DOT votes against modified Delta-USAirways swap agreement - socialism???

[FlyinPiker]

Also, lets not forget the all-important Customer. Doesn't the Customer deserve more choices at both DCA and LGA ? With an effective competitor ? One who doesn't charge bag fees ?

And, remember ( for all you patriotic guys out there) ...it is competition that makes us better. The better the competition, the higher we raise our level of play. It is the American way. Americans LUV a good, strong, competitor...always have, always will.

Surely Delta and US Airways aren't afraid of a good, strong competitor ?

From the language written by the DOT/FAA this is not about deciding if a particular swap is " the absolute best" for the consumer. It's about "is the swap that is being proposed for tomorrow make things worse than they are today". I don't think that's the case when you look at all the details of the Airways/DAL transaction.

It really isn't the Govt imposing as much as it is Southwest Airlines and their crack legal team calling out this deal. How nice is it that Delta/US Airways get to decide who they are gonna compete against. Not only that, but, how nice that they never offered those slots to SWA.

How nice is it that the government wants to put these slots up for auction to a select number of carriers (not just anyone)? Will the winning bid be as high as it would be if anyone was allowed to bid? Is that fair to our shareholders, yada, yada, yada?

I'm just glad this is going to a judge...no more games.

If we lose we lose. But our objection is not a stretch by any means, don't see how the DOT can say the same.

This thread is exhausting. I'm retiring from it.

-Late.

 

[OHGOON]

Socialism, socialism, socialism, Obama, Obama, Obama. Associating the two is like claiming, the average Nascar fan is an astronaut because he happened to visit Cape Canaveral during the Daytona 500 weekend.

The "Mess" we are in today is a direct result of the systematic weakening of the financial regulations that were put into place after the great crash of 1929. This all happened before Obama even got elected. (The financial meltdown of Sept 2008 is one of the main reasons the election was so lopsided in the first place in November of 2008)

Wall Street spends inordinate sums of money every year to undermine (lobby) the government so that they can do what they want when they want to do it. They also spend loads of cash on manufacturing the news so that the people worry about nonsense like "socialism is coming" rather than what is really going on; The whole sale economic rape of the many for the benefit of the few!

Our country was founded as a reaction on the dangers of having a king that answered to no one. Less than 250 years later we have a new threat; Multi National Corporations that behave just like monarchy did then. Blaming and or vilifying the government is just a smoke screen to hide this new reality.

 

[Benjamin Dover]

Did CAL have a blind auction buying extra Heathrow slots? Um, nope. Do you have a blind auction selling your house? Probably, it was way too expensive and the bank took it back..... Quit being so cocky.

Bye Bye--General Lee

Did the General really say that to someone else? Funny stuff!

 

[Benjamin Dover]

The problem is that Delta and USAirways could decide to scuttle the entire deal - and thus negate the public benefits and new entrant access that would have resulted... They won't relinquish the slots if there isn't an economic benefit - that would violate their shareholder fiduciary duty (and it wouldn't be strategic). So, instead of public benefit (new city-pair routes and new competition) you get no benefit. Gee, thanks.

Maybe Obama should spend less time meddling in the affairs of consenting organizations (asset swaps) and more time working on improving this economy and lowering unemployment levels...

Common Johnsonrod - it's pretty obvious you have wood for Southwest for some reason. Are you really saying that there were greater "public benefits" when Southwest was excluded from gaining those slots?

Every market Southwest enters the public benefits. Well documented and old news. Why do you think cities recruit us to start service?

 

[johnsonrod]

Common Johnsonrod - it's pretty obvious you have wood for Southwest for some reason. Are you really saying that there were greater "public benefits" when Southwest was excluded from gaining those slots?

Every market Southwest enters the public benefits. Well documented and old news. Why do you think cities recruit us to start service?

So, having JB and Westjet as new entrants to DCA and LGA wouldn't have been beneficial? Why does including SWA improve the situation vs. adding two new airlines to two new markets? These slots don't belong to SWA - they are currently used by DAL and USAirways. A modified agreement that included two new market entrants was agreed to and several parties (plus the public) would have benefitted vs. the status quo - and now Lahood maybe decides that SWA would be better for the public?

The ultimate result could be no change to the current situation - and no incremental public benefit. Gee, thanks Lahood for your help. Next time, perhaps they will spend more time on more important matters - like fixing our economy and reducing unemployment... I can't wait for November!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Slug]

So, having JB and Westjet as new entrants to DCA and LGA wouldn't have been beneficial? Why does including SWA improve the situation vs. adding two new airlines to two new markets?

just look at the route maps. With JB and WJ you are very limited in where you can go.....they are relatively new and that is to be expected. Plus, with WJ you are limited to Canuckville.

Yes I'm a SWA guy, but neither of those airlines offers a ton of choices for the American consumer as far as destinations. Of course, Delta and AAA would like that.

 

[waveflyer]

I agree johnsonrod- I can't wait for november either when we can FINALLY vote out LaHood...

;-)

I can't wait for November so that conservatives can see that going off the deep end and calling everyone Hitler, isn't a viable strategy. Seriously- prepare to lose...

some of you guys are wound up pretty tight. The elephant in the room though is NOONE will tell you they disagree with you bc of how wrapped around the axle you get- they'll just be quiet, nod now and then, change the subject- hopefully to girls and boobs and ass- you'll walk away thinking everyone agrees with you- and it'll be a shock come November-
sorry brother- it's chess, not checkers. And there are plans lined up- you'll walk away wishing the elections were held in February- The GOP is just not well run and conservatives are divided- welcome to my world circa 2003....

 

[Scope out RJ's]

It really isn't the Govt imposing as much as it is Southwest Airlines and their crack legal team calling out this deal. How nice is it that Delta/US Airways get to decide who they are gonna compete against. Not only that, but, how nice that they never offered those slots to SWA.

got news for you, buddy....Southwest made this happen, not Obama.

For years southwest avoided places like this. All of the sudden they want in? I say piss off. You've already ruined enough of the neighborhood. Go play in central texas. Those slots belong to LCC and DAL. They PAID for them in a slot auction, and should be able to sell to who they want.

"Selling" slots to much smaller competitors and not allowing a company like Southwest to buy those slots at a much, much higher price than Westjet or Spirit can afford is cheating the shareholders and employees at both Delta and US Airways.

:laugh::laugh:
That is so far fetched, it's laughable!

Also, lets not forget the all-important Customer. Doesn't the Customer deserve more choices at both DCA and LGA ? With an effective competitor ? One who doesn't charge bag fees ?

Then stand in line and wait at the trough! You guys avoided LGA, JFK, DCA, and IAD for years, because it didn't fit your "market."
Well, what's changed? I say, stay in your part of the neighborhood, you've already polluted enough of the block!

And, remember ( for all you patriotic guys out there) ...it is competition that makes us better. The better the competition, the higher we raise our level of play. It is the American way. Americans LUV a good, strong, competitor...always have, always will.

Speaking of pay, it looks like you forgot to pay off the right politician.
I would have thought with the way sw loves to charge its employees for their jobs, and payoff the controllers, they would have mastered the right payoff.

Surely Delta and US Airways aren't afraid of a good, strong competitor ?

Maybe this whole discussion is just another excuse to use the word....socialism.

Or maybe just another thread where the whining sw pilots can continue to show their arrogance!