pilots and flight attendants BOTH sign a merger agreement!

[WorldTraveler]

DL has been paying between $600-750 million per year towards its frozen pension plans since it emerged from BK and merged w/ NW - of which DL has assumed responsibility for some of NW's plans.
AA will have pension obligations comparable to DL's, meaning they will spend $600-700M on pensions per year, on top of the 401K benefits for active employees. Like DL, AA will be spending far more on pension benefits than any other airline since they are funding frozen pensions as well as funding defined contribution benefits for current employees.


Pay raises just for US pilots that would bring them up to AA pilot salary levels would swallow up every dollar of profit that US is now making

Yes, Bob, AA is betting the proverbial farm on reducing costs via reduced maintenance expense by taking on $10B in debt more than other US airlines. It is doubtful that AA's maintenance cost reductions from the fleet restructuring will save it close to $1B per year which is what that level of additional debt will cost.

 

[737823]

And AA was the airline that first started charging for checked baggage.

Wrong. Why do you keep posting lies and misinformation? Are you that obtuse? UA was the first to charge for a second checked piece, AA was among the last to charge for a second piece and the first to add a charge for the first piece:

http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/United-adds-fee-for-some-to-check-second-bag-3296063.php

Josh

 

[wings396]

Did you read what you posted Joshie? You did say that AA was the first to charge for the first piece, correct? In my book that would make 700 right...
Once again, NO SOUP FOR YOU!!!!!

 

[737823]

No, UA started first. As you know, before early 2008 people expected two free 50lb pieces of checked luggage on any fare regardless of any elite status or other condition. UA was the first to charge for baggage (item number two) within those conditions, AA was the first to charge for item number one. Since early 2008 most all carriers save WN (two free pieces) and B6 (first bag is free) charge for checked baggage.

Josh

 

[737823]

No, UA started first. As you know, before early 2008 people expected two free 50lb pieces of checked luggage on any fare regardless of any elite status or other condition. UA was the first to charge for baggage (item number two) within those conditions, AA was the first to charge for item number one. Since early 2008 most all carriers save WN (two free pieces) and B6 (first bag is free) charge for checked baggage.

Josh

 

[wings396]

So being the first to charge for one bag didn't make AA the innovater of bag fees?

 

[700UW]

Wings, you know exactly what I meant.

First two bags were always free, every airline charged for more than two bags going back 20 years.

AA was the first airline to charge for the first bag.

http://www.nytimes.c...00744.html?_r=0

May 21, 2008

Gee Josh are you lying again and posting misinformation and that obtuse?

American Airlines, struggling to cope with high jet fuel prices, said Wednesday that it would cut back significantly on its domestic flight schedule and begin charging $15 for many passengers to check their first bag in the United States.

American's actions follow steps in the last few weeks by major airlines to charge for checking a second bag. In American's case, that fee is $25 each way for domestic passengers.

Dont let the facts get in your way joshie.

 

[737823]

So being the first to charge for one bag didn't make AA the innovater of bag fees?

Wings, you know exactly what I meant.

First two bags were always free, every airline charged for more than two bags going back 20 years.

AA was the first airline to charge for the first bag.

http://www.nytimes.c...00744.html?_r=0

May 21, 2008



Dont let the facts get in your way joshie.

UA (and eventually all the other major US network carriers) added fees for the second checked baggage piece in early 2008. AA was the first carrier to introduce a fee for a first checked piece whereby passengers could not check a single piece of baggage without being charged (unless flying First or Business Class, elite status, full Y fare, and other conditions).

But hey there is no use debating the chronology of the events. Fact is the baggage charges are here to stay and for the most part have been accepted by the general public, and it doesn't affect me since I both rarely check bags and qualify for fee waivers on all three major alliances.

Josh

 

[jimntx]

scott kirby made mention once that the fees are the reason why us made profits the first year after the fees began not the low wages

You missed the point. LCC pilot and f/a pay was ALREADY the lowest among the network airlines before the bag fees started. If they had been paid industry standard at that time, the bag fees would not have resulted in a profit, just a smaller loss.

 

[wings396]

While we are on this topic, what were AA's total revenues from bag and other added fees?

 

[robbedagain]

probably not as close to the profits that dl ua and us made on the fees alone

 

[737823]

Wings,
As of late September 2012 baggage charges raises $288 million. I did a quick search and found this article, more detailed information can be obtained elsewhere:

http://abcnews.go.com/m/blogEntry?id=17326869

Josh

 

[wings396]

Thanks for posting, based on the article it looks like the published numbers are only for the first half of the year.

 

[AMFAinMIAMI]

On my recent west coast trip asked Pilots and F/A what if anything they are being told by their boards as to whats going on. Both groups said NOT ONE THING.

So their Leaders are just like the TWU secrets kept from dues paying members.
Who are the union leaders of today working for the Companies or themselves? Surely not the members who pay their salary.

Was told by several pilots its not a contract and that no real deal has been made.
But when I attempted to find out just what they knew, they said union leadership are not saying a thing. I guess they have a signed a letter to not release any info.

In any conversation anyone has had with the flight crews have any given info?

F/A's I talked to say there is a very large group of new F/A's ready to start here at AA.

 

[Mach85ER]

From pilot.

We don't know squat. Any real info is tied up with non-disclosure agreements. The UCC is problably trying to work the best deal for it's debt by playing Parker, Horton and the Unions to get the most $$$.

Anyone claiming to have the "real info" in the cockpit just wants to hear himself talk. (I know, we have our share)