Originally Posted by Always Flyin

The problems AA faces in that regard are the percentage increase they gave the pilots (understanding there is a supply/demand issue with pilots that doesn't exist with flight attendants) and, more importantly, what contracts the competition have entered into. AA can't just say they don't have the money. If they do, what would a CHAOS strike cost them?

The major complaints about the proposed contract is not the money being offered, however. The union will ask for a few dollars more an hour, but they are not that far apart.

The real issues are staffing levels (most flights are now at FAA minimums and the airline has been unwilling to increase staffing levels at all) and fixing the horribly broken reserve system.

The union officials have been unwilling to press hard on those issues and it is obvious why. The airline is buying them off. The new contract gives them a guaranteed 140-hours of pay per month and they can still pick-up trips on top of that. Even at current pay rates, that is almost $10,000 a month in guaranteed pay. The word corruption comes to mind for some reason . . .



I fly a lot and, frankly, the differences between the three major carriers on domestic flights is almost non-existent. Flight attendants are flight attendants. Some are great; most are average; and some are poor. On all three airlines.

Airline choice is more focused on where someone is and where someone wants to go. Hub captives are even more locked into a certain carrier. Avoiding connections is my biggest concern.