Imagine that; labor and mgmt. working together! Funny how DL says that representation will make that all but impossible for everyone else...
I don't think representation is the issue.
I will say that I have probably been on a dozen mainline flights over the past 2 months including 2 int'l flights and several of the domestic flights operated by PMNW cabin crews as well as passing through PMNW hubs. I always try to ask "So how is it working out working for Ma Delta" or something to that effect at the minimum and if time allows, dig even deeper.
I have yet to find a PMNW employee in my travels who would say they have noticed a lot of change working for DL. There have been delays because of mechanicals and operational issues involving both PMNW and PMDL aircraft and hubs - but none would have gone so far as to say that those issues were any different than what they experienced w/ NW.
They did express a clear preference for NW's Airbus equipment but also understand that DL offers them far more bidding choices by using DL's 767s and 777s.
I would on average rate the PMNW crews on par w/ service from the PMDL crews - with the exception of one PMNW crew that was flying to a destination and did not have a language of destination speaker onboard for the destination country.
PMNW's hubs are efficient and attractive - but so are DL's hubs including ATL (with the notably exception of JFK) which are both far more weather delay prone.
My point is that the more the merger progresses and the more I travel, the less differences between PMNW and PMDL.
I still can tell when I walk on a plane when I am flying with a LAX or SLC crew, for instance, and don't think that will change with NW.... but some of those might be as much about regional cultural differences Yet, I still like to know the heritage of people who have joined DL from a merger or acquisition - and there are still far more that are NOT original hire DL employees than are.
It's probably time to recognize that the merger in most employees' minds is finished... with the exception of the representation issues which leads to notable omissions in service such as the absence of the LOD FA above since the route in question was to an exclusive PMDL destination and NW had few LOD speakers for that language.
When I see PMNW crews quietly but gracefully offering free drinks and FC snacks on a 2 hr delayed flight on a PMNW aircraft originating in a PMDL hub using a PMDL cockpit crew due to multiple causes without assigning blame, then I know the new DL team is working together and in the eyes of the passengers - which is what counts the most - DL has formed one of the best airlines in the business.
It will be interesting to see what happens with UA and CO but I doubt we will see that level of cooperation at the same point in time post merger - and given that UA/CO have already started removing some of PMCO's service distinctives while DL is increasing service levels, it makes what DL has accomplished all the more notable in the eyes of the passenger.
