. Repeat as necessary.
As far as "lack of growth" goes, once again your ignorance is astounding. SWA bought Airtran to help it grow. We've got twice as many planes on order as we're retiring. And any further industry consolidation can only mean more opportunities for us to grow. While it's true that airlines' plans can change from year to year (Surprise! It's true for Delta as well!), so nobody can say with certainty what will happen to either of our airlines, I'd take my chances with Southwest over Delta any day of the week.
Bubba
P.S. By the way--YOU'RE the new guy, still flying the routes no one else wants. So, I'm pretty sure that -I'LL- be flying to HNL before you get off your route from DTW to your mother's basement. :blush:
