Worktowander

Keep this in mind, too:

This bankruptcy judge has already given two deadline extensions because negotiations between the pilots, flight attendants and company were making progress.

It's not impossible that he might do it again this morning, because the sides have reportedly been advancing somewhat in their talks.

Keep hoping!

LoveItaly

Keep hoping for sure, cross all fingers.

I keep thinking, if the economists statements that I have read this last month are correct that if a strike is called NW will be out of business wouldn't it seem that both sides would have a personal interest to come to agreement?

And a question, isn't it true when an airline hires a pilot they have to train them for a period of time (even though they hold a commercial pilots license)..and a pilot has to have special training for each type of airplane they fly. It would seem to me (but I am certainly no expert) that NW couldn't just suddenly bring in a group of out of work pilots and put them in the cockpit and send them and the planes on their way.

rkkwan

LoveItaly - That's all true. But reasons didn't stop Eastern's pilots from striking and killing the airline. Many of them never found a flying job, or any job that made that much money.

Worktowander

I think for the NWA pilots, this has come down to a do-or-die situation. They say they've taken a 39-percent pay cut since 9/11, and they don't think the company's reliance on labor cost cuts will stop here.

Also, NWA is planning to convert some of its routes to regional jets and it is trying to ensure it can hire new, cheaper pilots to fly them. That's would be a breach of its current contract with the pilots.

Yes, the pilots know their jobs are at stake, but they seem to be disinclined to think that this track will preserve jobs worth having.

At least that's what I gather from news reports over the past several months in one of its major hubs.

LoveItaly

Hi rkkwan, just wishful thinking on my part I guess.

Worktowander, NW was talking about hiring FA from other countries for their international flights and that of course got the NW FA very upset. Think I read NW backed off from that idea, or is NW still pushing that for that also?

BTW, I just got the weekly email from NW with all their wonderful "saver fares". Like, oh sure, I am certainly going to book with them tonight, NOT!

Worktowander

Yep, LoveItaly, I think they're still trying for the foreign flights attendants. It's just quieter right now, I believe, since the pilots' vote closed first.

Keep in mind, I have no inside info -- I'm just near a hub where coverage has been heavy and I paid attention.

LoveItaly

Thanks worktowander, we have NW out of Sacramento (I live in the Sacramento Valley) and SFO but not much in our local news so appreciate hearing from others that are more aware of what is going on.

sardog10

I have a slightly different twist on the problem. I'm all set to ship our dogs from Seattle to Frankfurt next week on Northwest. They need to be day-kenneled in Detroit for 10 hours, so I'd better tape a bunch of bags of food and meds to the top of their crates just in case they get held over there. I'm assuming they'd be kept at the kennel there until other arrangements would be made. Unfortunately, I'm really limited on flights because Yogi's crate is so big and it'll only fit on certain planes. One more things to fret over during this move ....

Worktowander

Here's a link to a story that lays out the details of today's situation pretty well. It sounds less dire than a shutdown today, I think.

http://www.startribune.com/535/story/275331.html

Worktowander

Correction: According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, NWA has backed off its request to offshore FA jobs.

LoveItaly

Hi worktowander, thank you so much for posting the website, it sure explains the situtation better than any of the articles I have seen. I just checked our SF Chronical thinking they would have an update (NW does fly out of SFO) but not a word. I will refer to the Startribune for future information.
And I saw on another thread you have a trip planned to Europe on NW (assume not KLM) later..how very frustrating. I have put off making reservations as haven't figured out the best time to go to Italy. Glad I procrasinated. But planned on using my FF miles to upgrade to BC. But if I lose them that will be a minor problem compared to all of you that have already purchased tickets..and the NW employees.

And Sardog, yes your problem is a bit unusual. Is there any chance that the crate would fit on a KLM plane? There is no other airline that can accomodate your dog and crate, none at all?

Well, lets all hope and pray this "mess" gets worked out and that some sensible people can come to a meeting of the minds which would be to the benefit of all concerned.

sardog10

LoveItaly - Yes, the crate will fit on some KLM planes but not all. For example, I can get them non-stop to Copenhagen on SAS but the connecting plane doesn't have a cargo door big enough to accomodate the crate. I can drive them to Portland and go non-stop on a Lufthansa flight but it involves six hours of driving on a day when I must be at home and it costs about $600 more. I'm going to do more research on it tomorrow. It was much less expensive to ship them over there the first time in 2000. $1200 then and between $1600 (Northwest) and $3600 this time.

Worktowander

Here's another link to local coverage in the Twin Cities (NWA's headquarters):

http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/13984874.htm

P.S.: I apologize on behalf of the Pioneer Press (not that I have any right to) for the atrocious copy editing of the article at this link.

Intrepid1

Here's another update:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm..._pilots01.html

Apparently the time deadline is 11:00 (I assume EST) today

julies

Well I'm up this morning still hoping to get out of here today and have also read all the news articles. I still don't know if we'll actually get out today as we don't leave MSP until late afternoon. This whole posible strike process has so many unknowns including whether or not the usual 30 day cooling off period would apply in a situation like this.

I e-mailed NWA last night, and here is their reply which of course doesn't mean a thing. The idea of them seeking an injuction does hold out a tad of hope for me, however.

"Northwest does not believe that either group has the legal right to strike. If a strike is attempted, Northwest plans to seek an immediate injunction to prevent it from happening. We believe that a work stoppage would not be in the best interest of the airline, its employees, its customers, or the communities it serves.

Please be assured that you can depend on Northwest Airlines to meet your travel needs - now and in the future."

I have to say I do have a lot of sympathy for the pilots but still am frustrated that I am caught in the middle of this mess. Thanks again.

KathrynT

Good luck julies!

frankisthechamp

Northwest reached a deal with the flight attendants so it would seem that a deal with the pilots is close hopefully. The Detroit News or Free Press is a good source for updated articles on Northwest as are the local television channels websites (Channel 4 - WDIV and Channel 7 - WXYZ)

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...EWS99/60301005

All this union business is quite counterproductive. It's unfortunate that unions have outlived their own usefulness.

NYerr

The deal with the flight attendants needs to be voted and approved fully by their union members.

flsd

If it's not strikes, it's bankruptcy! It does tend to discourage air travel, especially when one's only major airport (like mine, PIT) has so few airlines serving it but the most financially insecure!

Barb

Boy, for all you guys who said how great NW was when I was trying to decide whether to book my fall trip with NW - thanks a lot - just kidding. But I do hope they get it all sorted out by then!!