Originally Posted by wldtrvlr
I may be wrong, but I don't believe the early cancelations are a result of the mechanics being off the job. I think they are a result of before the mechanics left the job they took the planes out of service and they can not get back into service until a mechanic (ie.the replacements) get in and fix and/or authorize the plane to fly again.
I don't know all the legaleze about aircraft maintenance, but it seems like a large percentage of planes have been "down for maintenance" since the cooling off period begun. So, technically they are a result of the strike, or at least the build up to it. But not a direct result of the mechanics walking off the job. I think it was more of a "Lets see how much damage we can do before we leave" type of thing.
While there may be cases of this happening, from the news reports I have read, I don't think this is accurate IMHO. There were many people who reported for work yesterday afternoon/night and when they got there NW sent them home and paid them for their full shift. Others who were working were escorted off the property early and some people in the hangars spent their shift in a room with a guard instead of working on aircraft.
I don't think NW's plan is working out as great as they thought it would but if the majority thinks like the above poster I will give them points for winning the PR game.