WillCAD

Possibly, but we're only talking about one airline, not the entire industry. If rail workers stuck, the whole rail system would grind to a screeching halt. But if only one airline's pilots struck, well... remember how Southwest had a meltdown over the holiday week last year? And while it was a huge problem for WN customers, the rest of the air travel industry got on just fine without them? So, I don't think Congressional interference is a given in the WN labor dispute. At least not up front. Maybe if the pilots strike, Congress might step in after a few weeks, but there's no guarantee that they will step in at all.

LegalTender

There's no guarantee of intervention. A Southwest shutdown would need to “substantially interrupt interstate commerce to a degree such as to deprive any section of the country essential transportation service."

Convening a Presidential Emergency Board extends the obligation to maintain the status quo, a 60-day fix. Political currents are erratic.

EAJuggalo

I did exactly that although not because I am super anxious. I have a work trip to FL leaving Oct. 11. Booked a DL flight on points out of my local airport and WN on points out of an airport 90 minutes away. They were fairly comparable costs when I booked them. Now WN has gone down by 40% and DL hasn't changed. Unless WN strikes I'll cancel the DL and fly WN. If WN strikes I get my points and EBCI back and fly the DL for a price I was ok with when I booked.

Lonedaddy

Looks like the mediation board refused to release the pilots. Doesn't mean there won't be delays, pilots are a peeved. Management are going to shot themselves in the foot as younger pilots will start jumping to UA, DL and AA.

N830MH

Uh-oh! Here we go again! I don�t think they go on the strikes. Gosh! Hope not!

EAJuggalo

Any further news on the negotiations or the union's push to be released from mediation?

LegalTender

Nothing major. LUV stock underperforming market, but no bleak omens.

EAJuggalo

Anyone see any news on this in the last month? It looks like my trip in two weeks is safe, of course I just booked another one for January that I might need to book a back up for.

WillCAD

The last article I read says that the mediators expect an agreement by Nov 30.

I think it's unlikely that they'll be allowed to strike. The president has the authority to prevent a strike, and with the Nov 30 deadline coming only a week after Thanksgiving and the Christmas holiday season only weeks away, I think he'd step in to prevent it.

But even without a strike, if the union does a work-to-rule action, there could still be significant disruption to WN's schedule throughout the holiday season.

If they do strike, I can't imagine the strike lasting more than a week or two, but the fallout from the strike could last longer. The holiday meltdown last year was precipitated by a weather incident, which all the other carriers recovered from in two or three days, but which WN took eight or nine days to recover from. I imagine that a two-week strike could have scheduling repercussions lasting as much as a month, which would put it into the holiday season. And of course, if a strike lasted more than that, who knows how badly the airline could be hurt?

I think your trip in January is probably safe. If I had one scheduled for January, I wouldn't bother booking a backup. But it's certainly something to keep watch on as time passes. If a strike or work to rule actions comes on Nov 30, you'll still have plenty of time to re-book your January flight on another carrier.

Lonedaddy

My son newer pilot at SW, He told me that they will have an agreement. SWA knows they can't afford a strike.

LegalTender

Wouldn't be surprised to see an agreement by year's end. Negotiation fatigue.

Pilot forum chatter is now co-terminals and shortening drive times to start their duty days..

Creating air tight language that doesn't leave any ambiguity with respect to intent is arduous work.