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Delta Pilot Strike

Baltorep

By Baltorep,
in Cruise Air

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Globaliser

Globaliser

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Just when things are starting to settle down for Delta. Now the pilots union is threatening a strike against Delta. Luckily I am not booked on Delta but my heart goes out to those who this may effect.
"Settle down"? Hardly. There are some big, big hurdles ahead, and this is the first of them.

 

I still think that the industry in the US will remain mortally sick until one big airline is made or permitted to close its doors for good. If the DL pilots strike and kill the airline, that might be just what's needed.

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Baltorep

Baltorep

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Maybe settle down was the incorrect word. What I meant to say was the public was starting to adjust to Delta being in Chapter 11, the schedule changes are being made and some of the flying public have the mentality as "been there, done that". Airlines (Continental, Air Tran-in its former form and now USairways) going into bankruptcy then coming back out as a viable carrier. At least for a short time:confused:. I don't want to see anybody lose their job , but I also agree with you that maybe the loose of a major will shake things out a bit in the airtline industry.

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Baltorep

Baltorep

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Remember what happened to Eastern Airlines. This is so similar. In regards to future flights, I would just watch the events very close over the next several weeks. If you can hold out, do it. But if you do buy make sure you get travel insurance to protect you if something should happen while you are away. If Delta is only cheaper by $50-$75 dollars it may give you peace of mind going with another carrier. However, in todays enviroment the only safe bets seem to be Southwest, Air Tran and Jet Blue.

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racephoto

racephoto

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I still think that the industry in the US will remain mortally sick until one big airline is made or permitted to close its doors for good. If the DL pilots strike and kill the airline, that might be just what's needed.

 

Well, PanAm "died" and it didn't save the industry. TWA "died" and they're all still hurting. Really think it'll be different next time? I don't know what the solution is, but I don't think that's it.

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Globaliser

Globaliser

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Well, PanAm "died" and it didn't save the industry. TWA "died" and they're all still hurting. Really think it'll be different next time? I don't know what the solution is, but I don't think that's it.

Pan Am died during ancient history, and is pretty irrelevant. The US industry had some good times after that, although it shamefully wasted the opportunities created by them.

 

TWA didn't die. If it really had died, AA might look different - although AA has done a good job of quietly sorting itself out. I feel for AA, because having done that, it's now fighting other airlines that didn't sort themselves out but which are now competing unequally.

 

If a major US airline closes its doors and the rest of the US industry acts sensibly, then yes it could be very different. The airline industry in the rest of the world is generally doing OK at the moment despite current problems. So there are lessons to be learned, if minds, eyes and ears are open. One of these is that you have to ensure that the passengers you carry are paying profitable fares, and not just chase volume at any price.

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racephoto

racephoto

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If a major US airline closes its doors and the rest of the US industry acts sensibly, then yes it could be very different. The airline industry in the rest of the world is generally doing OK at the moment despite current problems. So there are lessons to be learned, if minds, eyes and ears are open. One of these is that you have to ensure that the passengers you carry are paying profitable fares, and not just chase volume at any price.

 

Well, I sure don't see the rest of the airlines acting sensibly. One will not be able to resist starting the fare wars again. You see it every time...one carrier advertises some ridiculous fare...they all follow like lemmings...because they feel they have to. People in this country have become too accustomed to cheap airfare, cheap air travel has become the new inalienable right. As far as the rest of the world goes....a round trip flight from Munich to Frankfurt costs @ $400. That's probably equivalent to a PHL-BOS here. People here start complaining about ridiculous fares as soon as they get over $200 rt! How do you think $500 ORD-MIA is gonna go over? People will buy the cheapest ticket, there's no reason for them not too. Airlines frequent flyer programs are not enough incentive to keep people loyal, especially when low cost carriers provide better service at a lower price.

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chipster

chipster

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I have a trip I need to take in April and Delta has the cheapest flights by far ... but I'm of course hesitant to book. Just how dangerous would it be to book the flight?

 

Just be prepared to check on a regular basis for schedule changes - our February trip to Cancun had THREE of them in the two months since we had booked (and that was before Wilma had even hit!). Finally the last straw was the flight was "indefinitely suspended" - into February and beyond as far as June!!). I cancelled for a full refund. I will not choose Delta again because of the amount of hassle dealing with the entire process of having to call in each time there was a schedule change. Just wasn't worth the few dollars saved.

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Globaliser

Globaliser

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One will not be able to resist starting the fare wars again. ... As far as the rest of the world goes....a round trip flight from Munich to Frankfurt costs @ $400. That's probably equivalent to a PHL-BOS here. People here start complaining about ridiculous fares as soon as they get over $200 rt! How do you think $500 ORD-MIA is gonna go over?
Why do you think there are fare wars? It's because carriers have empty seats that they can't fill at profitable prices, so they have to drop them. Fewer seats means higher prices, and that is what the US industry needs.

 

I don't know where you're pricing Munich-Frankfurt, but I've just had a look - €98 or USD 114 round trip. That sounds OK to me. The airline is Lufthansa, and I believe that Lufthansa is making money.

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racephoto

racephoto

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I used Orbitz, departing 12/9 and returning 12/18 as those are the dates I was thinking of going to Germany. Maybe I lucked out and picked the 2 most expensive days on the calendar but it is $467 ns for Lufthansa. There is a $219 flight, connecting in London which I personally would not take, the train is probably quicker and cheaper than that. Lets leave out the whole question of state-sponsored airlines too and agree to disagree.

 

I worked at JFK and watched AAL try to drive JBU out of business. Then Delta trying to hit back with Song. It was amazing. And I'm very glad they lost that war. Then I moved to IAD and got to watch United do the same to Flyi. With better success, sad to say. I just don't believe if a major carrier goes out of business, the remaining ones will magically become smarter overnight, and I prefer not to wish for thousands of people to lose everything they've worked for on the off chance they might.

 

But anyway, enough about that....time to start packing!!!

 

Gail

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hdawson

hdawson

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momofslg. Delta is already in bankruptcy. Many if not most travel insurance companys will not cover insolvent travel providers. Additionally, under reorganization, there will be many schedule changes, flight cancellations and even route cancellations. To me booking with Delta this far out is asking for headaches.

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Globaliser

Globaliser

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I used Orbitz, departing 12/9 and returning 12/18 as those are the dates I was thinking of going to Germany. Maybe I lucked out and picked the 2 most expensive days on the calendar but it is $467 ns for Lufthansa. There is a $219 flight, connecting in London which I personally would not take, the train is probably quicker and cheaper than that. Lets leave out the whole question of state-sponsored airlines too and agree to disagree.
Yes, state sponsorship is a big topic - but there's nothing that independent airlines like Lufthansa, who have to stand on their own two financial feet without assistance from their governments, can do when the US government decides to pump vast amounts of public money into subsidies and guarantees for the US airlines.

 

BTW, I've just had a look at MUC-FRA for 9 December returning 18 December. Lots of €98 round-trip fares still available as of now.

I worked at JFK and watched AAL try to drive JBU out of business. Then Delta trying to hit back with Song. It was amazing. And I'm very glad they lost that war. Then I moved to IAD and got to watch United do the same to Flyi. With better success, sad to say.
As for UA vs Indy - it's hardly surprising that UA's managed to kill Indy given that UA's been operating with Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. If UA had gone out of business when it was unable to pay its bills, as ought to have happened, Indy would not be in the situation it's in now. Whatever view you might take about the level of State support for insolvent airlines which Chapter 11 represents, there's no denying that it makes it almost impossible for fresh blood to compete against incumbents. For example, if AirTran were starting afresh today against a Delta in Chapter 11, I wouldn't fancy their chances.
I just don't believe if a major carrier goes out of business, the remaining ones will magically become smarter overnight, and I prefer not to wish for thousands of people to lose everything they've worked for on the off chance they might.
That's fine, so long as you recognise that this is classic socialism in action. But I never thought that it was part of US economic philosophy.
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Jahosacat

Jahosacat

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What happens if we have tickets on Delta and they strike? Does Delta have to find us flights on another airline or are we in trouble? We're booked to fly on them in less than 3 weeks.....

 

Gee... Gotta watch the pilots to see if they strike and flight schedules because of 3 changes in the last 6 weeks AND it's still hurricane season with a tropical depression heading towards one of our scheduled ports..... I just wanna get on my ship and start dozing in the sun by the pool.....

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jnc411

jnc411

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If your flying Delta insist upon paper tickets. ;)

 

Bequia: Question please. We are booked on Delta/Song for March 2006 and I received a Receipt information and Ticketed Itinerary information form from Song in the mail after I booked, it is on the Song logo paper etc. and has a bar code across the top also has our confirmation # and sky miles number on it , we got one for each person flying so would this be considered a paper ticket, or would it suffice as one if we need to switch airlines ? This is probably a dumb question , but I really don't know much about this sort of thing. So would appreciate any information you or anyone else out there on the board can give me. Thank You

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Bequia

Bequia

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Customers holding e-tickets at a striking carrier are at a disadvantage, because e-tickets are not negotiable documents. On the other hand, paper tickets are negotiable documents, and in the event of a strike would be accepted by other carriers.

Here's an excellent link entitled FAQ about Airline Bankruptcies:

http://www.hasbrouck.org/articles/bankruptcy.html

 

Cori, I believe you have an e-ticket.

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