VirginEskimo

ALPA guidelines are vague enough that you cannot predict an outcome based on them alone. It will most likely come down to the decision of an arbitrator. Do you know why they call them arbitrators? Because they are allowed to be arbitrary in their decision making.

VX was in the black, had three competing suitors, was smaller than HAL and was bought for 2.5 times as much as is on the table now (and that was in 2016 dollars!). I’m too lazy to read the ALPA SLI guidance but I’d be surprised if all of those factors are specifically mentioned. Will they be taken into account by the arbitrator? Time will tell!

Good luck to us all!

Hawaiian 5O

Amen. Extra characters for filler.

PineappleXpres

How many years at Alaska are you? Nobody should be looking for any change benefit at the expense of others or loss to the benefit of others in this merger. It will all be a wash minus some stagnation in the meantime. Stagnation has NOTHING to do with SLI.

rickair7777

For clarity, we should absolutely stay unified as pilots for JCBA.

SLI is what it is, both sides will advocate for their best interests but we shouldn't hold that against each other. Ultimately none of us had any say in the merger and we won't have any say in SLI, that's up to the arbitrator.

With all that said, it's pretty clear there will be redundant flying, due to overlap, DOJ, and possibly the broader economy. Also AS is going to fix whatever they think is wrong with the HAL business model, and that might also involve reductions ( hopefully just redeployment of equipment). Odds are that there's going to be some pain mid term, no way around that especially if you consider merger histories. If you're patient, and under age 50, you'll probably see some net benefit eventually. But many folks are going to feel the pain before the gain. Again, that's just how mergers work.

MinRest

Fear of the unknown? WELCOME TO THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY.

Go to UAL today and in 7 years you could be on your butt looking for work. A couple years of street captains and widebody lineholders and everyone forgets how bad this industry can get. Some SLI crap isn't the worst that can happen to you or anyone here. The outlook for AS post merger looks pretty good. Both airlines have growth plans that will be combined for future growth. You think people at Delta right now are itching to jump ship just because they froze hiring for the rest of the year? Play the long game, you will be much happier than riding the wave day to day.

MinRest

This.

Relative seniority is also just that, relative...

I don't understand the logic of everyone here thinking that the entire pilot group is going to be forced to play musical chairs with fleet, seat and base. There are much bigger factors that play a role in ones ability to hold a base and seat than simply SLI.

AKCattleCarrier

Again, I hope this person is joking.....This merger will not be a wash. There is a perspective problem. You are looking at this merger as last resort before HA is tits up and you are starting back at the bottom of a seniority list somewhere. We are looking at this merger vs organic growth because our operation is thriving. This is why AS PILOTS have the most and will lose the most in this merger. Of course you think its a good thing....There are a few buh buh buh 787 folks at AS, other than that expect AS pilots to be smoking ****ed. Get used to it. Especially those 50% and below, maybe higher. This is not two strong companies coming together to form a stronger company blah blah blah. This is a strong money making company purchasing the carcass of another company that can no longer compete. AS will pick apart the bones of HA and try to find value and unload the rest in the AZ desert in the airplane boneyard. Maybe Delta still wants the 717's who knows.

JLAMS16

I will try to consolidate multiple answers to multiple post… 2 years on property and not my first airline, had multiple offers and chose AS for a bunch of reasons that are now not that valid. Upgrade was hovering around 4 years, guaranteed West coast base, movement not the best, but definitely better than it is or will be, best operation compared to the other 3(no change here).
Again, not bagging on the company or the crews, but this is not going to good be for junior AS pilots.
To the point of “ welcome to the airlines”, no crap! So the decision to make a move is a personal one and a gamble that some are willing to make and some are not. Risky move no matter what, but so is staying.

PineappleXpres

Godspeed. If the merger falls through, then you’re back where you want to be. Cheers.

Akamai

I would argue HA pilots have the most to lose! Isn’t the internet fun?

HA has been around for 95 years and won’t be going away if the merger falls apart. HA pilots have the expectation to spend their entire career flying a widebody, not a 737 to Spokane or Sitka.

Regardless, unity in getting an industry leading
JCBA is more important than arguing over who is gonna get hosed more at this point.