Delta reports $1.4 billion quarterly profit
Oct 23, 2013, 7:11 am
#31
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: UA Silver, BA Gold, DL Gold
Posts: 9,779
The ability of airlines to earn huge profits in good times has never been I doubt, whether the airlines can sustain it still has not been proven. If Delta continues to earn such large profits, the employees will demand their share they've previously given back, new airlines wanting their share will start and expan, then some event will impact the airlines negatively and they'll be back to outsize losses.
Oct 23, 2013, 7:33 am
#33
Original Member and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Kansas City, MO, USA
Programs: DL PM/MM, AA ExPlat, Hyatt Glob, HH Dia, National ECE, Hertz PC
Posts: 16,579
Come contract renegotiation time, the unionized groups will point at the profits and demand their share that they had previously given back, I think it's naïve to think they won't.
Oct 23, 2013, 8:12 am
#34
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: UA Silver, BA Gold, DL Gold
Posts: 9,779
Aren't the plane drivers the only unionized group left at DL? Even if they were unionized, I'd offer that the low-skill work groups (FAs, ramp workers, etc) have less leverage, since they can be replaced rather easily.
Oct 23, 2013, 8:59 am
#36
Original Member and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Kansas City, MO, USA
Programs: DL PM/MM, AA ExPlat, Hyatt Glob, HH Dia, National ECE, Hertz PC
Posts: 16,579
You don't think 20,000 non-unionized flight attendants can cause disruptions in an attempt to gain leverage and that they can be 'easily' replaced if they do? I don't particular agree with either point of view ...
Oct 23, 2013, 9:19 am
#37
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: UA Silver, BA Gold, DL Gold
Posts: 9,779
They can cause disruptions, but if they aren't unionized, they are readily replaced. And, yes, I do think they are easily replaced, as the job requires no special skills, just some basic level of competence. I couldn't be a pilot tomorrow, but I'm quite confident I could do a more than respectable job as an FA. Not saying, I'd want to, but it isn't a job that requires a terribly specific skill set.
Oct 23, 2013, 9:49 am
#38
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Minneapolis, formerly the shores of Lake Minnetonka
Programs: DL PM (and KM)
Posts: 394
Oct 23, 2013, 9:54 am
#39
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 132
Well with outrageous fees, taking over a competitor, high fares, closing hubs cutting in flight services it is not surprise Delta makes so much money. With such limited competition now due to mergers and high fees and fares Delta and others will make this kind of money.
Oct 23, 2013, 12:25 pm
#41
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: SEA
Programs: AS 75k
Posts: 922
As long as their main expense has volatile pricing I don't really see it changing.
Oct 23, 2013, 1:45 pm
#42
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: SLC & NYC
Programs: Diamond Medallion, Delta Million Miler, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 674
thank you. For the most part, the attitude and helpfulness of frontline employees has really been on the upswing. It's nice to be treated well on Delta.
Oct 23, 2013, 1:49 pm
#43
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: check swarm
Programs: DL DM & 2MM, SPG/Bonvoid LT Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, $tarbucks Titanium
Posts: 14,404
That would be Glen W. Hauenstein, the executive vice president and chief revenue officer of Delta Air Lines. He's in charge of delta.com, Revenue Management (including award space), SkyMiles, and was the Exec who forced the SkyKlubs to downgrade the booze literally overnight. @:-)@:-)
Oct 23, 2013, 1:51 pm
#44
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: SEA
Programs: AS 75k
Posts: 922
That would be Glen W. Hauenstein, the executive vice president and chief revenue officer of Delta Air Lines. He's in charge of delta.com, Revenue Management (including award space), SkyMiles, and was the Exec who forced the SkyKlubs to downgrade the booze literally overnight. @:-)@:-)
Oct 23, 2013, 1:51 pm
#45
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2012
Programs: DL FO/KM, AA PLT
Posts: 2,594
They can cause disruptions, but if they aren't unionized, they are readily replaced. And, yes, I do think they are easily replaced, as the job requires no special skills, just some basic level of competence. I couldn't be a pilot tomorrow, but I'm quite confident I could do a more than respectable job as an FA. Not saying, I'd want to, but it isn't a job that requires a terribly specific skill set.