Which seems unlikely, because under that scenario pilot benefits are bound to decrease as well.

Strikes have occurred in the past with this threat in mind.

I realize that. I was merely stating I believe it is unlikely it that it will occur. If one of the union's strikes and takes their airline to chapter 7 like you alluded to earlier the displaced pilots of said airline loose most of their bargaining power. The pilots from Chapter 7 airline that find new jobs get to go to bottom of the seniority list at their new airlines (which ironically has been up with the current negotiations).

More DL/NWA rumblings.....who knows what to believe.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/indust...s_N.htm?csp=34

Delta, Northwest could announce merger in next week

By Marilyn Adams, USA TODAY
Pressured by extraordinary jet fuel prices, Delta (DAL) and Northwest (NWA) airlines want to announce a merger deal as soon as next week, according to two sources briefed on the airlines' plans.

....Although the pilots have not come to agreement, the companies feel pressured to move forward now with a merger — with or without an agreement between the pilot groups — because of the crisis in jet fuel prices, the sources say.

See link for article

Is it Go Time?
 

Delta pilots are rumored to have given the green light.


link

If this goes down, I can't imagine it will be long before CO jumps into bed with somebody.

I wonder if this is the first step to Continental exiting Skyteam as well. Given their lack of inclusion in the recent Skyteam Tripartite Pact, I mean the AF-KL-DL-NW-OK-AZ anti-trust immunity, I don't see a merged Continental staying in Skyteam.

Once the merger is announced the NW golden share is gone and it's going to be a free-for-all. Could the recent PR fiasco at AA play a role? AA/CO?

I'm still holding out for CO/UA. Entry into *A would more than make up for a few years of random unpleasantness as the merger shakes out. Just remind yourself the next time a UA GA is screaming at pax over the PA system that the miles you earn are redeemable for NH F...

I thought DL pilots were always on board and it was the NW pilots who were getting hosed on the deal and blocking it. My understanding was that the DL pilots are relatively younger but would have more seniority on the type ratings that would be kept around longer, so the NW pilots were worried that they'd end up lower down on the lists. Imagine that you're a DC9 pilot on NW. As those are likely to be retired sooner than not in the case of a fleet rationalization thos pilots would potentially drop to the bottom of lists for the A319/320 or B73x types. They don't want that.

Seems you're not the only one. On my UA flight on Sunday, upon landing the FA comes over PA and announces the welcome and "thank you for flying United, Ted, Continental, and Star Alliance."

I 100% disagree! Did you read the News Release on co.com yesterday that CO Vacations is changing vendors?

http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix....947&highlight=

Well, MLT is wholly owned by NWA! CO and NW are strengthening ties!!!

:p;)

As long as there is no merger AA, I am ok. I would prefer *A at least then we would have some decent international Asian partners.

Anyone here think CO + others (i.e. AA, Chase) would join together in making a cash offer for UA and then dividing up the parts amongst themselves?

An example of this would be CO, AA, and Chase making an offer for UA with the operational assets (i.e. routes) going to AA and CO and M+ going to Chase.

Has anything like this ever been done before?

Ala TWA perhaps? I'd think that while UA is looking for a buyer they're not looking for a fire sale.

True -- My goal was not to imply a fire sale but rather a consortium of companies purchasing the FMV of UA's assets (and hopefully leaving behind the majority of the issues associated with a "traditional" merger.)

I don't see AA buying up someone unless it is for their fleet becuase it may be cheaper to buy a failing airline than to replace the MD-80's directly.