Any updates on potential Southwest Airlines pilot strikes

[Nick6300]

Our flight to MCO is over early Sept. And the articles I've read which were dated in June about the labor union trying for an authorization to strike by late summer/early Fall. The recent United settlement for pilots to have an avg. 40% increases over next 4 years is supposed to be used in negotiations. The labor union is advertising that they mainly want better scheduling, less fatigue. The concern for us with only 3 & 4 weeks to go for our two flights is more cancelations/consolidations to unfavorable flight times, that we're allowed to cancel/change, but it will be at the very last minute. I hear that a strike rarely happens since the government will typically step for a settlement (last time for SWA was 2010). But the Dec. cancelation fiasco is also going to be used against SWA.

Just wondered if others are in the same boat with SWA with an upcoming trip and either concerned or not? 2 years ago, we had an American and Delta flight to and from MCO and Delta canceled and didn't email us, and we found out during the check in process that they canceled and we needed to scramble for another flight. The American flight had changed times to where it was less favorable, but at least we rec'd an email for that one. Since that trip, I typically check my flight periodically for changes.

 

[EACarlson]

Early September you're fine. Even if the mediation board declared an impasse today, there would still be a 30 day cooling off period before the pilots could legally strike. I've got a trip to MCO in mid October that I'm concerned about. I currently have a back up booked with Delta points that I will cancel as soon as this gets resolved or they get within the 30 day window without being released from mediation.

 

[Nick6300]

Early September you're fine. Even if the mediation board declared an impasse today, there would still be a 30 day cooling off period before the pilots could legally strike. I've got a trip to MCO in mid October that I'm concerned about. I currently have a back up booked with Delta points that I will cancel as soon as this gets resolved or they get within the 30 day window without being released from mediation.

I saw the 30 day period, but didn't know when that would start or if it already had since the articles I saw were in June with regurgitation in July. That's good to know that the mediation hasn't taken place yet, that makes it worst case the 30 days would be over 9/13, just after we return. I guess if the mediation had started there would be all kinds of news discussing what happened.

 

[Nick6300]

Early September you're fine. Even if the mediation board declared an impasse today, there would still be a 30 day cooling off period before the pilots could legally strike. I've got a trip to MCO in mid October that I'm concerned about. I currently have a back up booked with Delta points that I will cancel as soon as this gets resolved or they get within the 30 day window without being released from mediation.

That's really good planning to have a backup flight that's refundable booked. I didn't even know those flights with pts were refundable.

I'm always concerned that our early (5:30 am from Chicago) and late flights (7:50pm from Orlando) gets bumped to later and earlier flights if they don't sell out or to save $. But that's always my concern after recent trips of being bumped.

 

[EACarlson]

I saw the 30 day period, but didn't know when that would start or if it already had since the articles I saw were in June with regurgitation in July. That's good to know that the mediation hasn't taken place yet, that makes it worst case the 30 days would be over 9/13, just after we return. I guess if the mediation had started there would be all kinds of news discussing what happened.

The mediation is ongoing. June 29 is when the pilot's union applied for release from mediation, 8/3 the mediation board denied the release. There will be big stories if and when the mediation board releases the union, that will start the 30 day clock. The President can convene a Presidential Emergency Board at any time during the 30 day cooling off period, this gives the board 30 days to review the situation and make their recommendation and then another 30 day cooling off period. There are some requirements that are supposed to be met for a PEB to be convened but it could be done if the President wished it.

That's really good planning to have a backup flight that's refundable booked. I didn't even know those flights with pts were refundable.

Depends on whose points you're using and how early you cancel it. Delta refunds all points flights cancelled before take off, just like SW. I believe AA and UA have followed suit. There used to be a 30 day requirement on at least one of them.

 

[Nick6300]

The mediation is ongoing. June 29 is when the pilot's union applied for release from mediation, 8/3 the mediation board denied the release. There will be big stories if and when the mediation board releases the union, that will start the 30 day clock. The President can convene a Presidential Emergency Board at any time during the 30 day cooling off period, this gives the board 30 days to review the situation and make their recommendation and then another 30 day cooling off period. There are some requirements that are supposed to be met for a PEB to be convened but it could be done if the President wished it.

Depends on whose points you're using and how early you cancel it. Delta refunds all points flights cancelled before take off, just like SW. I believe AA and UA have followed suit. There used to be a 30 requirement on at least one of them.

Thank you! this helps a lot