Anyone worried about Northwest???

[Pinnie]

Okay, I am not sure I understand this whole strike business, if the vote on 2/16 is for a strike then does the strike go into effect right away? Or does it take a few weeks or months to actually get everything organized? This whole strike business has me stressing out and I am wondering if I should think about looking into alternative airfare even though it will cost me over a 1000.00 for new airfare. I do not want to have to cancel this trip, I have looked forward to it for two years now and the thought of having it cancelled due to an airline strike is making me ill. I have to much money already invested into this trip.

The strike voting process will take about 15 days. Votes will be counted on the 28th and then they could decide to enter into a "cooling off period".

I don't remember where I read it (Here? Flyertalk?) but someone stated that the airline industry could survive very well on one less major legacy carrier.

pinnie

 

[vfb2girls]

Well maybe the airline business could survive on one less airline but if NWA would go out of business that would be devastating to our side on the country since we have such limited airline service as it is. United would be the only major airline going out of our airport and I hate flying United, someone mentioned that NWA had bad customer service, well from the few times I have flew United I had horrible service and my complaints fell on deaf ears, where as NWA has been great for dealing with some of my concerns. I guess the only thing I can do is sit back and wait and hope for the best.

 

[petrymom]

vfb2girls -
Ijust wanted you to know I feel the same for you. Northwest is very big in the nidwest. They are by far the best airlines for us to use for non-stop flights to Florida. (maybe the only one). I want badly to book for our Christmas trip this year, but am afraid that I will end up losing the $1000 it will cost for the 4 of us to fly. What a bummer. Well, let's keep our fingers crossed.

 

[Keebles]

vfb2girls -
Ijust wanted you to know I feel the same for you. Northwest is very big in the nidwest. They are by far the best airlines for us to use for non-stop flights to Florida. (maybe the only one). I want badly to book for our Christmas trip this year, but am afraid that I will end up losing the $1000 it will cost for the 4 of us to fly. What a bummer. Well, let's keep our fingers crossed.

I've never flown Northwest before, but I'm also counting on it for my December trip. I haven't booked yet either though...waiting for the dust to settle first.

 

[goofysk8]

Our trip is 3/28-4/6. Hopefully whatever happens will be done and settled before then.

 

[vicb]

My trip is 2/27-3/6. I am so glad I can atleast get to WDW before they announce the results of the strike vote. I figure once there we'll manage to get home if a strike occurs.

Something else to think about is the fact that flight attendents are also voting on a stike situation, I don't remember the exact dates but they are similar to the pilots union, maybe a week or so behind.

NW is a mess. I hope it all works out as we are very dependent on them flying anywhere non-stop out of DTW.

 

[Pinnie]

My trip is 2/27-3/6. I am so glad I can atleast get to WDW before they announce the results of the strike vote. I figure once there we'll manage to get home if a strike occurs.

Something else to think about is the fact that flight attendents are also voting on a stike situation, I don't remember the exact dates but they are similar to the pilots union, maybe a week or so behind.

NW is a mess. I hope it all works out as we are very dependent on them flying anywhere non-stop out of DTW.

I fly out of DTW and I have found that SWA, SPIRIT and now AIR TRAN can be much better than NWA! Only drawback to those airlines is they use the old Smith Terminal, but they are flying!!!

pinnie

 

[ppony]

Honestly I am tired of NWA, not the people that WORK there but the people running it. Yes, hard to separate the two and dissing the airline to stick it to the execs hurts the workers BUT I have my feelings on it. And there IS another alternative out of MSP for those leaving from here and they are local as well and need support. Duds knows! I'm booking on Sun Country as soon as they put their dates up for availability. (I am not sure about other midwest airports, just speaking for Minnesota) So far they are only bookable to the end of Sept. But they told me the dates will be released in the next month or so. No confirmed dates yet and I'm getting trigger happy but I'm so steadfast against NWA now I won't bend. I hear lots of good about flying SC too so I'm excited!

 

[vfb2girls]

I would love to be able to book some other ailine besides NWA, but for us making that 8 hour plus drive to the airport to catch SunCountry or any other airline would not make much sense, and like I said before United just does not have the best schedule when it comes to flying into MCO and they are usually a lot higher then NWA, so for now we are stuck with whatever NWA dishes out to us. The whole thing really puts a damper on the trip planning,it is hard to even think about pulling out the suitcases and trying to pack them knowing that there could be a strong possibility that we will have to cancel our trip due to a strike.

 

[Magical JenK]

The one issue I have w/SC out of MSP is the lack of flight times. With NWA you have a few options to go to MCO...w/SC it seems very limited (at least for the dates I'm picking).

 

[vicb]

Here is an interesting development in the potential strike situation.


February 16, 2006

Email this Print this BY JUSTIN HYDE

FREE PRESS WASHINGTON BUREAU
Northwest Airlines and unions representing its pilots and flight attendants agreed on Thursday to continue talks over Northwests demands to throw out its union contracts.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Allan Gropper had been scheduled to rule Friday on whether Northwest would be allowed to void its contracts, a move the unions had said could lead to a strike. In an order released today, Gropper said all sides had agreed to a one-week extension to Feb. 24 as talks continued.

Northwest, the fourth-largest U.S. airline, has said it needs $1.4 billion in labor cost cuts to successfully emerge from bankruptcy.

 

[disneymom3]

Well, I may be in the minority but I am pretty confident that NWA is going under. $1.4 billion in labor cuts. Uhhh, yeah, right. So, how many millions are their management and execs willing to give up?

All that I have heard is that if the pilots strike, Northwest will go under in three days. If NWA has to keep to their current contracts they still have a very limited time. Personally, if the bankruptcy judge decides that they can abandon their contracts AND that the pilots cannot strike, there is no way I would want to be flying on that airline.

Within the industry there is strong feeling that the market overall will be healthier and stronger with one less airline. (My BIL is a high up there Delta guy.) Other airlines would come in and cover those routes because the demand for travel is still going to be there. I just can't see NWA pulling out of this one.

Just this last week we had to fly from MSP to LAX to go to my mother's funeral. First I called Northwest for their bereavement fares. Holy buckets, don't know what is special about those! It was almost $900 for DH who could not fly over a Sat. Then I called SunCountry--$225 RT not including a Sat night stay! We went with SC and while as someone pointed out, the flight times were less than desirable, it still saved me $1200 and that is worth a bit of inconvenience. Plus, their customer service is so many miles higher it is unbeleivable, and for $75 each we can upgrade to first class, which DD and I are doing on the way home.

 

[LynnTH]

We too are leaving on the 24th and coming back on March 4th by NWA. Usually, I do like to book SunCountry ( I enjoy flying with them). But, I booked way back last summer and I had 2 Frequent Flyer tickets I wanted to use up as I didn't know where the airline was headed. So, of course the week we are to be in Disney is the week they decide weather to strike or not. Hopefully, we will get back just fine (although I can think of worse things than being stuck in Florida)

 

[Rock'n Robin]

Well I've said it before...if they go under I hope they do it fast so I can get my CC $ back and book another flight on another carrier and still be able to get decent times. I hate having something "settled" and then having to worry about it. Hope the extension means they realize that if they don't settle, their jobs could be gone...better a pay cut than no job at all! (and yes I realize the execs make too much...but they won't suffer no matter what happens)
Robin M.