sailingfun

[QUOTE=Denny Crane;1067594]Can't argue with the first paragraph.

As far as the second goes, I'd want to see some figures justifing the above. Not saying you're doing it but the above bolded sounds a little like crying "wolf." Let's face it, the change to the D&S plan was a concession in bankruptcy. Are you trying to tell me we got a better deal now than it was before!! Sounds like you are telling me it's "raining." If you get my drift!

The $60 million we are paying from the plan for sick leave every year can fund alot of survivor benefits!! And I DO look at that as our (the pilots) money.

I can't argue with the last sentence either, especially the "Show me the money" part!!!


I am not where I can reference numbers but you can call DALPA and get the correct info. The company can pay sick leave out of the fund however at the end of each year the company must maintain a minimum fund level in the plan. Its a large number. If the fund at the end of any year is below that number the company must fund the difference right then. If they draw 60 million out of sick leave and the fund falls below the minimum number by 60 million they have to put it right back in.

slowplay

Denny, there is no question that the change to the D&S survivor benefit was a bankruptcy concession. I'm not saying it's "raining", but that it "rained." The deal we have now is not financially better than the previous D&S promise as long as that promise continues to pay. With the benefit of experience I don't want to go back to an unfunded promise to pay, as I've seen that promise broken. IF we could get a survivor annuity or some form of retiree insurance funded by Delta that's in our own name, then I might be interested. But just because the D&S Trust was unfunded in the 90's and currently has money is no guarantee that there will be money there when my survivors need it.

I don't think I'm crying wolf, but ymmv.

Elliot

Gary K., 1seat, 1eng, and all those other WN guys are all over it!!

Airtran Deal Could Hold Southwest Back: Deutsche Bank - Stocks To Watch Today - Barrons.com

Deutsche Bank analyst Michael Linenberg downgraded Southwest (LUV) today to Hold from Buy on concerns that it will have trouble integrating Airtran, the company it bought earlier this year. Southwest plans to integrate Airtran’s routes next year.


“The key downside risk factor for LUV, in our view, is integration risk given that airline mergers are complex and time consuming as disparate technology systems, labor groups, cultures, fleets, and facilities are combined,” Linenberg writes.


He dropped his price target to $9 from $16. Southwest closed on Monday at $7.97, up 3.6%.

cni187

So I filled out my contract survey! Does the raise come automatically in next month's paycheck?

UncleSam

I think we all agree on the basics of providing a secure survivor benefit but finding a good way to do it remains elusive. What if it was a fund separate from Delta much like the DPMA fund? Is that something that is doable? I understand avoiding "broken promises" but having the company fund an account that is not controlled by them might be the way to go.

Your thoughts??

tsquare

Yeah I saw that article too. A price target cut of almost 50%. Of course most analysts are herd animals so his particular view may be on the outer fringes of the bell curve, but it is still a pretty damning statement. One really interesting thing is that he also said that they would have trouble integrating fleets. ROTFLMAO. Really? If GK and crew has trouble adding a new airplane to the mix, I would guess they aren't as brilliant as everybody thinks.. funny funny stuff right there.

Elliot

I agree that the analysis might be a little shallow, but also don't believe Kelly ever really intended to perform "fleet integration". Those 717's will remain on the separate certificate, and be "LONG GONE" before SOC is ever seen. (Hence the fear mongering and "yes" votes, allowing S.L. 10 to pass MEMRAT.)

GJ

Columbia

United rated 2nd best after Delta in Business Travel News survey - Denver Business Journal


United rated 2nd best after Delta in Business Travel News survey
Date: Monday, October 10, 2011, 4:51pm MDT

.
United Airlines* * , the No. 1 carrier at Denver International Airport, finished a close second to Delta Air Lines* * out of the nation’s five largest airlines in the latest annual survey of corporate travel buyers by Business Travel News.
Asked to rate the five airlines in 10 service-delivery categories, the 406 travel buyers surveyed rated Delta an overall 3.14 and United a 3.12 on a scale of one to five, with one meaning poor and five meaning excellent.
United scored highest among the five airlines in three of the 10 categories: flexibility in negotiating services and amenities, distribution channels, and quality of customer service.
The other rated airlines were US Airways* * (3.07 overall), American Airlines* * (2.94) and Southwest Airlines* * (2.90).
Southwest is DIA’s No. 2 carrier. Delta, US Airways and American each have 4 percent or less of the DIA domestic market share, according to airport data.
Scores for United included Continental Airlines* * , which is merging with United; scores for Southwest included AirTran Airways.

tsquare

No doubt. They can kiss their "culture" goodbye.

buzzpat

There's always room on the Packer bandwagon for you New!!