buzzpat

Well, ask the Braniff, Eastern and TWA guys what they think Carl. I'm guessing they'd LOVE the Delta plan.

Bill Lumberg

JAL denies rumours of SkyTeam switch
Monday, 1 February 2010 -- E Travel Blackboard



Japan Airlines has denied that it has made the decision to switch to SkyTeam after rumours rose late last week that executives had decided to drop the carrier from the oneworld alliance.

After finally officially registering for bankruptcy, JAL can now look to completely re-hauling its operations– sending rumours flying last week was that it had closed a deal with Delta-led SkyTeam.

But a JAL spokesperson has denied the rumours saying that “no decision has yet been made” and that JAL could “still chose to stay in oneworld”.

e-Travel Blackboard understands a formal decision on which airline alliance JAL will commit to will be given either late this week or early next week.







This game is really getting old. I think it is great that the Tokyo Gov't wants us to give up NRT slots for this to happen, not JAL. If we give up any slots at NRT, we had better get the same amount or more at Haneda, which is closer to downtown anyway.

Kingbird87

Outstanding post! Oh, and I am back. When I offered my two cents last week it started a shtorm. I was and am saying that we are entering a new phase as one huge group with a common interest in improving our deserved return on creating the world's largest Air Line, Delta. A few years ago I read the book "Boyd" the biography of Colonel John Boyd. He was a manic genius that as well as creating the theory of energy maneuvering, created the OODA Loop, or Orient, Observe, Decide, and Act. In a nutshell, to win in conflict, one must react faster than your adversary to frame the battle and get inside your adversary's Loop. This begins with not telegraphing our strategy to our opponents. That is solely why I mentioned the prospect that what is said in the open is fair game to be used by our opponent.
The PWA that occurs in the next cycle is the battle, and we know who the opponents are. One side has a very defined vested interest, with a common strategy and vast resources to control the direction and public perception of the conflict. The other side is at this time, hopelessly divided and inwardly focused on matters of self interest. On top of that, its leadership appears disdainful of membership input. It will be a monumental effort to craft a common interest, but leadership reading "Boyd" would be a good start.
This contract is not about Carl Spackler or Kingbird. Carl has a few more years than me, yet we have fought the same battles. The outcome has been pitiful as has been the outcome for DAL South. Carl, as occupant of the highest paid position in our career, with a large share of his defined benefit has little risk personally in the outcome. I, likewise have nowhere near the risk that ACL, NuGuy, BuzzPat and BuckingBar have. Most of the participants are working for BK pay, with minimal long term security in terms of retirement, paying through the nose for employee benefits and working more in a stagnant environment. The direction needs to come from those with the greatest long term interest. The strategy needs to create an objective where the value of long term service to the company is rewarded, both in current and deferred compensation. I think it is well past time that we turn over negotiations to legal and financial professionals. The fastest way to get inside the OODA Loop is to change the constants. And pilots sitting down at the table with a legal pad and a number 2 pencil is no way to alter our opponent's decision cycle.
I work for Delta Air Lines. I want Delta to succeed beyond all of our dreams. We have collectively just completed doing something unprecedented in the history of business and labor. We now need to think about the value we have created with our efforts and sacrifices, and who will represent us best when we enter the OODA Loop.

Fraternally

Carl Spackler

The reason I say this is because in many cases it would have been so easy to adopt best practices, and DAL didn't. I know this because of how some of our best people describe what it's like at meetings with the ATL folks. Some of our most experienced and respected people are totally ignored at these meetings. Even if their suggestions would have sped up the march toward SOC, the suggestion came from the wrong messenger, therefore it was rejected.

This sounds exactly like what my PanAm and Western friends said happened with their merger. If all the best practices have to be extracted by obtaining legal counsel (vaccine policy change), I don't think it bodes well.

But to answer your question about timing, I think starting the best practices search could easily begin now. We're a month into SOC, so the big panic is over. If we're really interested in adopting best practices, I'll look for the memo this week.

Carl

80ktsClamp

Gopher hater,

It's been stated in numerous memos that things will be revisited once things settle down and the best policies will be implemented.

The reason why all DL pilots were required yellow fever shots is because ALL fleets go where it is needed (yes, the maddogs go south). The DC-9 was an anomally in that and obviously overlooked. In fact, they probably had to check with route planning to see if the fleet was indeed going to be going south.

Big picture...big picture....big picture...

Carl Spackler

Yes. And our IT is top drawer.....compared to USAirways.

What does this have to do with DAL being sincere about adopting best practices?

Carl

80ktsClamp

I somehow get the idea that "best practices" from your point of view is the DAL-N way or no way... I bet I'm not far off...

80ktsClamp

Not one of my finer moments. Where'd you get that?

Free Bird

Oh that just begs for an inappropriate comment.

Carl Spackler

I'm off on a long one, and I've sure learned a lot from everyone's thoughts.

I think Nu's post was an accurate representation of the average North guy. The message is not meant for South guys, because South guys couldn't effect any change even if they wanted to. The message is for DAL management/DALPA. South guys can resent or belittle the message, but it IS the message.

Back in a week. How the hell will I ever work through 10,000 posts?

Carl