Still Traveling

By DL

April 13, 2006 10:26 AM | Link to this

I am taking my elderly parents to Virginia in May for a week. We have tons of Delta miles to use, but instead we are afraid to risk the strike and will be driving. That means 2 extra nights in a hotel, plus 10 hours on the road each way. Thanks for nothing, Delta.

By Nice knowing You Delta

April 13, 2006 10:33 AM | Link to this

I didn’t have to change my plans, Delta did it for me by canceling my flight 2 months in advance, re-booked me for another day(it was rebooked on my wedding day) and never told me. It is about time Delta goes away. Bring in Southwest!

By Pete S.

April 13, 2006 10:37 AM | Link to this

I hope Delta continues to operate in spite of the GREEDY pilots!! There are many great people that work for Delta that will be hurt if Delta goes under. Everyone should do their best to support Delta in it’s time of need.

Delta has been around a very long time and has supported the community, now as a community lets support Delta when they need us the most.

Pete S.

By Angela

April 13, 2006 10:53 AM | Link to this

We have bought fully refundable tickets on another carrier, just so our vacation plans are not spoiled by a Delta pilot strike.

By Carmen

April 13, 2006 10:54 AM | Link to this

Delta pilots have already taken a 46% pay cut. 32.5% last year and another 13.5% this year. How does that make them greedy? And, no, I’m not a pilot or a relative of one.

By Brad Johnson

April 13, 2006 10:58 AM | Link to this

I’m going to start flying Airtran. I hope the pilots that spent the day picketing loose their jobs and realize how good they would have had it. The union mentality has certainly worked for the Automakers in the US. Way to be guys!

By Rocco

April 13, 2006 11:13 AM | Link to this

ALPA presonnalizing the strike (rat, attacking management) doesn’t help at the bargaining table UNLESS the plan is to let the union members vent and then accept he union’s latest offer thus giving the union its “victory” which goes a long way in post-negotiations. Or look for the arbitration panel not to give Delta the right to scuttle the union contract but to extend it with modifications.

By Hodey

April 13, 2006 11:18 AM | Link to this

I don’t work for Delta, but do work in the industry. I don’t think most people here in Georgia realize what an impact it will make if that airline folds. Thousands of people that don’t even work for Delta will lose their jobs as well. As far as the pilots and the posiblity of a strike, look at it like this, how would you feel if your employer took away half of your pay and benefits? Show some support.

By Mike

April 13, 2006 11:20 AM | Link to this

Remember Eastern? Their pilots did the same thing and it worked out great for them, didn’t it?!

By Old Hickory

April 13, 2006 11:28 AM | Link to this

Here’s hoping Delta is liquidated and the airline is sold off to American or United such that we can have dependable, reliable service without strike interruptions.

Pilots are going to have to learn to live on $100,000 a year, the glamour and glory of commercial aviation are long gone now.

By Homey

April 13, 2006 11:29 AM | Link to this

I fly every week & had been a loyal delta customer for decades. However, for then last several months I have avoided Delta when possible due to the uncertainty.

This is made easier by the fact that I can usually find a less expensive ticket on another carrier, fly on a newer & cleaner plane, and be serviced by a much friendlier flight crew.

I don’t think any of the remaining players (management, pilots, etc) have what it takes to right this company. Maybe it is time for all parties involved to throw in the towel.

By Ed

April 13, 2006 11:38 AM | Link to this

I’m in corporate travel and I have already noticed clients booking away from Delta for travel in the next couple of weeks. I’ve even had Delta Platinum Medallion travelers booking AirTran as they need to know they’re going to get to their meetings. That certainly doesn’t help Delta’s bottom line.

I have two words for the Delta pilots who, if they walk, will put the other 41,000 Delta “professionals” out of work: EASTERN AIRLINES.

By Michael

April 13, 2006 11:38 AM | Link to this

To me, it’s a lose lose situation. I don’t want anything bad to happen to the employee’s, including the pilots, but then again, it’s the pilots that the ones pointing out that executive management has been getting nice salaries, perks, bonuses, etc. I’m a Delta medallion flyer, and to be honest, I’m signing up with another carriers program, because I’m tired of dealing with employees with a bad attitude, and the revamped business practices of Delta. I had better service with the former Independence Air than I’ve had with Delta in the past two years.

I will also stick up for the pilots, because Delta pilots are the best in the industry. I know what it feels like to get $@#% on by an employer. I used to think that they were just being greedy, but step back, and realize that they do a job that not many of us could ever do.

Moral of the story here is that if you treat your employees and customers like crap, don’t expect to be in business too long.

By Will

April 13, 2006 11:46 AM | Link to this

I am flying to Ireland in the summer. I think I will take British Air. I cannot swin across the atlantic if Delta goes on a strike. See ya Delta

By Eric

April 13, 2006 11:52 AM | Link to this

I have already changed a booking to Calif. Now, the change fee to use that ticket is $100.00

Mullins really put the co. out.

By Stefanie

April 13, 2006 11:53 AM | Link to this

I’m not a common traveler, one or two big trips a year. I have a wedding I have to be IN in Key West and our anniversary trip to the caribbean.

But both of my big trips this year are with Delta, I’ve always flown Delta. If Delta strikes and goes under, I don’t know what I’m going to do, because not a lot of other airlines fly to these places, and the other flights are already booked up.

I’m sitting on pins and needles right now hoping for some level of sanity to come over the Pilots. There will be 41,000 other employees out of work, and then the countless tens of thousands passengers you will ruin their trips, vacations, honeymoons.

With wedding season coming up, a lot of people have travel plans to go to their families wedding, do you think they will fly Delta again if they strike? Nope! Delta Pilots are killing the company, they can chew on their nasty rat they put up at corporate.

By Mel S.

April 13, 2006 12:04 PM | Link to this

-Nice Knowing Delta- Southwest is NOT the answer. Wal-Mart of the skies is worse than Delta. Secondly, Southwest is a point to point operation, you will have to stop 2 or 3 times before you get to your destination in most cases. ANY airline has the right to change a schedule and even Southwest does. That is why it is important to put all contact information in your reservation. If you book through a discount website, it is their responsibility to contact you. And Thirdly, it also states you should check back because schedules are subject to change. Why do airlines do that?? Every season they re-evaluate routes. Some are traveled more or less than others during certain times of the year. I’m sorry it happened on your wedding day, but ANY travel plans should always be followed up on prior to travel. I booked my honeymoon at an exclusive hotel in Florida only to arrive and find they were closed for renovating. Their answer was “we tried to call.” Luckily we got better accomidations for free somewhere else.

Finally Stinkwest has to raise prices due to their fuel hedging coming to an end which in turn makes them less competitive than before. I’ve found cheaper fares on Delta actually. Im sorry, but a cattle call…and crappy OLD 737 only fleet…I’ll pass. After working for Delta for many years, I have to say the flying public is uneducated when it comes to travel. The days of being handed the world on a silver platter are over. Ten years ago, you could not find fares as cheap as they are now and its truely sad. But we do what we have to in order to make what little money we can.

In my opinion the pilot’s are half selfish. Eastern didn’t fool around and Western was the airline Grienstein was in charge of when they went under. The problem lies in the way things were run for so many years. We were ALWAYS promised to be the highest paid and to keep us there and happy, anytime an airline got a raise…we got a raise. In the last 5 years though, that has been a different story. I understand their point and it’s valid, but a strike will close the doors forever and it will literally collapse the economy of Atlanta. Tens of thousands of peoples lives are affected directly and indirectly through Delta. The previous CEO’s should be brought to face charges and the money they STOLE when they left should be enough to bring on investigation.

The head Union leader Moak is leading these people into oblivion. A union is always the destruction of any industry. But these guys fail to realize, where are they gonna go now?? No other airline is going to hire them, they are making cut backs too. So to them..good luck.

To those of you making other arrangements for travel, please remember that the agents working the counter have a very difficult job trying to take care of everyone. Please have understanding that it’s not their fault, but they have a job to do as well. Verbal abuse doesn’t help. Trust me..the last place we want to be is in front of an angry mob. You have the right to be upset, but taking your anger out on us won’t get you anywhere. Send your vents to Upper Management in letters or even Congress. Not to make 9/11 the scape goat, but the world of airline travel has changed drastically in the last 5 years. Just understand we have a job to do and you wouldn’t like it if we came to your place of work and harassed you about things that were beyond your control either.

Just a quick thanks to all of you that have been patient and have still been loyal through all of this. To those that make it a point to say “This is why your airline is going out of business” you haven’t a clue. Thank the internet and thank the people who try to destroy our country. But letting us know, trust me..we already do. We are on a sinking ship trying to go down with what little we have left. The pilots are jumping ship and we, the crew, are left to save the passengers.

If Delta goes away, Atlanta will soon look like Detroit after GM pulled out…a ghost town.

By Phil Smith

April 13, 2006 12:05 PM | Link to this

I just booked a terrific deal on Delta from Atlanta to Honolulu non-stop (try doing that on another airline) for about $500. Our hometown airline has enough problems without me adding to this “herd” mentality of rushing off to some other airline. God forbid is something happens to Delta but I’ll be darned if I am going to help kill it.

By Leigh

April 13, 2006 12:22 PM | Link to this

As in the past, Delta’s management has shifted the blame solely on one group - the pilots. If things do fail, it won’t look so bad for management. Mr. Whitehurst - age 38 - will move on and won’t look back, I’m sure. With his “vast airline experience” - at least that’s what we were told - he could possibly go on to “manage” another carrier. Perhaps he could team up with Mr. Mullin or Michele Burns. Who knows? Does the buck stop with the pilot group or at the top where responsibility should begin. Aside from the fuel crisis and post 9/11 costs, we are where we are due to the lack of leadership. Many, many poor decisions have been made on behalf of the company. To those of us who work here, it appears to be one gigantic experiment. This is a company that was once proud and was admired as an industry leader. Did the pilot group destroy that image? Our customer service ratings have always been at the top of the industry. Did the hard working employees of the company run the company into the ground? If you want to talk about greed……..let’s talk about the 32 executives who literaly raped this company and then left with their golden parachutes. The Board of Directors approved that slick transaction. The pilot group bears the biggest responsibility in the company in terms of you - the public. What do you want? Do you want quality, well paid individuals or do you want young, inexperienced pilots who will work for bus wages? Think about it! In the past the pilot group has received what the Board of Directors has approved. That being said, the younger pilots have to accept that they will not have the salary of the past. They will not be able to have the second home in Florida. Their spouses just might have to go out and get jobs. Waste - huge waste - is evident within the company - and the pilots and the other employees are tired of paying for it. We are asked to “budget” and yet there appears to be no real “budget” within the company itself. There is a total lack of trust and faith. Why is that? Is it the fault of the pilots? Until the company puts itself on a budget, they cannot expect the pilot group to give up any more. They have given a lot. The retired pilots have given 60% of their retirement. The other employees have given far more that what has been reported in the paper. It goes on and on. Where does it end? One other comment, “we” have been willing to do what it takes to keep the company in business. Unfortunately, the “giving” seems to be one sided. Before the public is so quick to condemn this company, just think about the suffering that will occur in the Atlanta area - real estate prices, charities, joblessness rate. Delta is and has been one the of largest employers of minorities in the state for over 75 years. Do you really wish that we go out of business? What about the tens of thousands of active employees and retirees and all of their families? Is revenge going to be that “sweet” as it is directed to the pilot group? Why not hold the directors of this company somewhat responsible for the mess that we are in! I am not a pilot, just another hard working stiff that wants this company to succeed. It is time for reconciliation - the blame needs to end! We could also use all the support and prayer the community can offer.

By DUH

April 13, 2006 12:23 PM | Link to this

Key words BINDING ARBITRATION. Seems to me you can’t strike if you agreed to binding arbitration in the first place. If you are 50% overpaid for your profession, taking a 46% cut puts you in line with industry average.

By Deno

April 13, 2006 12:26 PM | Link to this

You spoiled people with your nasty comments. Just wait till Delta goes under. Do you actually think one of the other carriers can just come in and take over gates and permits for routes in a day. For about a year you’ll be driving to Birmingham to catch a Southwest flight just to find out you’ve been overbooked. Or you’ll have to take Air Tran to Memphis to pick up a Northwest flight to Minneapolis because the one flight on Northwest out of Atlanta to MSP on their 45 yr old DC9 has just had a mechanical. Get a grip people & quit bashing Delta who occupies 4 1/2 terminals in Atlanta. 75% of the problem now is the fact that the gas has gone up so much and Michelle Burns sold Southwest, Delta’s fuel hedging. The American Public refuses to pay for the gas it cost to get them to their final Destination. This is Delta’s ultimate Downfall. Whether the Pilots strike or not, Delta can’t afford to lose 350 million a quarter. The pilots taking less money will bring it to what, 250 million. When the Pilots took their 32% paycut last year and everyone else took their paycuts, Delta’s fabulous consultants ( who got their millions) didn’t figure gas in to the equation. Wake up people and support Delta just a little bit. For all that Delta contributes to Atlanta, Clayton Co. sure didn’t give Delta a break on the gas tax, Habitat for Humanity, all the other charities Delta contributes to, the arts, the sciences, how about a little support!

By Brian

April 13, 2006 12:34 PM | Link to this

Good Bye Delta!

I fly every week for work and I have been treated like crap by Delta Airlines on so many occasions. This is my time to reflect back on the times when I was stuck in a middle seat for 3 hours and charged more for my bag that was 2 pounds over weight and only given partial miles because I bought a discounted ticket and get someone in India to listen to my questions without any clue on how to actually help me. I have a smile on my face because your finally going to get what you deserve - unemployed…

Hopefully a good airline will someday come to Atlanta Georgia….

By Alan J Rubin

April 13, 2006 12:35 PM | Link to this

Let the executive management take a huge pay cut. They not only make the decisions, they each also make as much as 100 pilots. Cut the fluff out of the CEO, CFO and all the executive. Of course this will never happen. They will let Delta go bankrupt before they are forced to take a pay cut.