Geardownflaps30

This seems appropriate.

CheapTrick

Staple the blueberries.

CanoePilot

I think we all know the AS bid isn't all that serious. When spirit bids on frontier (we all know that is next) I expect sun country or someone else to put in a "bid" as well.

Scoop

You guys can postulate and hypothesize on APC about how the SLI would go if a deal is completed - no harm in that.

But hopefully as Pilot groups you will fully take advantage of this opportunity to better your respective contracts with a future JCBA.

When the DAL/NW merger was announced labor made it clear we wanted a seat at the table and expected to be compensated accordingly if management wanted labor on-board fully supporting the merger vice opposing it. It worked.

This may be a good opportunity for you guys to greatly improve pay-rates and QOL issues over what you may have each achieved individually.

Do no let the internecine arguing over how you split the proverbially pie prevent you from exerting maximum leverage thus increasing the size of the pie for both Pilot groups.

Whether the deal goes through or not - good luck!

Scoop

Speedbird2263

Standing Ovation.

-2263

Busdriver320

^^^^^ THIS!

I'm a top 100 VX guy, my career expectation is Airbus Captain who can hold weekends off, holidays off, and get summer vacations. Putting 900 JB pilots above me robs me of all of that and gives it to a JB guy who before an integration like that could not get those things. Windfall for him. How is that fair and equitable? And from what I've heard about JB vacations, unless you're super super senior you never see summer slots. You want that SLI, make sure there's fences for vacations and holiday off trips so the VX guys can keep what they have.

And let's dispel with the myth that the VX investors didn't know exactly what they were doing for 8 years. The "company" made money for all of it except when oil was $140 back in 2008. The investors were paying themselves 17% interest and it just looked like the "airline" was "losing" money. Accounting tricks of a private company. Miraculously, about a year before the IPO the airline started making money. Wonder how that happened? Lastly, this is not a distress sale; the investors see a way to get out while the company is doing well, oil is cheap, and the market is there. It's been in all the press releases that VX may decide to stay independent in the end anyway. And supposedly VX was approached first, we weren't "begging" to find a buyer. So yes, it may be a "acquisition", but it's more like a merger with the synergies created.

Something to protect the 190 guys abilities to upgrade to the Bus would have to be figured out, but straight relative is not at all unreasonable. No fences (other than figuring out 190 issue) needed; a no bump, no flush would work. Only allow base transfers based on increase in staffing in that base or someone there wanting out, and even then seniority is going to rule who gets that open slot. I'm sure there are lots of JB guys that would want the west coast (LGB is very senior, no?) as there are VX guys that would like east coast.

I think this would be a great marriage for everyone in the end, a network from the Caribbean to Hawaii and start to fill in the middle of the country.

Next topic: which "product" survives? Discuss

grim04

Well most of the guys I've been talking to hired pre 2007 feel like I do. I'm sorry to burst your bubble but there are 1600 guys at JB that will fight anything other than post 2007 integration. No I would not expect integration like that with delta or American or United. Ask yourself this. Would we get it nope no friggin way. We will see how this fight turns out. I will be in it for sure along with the top 1600 guys.

cencal83406

So basically 1600 guys that are me-me-me!

No wonder it took a union so dang long to show up.

antbar01

Guys, ALPA has a policy that is going to dictate all of this stuff taking into account approximately 4,614 variables. You already voted in your ALPA reps, the die is cast. Career expectations, relative seniority, fences... pretty much everything except the economics of the airlines involved is considered. So there's no point in engaging in animosity that will result in uncomfortable cockpits later on.

As for me, I'll be at the bottom of any conceivable list, so I have the luxury of saying that I'm really excited by the possibilities a JetBlue/Virgin America merger brings to all of us.

ShyGuy

Obviously you've never been through a merger nor a seniority list integration. From past experience, I can tell you most of the beotching online is by people who will have 0 control over the outcome. In the end, it will be 3-4 merger committee members on jetblues side, 3-4 merger committee members for VX, and the arbitrator for SLI proceedings. I went through it. The voices calling for a staple of the underdog got nowhere, and in the end, the arbitrator actually made the underdog pretty whole for the integrated list. You are living in mental mast****tion land if you think the first VX guy will show up in a 2007 range at JetBlue.