JUDGE HAS RULED -- NW Flight Attendants Can Strike!!

[antmaril]

A bankruptcy judge in NY ruled today that the NW Flight Attendants can strike. The strike date is August 25th at 10:01 p.m.

NW hasn't announced any contingency plan, but encourages the public to continue to book flights on NW with confidence.

I saw this on our local news here in Detroit. I don't know how to insert a link.

 

[ducklite]

I hope they can get this resolved, there will be a lot of miserable travelers out there otherwise...

Anne

 

[PlutoPony]

Not to nitpick, but didn't the judge ruled he has no authority to make a decision on whether they can strike? He's a bankruptcy court judge and as I understand it, there's nothing in the federal bankruptcy code that can be used to prohibit a strike. Very possible the NW will ask another court, i.e. non-bankruptcy, to rule on this but that's as far as I'm willing to speculate. Hope both sides go back to the bargaining table FAST, don't think NW has any chance of weathering a strike.

 

[disneymom3]

I would honestly prefer they do a full strike instead of the wildcat thing. That way they can be replaced and I will have no problem crossing that picket line.

 

[pugdog]

I'm with you Disneymom.
As the saying goes #$^% or get off the pot.
NWA FA let me get on with planning my trip and stop screwing with us. You all know a strike means unempolyment if not NWA totally going under.

 

[CarolA]

I would honestly prefer they do a full strike instead of the wildcat thing. That way they can be replaced and I will have no problem crossing that picket line.

Replaced with who??? Sorry, this one is going to be harder for NW to overcome then the mechanics strike. There are "outsoucing" companies for airline repairs. I have never heard of an outsouced FA.

 

[DisMN]

Replaced with who??? Sorry, this one is going to be harder for NW to overcome then the mechanics strike. There are "outsoucing" companies for airline repairs. I have never heard of an outsouced FA.

I agree.

I also think this simply puts NW on a fast track to their ultimate demise, sad to say.


.

 

[matt&jakesmom]

We fly out on the 28th and hope there are no problems. If they do strike my family and I will be crossing.

 

[ducklite]

We fly out on the 28th and hope there are no problems. If they do strike my family and I will be crossing.

Crossing what? If there are no flight attendants--or not enough--the planes will be grounded. FAA rules specify the number of FA's per passenger, and the flight is a no-go if they can't meet that number. Now if they had a limited number of FA's they *might* fly half full planes and bump enough pax to make them legal, but that would probably cost more than not flying at all, so I don't know what they'll do.

Anne

 

[hercamore]

i hope this issue gets resolved quickly for everyhone's sake.

I fly NW this Monday to Pensacola and fly out of Orlando on 9/2. Should be interesting.

herc.

 

[CarolA]

Crossing what? If there are no flight attendants--or not enough--the planes will be grounded. FAA rules specify the number of FA's per passenger, and the flight is a no-go if they can't meet that number. Now if they had a limited number of FA's they *might* fly half full planes and bump enough pax to make them legal, but that would probably cost more than not flying at all, so I don't know what they'll do.

Anne

American tried this method during a strike years ago. Talk ABOUT a DISASTER. On the "hope" that FAs would show up they wouldn't cancel the flight until AFTER it was suppose to have left. It was just crazy, they had no idea what to do and since they refused to plan ahead every time they cancelled they were behind trying to book you on another airline.....

 

[disneymom3]

Replaced with who??? Sorry, this one is going to be harder for NW to overcome then the mechanics strike. There are "outsoucing" companies for airline repairs. I have never heard of an outsouced FA.

According to BIL who is a pilot(not for NWA) rumor in the industry has it that there are flight attendants who are waiting in the wings, so to speak which is WHY they are planning this CHAOS style strike. As for where they would come from, I suppose from other cutbacks etc. I truly don't know but it seems like just overall it would be a lot easier to plan for a traditional strike. I am sure that is the motivation behind it.

It is a hard situation all around. We flew on American when they did this a few years ago and while our FAs were very late, they did come. I am just really glad that come Sept, I am NOT flying with my kids but just DH adn I.

 

[CarolA]

According to BIL who is a pilot(not for NWA) rumor in the industry has it that there are flight attendants who are waiting in the wings, so to speak which is WHY they are planning this CHAOS style strike. As for where they would come from, I suppose from other cutbacks etc. I truly don't know but it seems like just overall it would be a lot easier to plan for a traditional strike. I am sure that is the motivation behind it.

It is a hard situation all around. We flew on American when they did this a few years ago and while our FAs were very late, they did come. I am just really glad that come Sept, I am NOT flying with my kids but just DH adn I.

There are a lot of FAs who have lost thier jobs over the past few years, but.... Most of them should have jobs and for what NW wants to pay I wouldn't quit my current day job LOL! Also, just like pilots you have to be trained on that plane... I just don't see a "quick" response here and NW can't afford much down time.

For good info and a lot more rumors...

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=497


And to really make you worry...

http://www.nwaafa.org/

 

[maxiesmom]

In the past, how long have the strikes gone on? I am flying Northwest in October, and getting a little worried. How long could Northwest survive such a strike?

 

[CarolA]

In the past, how long have the strikes gone on? I am flying Northwest in October, and getting a little worried. How long could Northwest survive such a strike?

NW is in Chapter 11 bankruptcy. While I have not followed this closely I know that earlier this year when DL pilots were threatening to strike the feeling was 24 to 48 hours was the most they could withstand. The theory was that the creditors would pull the plug then. NW may have more cash, but not that much more or they wouldn't be in bankruptcy.

 

[maxiesmom]

So do you think it would be wise to buy tickets on a different airline? Or wait until August 28 maybe?

 

[ReneeA]

CRAP! We are supposed to be flying out of Detroit Metro at 7am on Aug 27.

I don't suppose I can hope for some sort of resolution before then.

 

[CarolA]

Actually, I think there is hope for a resolution....

EVERYONE has to know that this will not have a good outcome so keep your fingers crossed.

As to buying tickets on another airline. The problem is that UNLESS NW goes out of business you aren't getting the original ticket price refunded. Even if they go on strike , what they want to do is write you over to another airline not refund you. I would hold off on that.

 

[DebbieB]

I didn't have good experiences this week with Northwest.

On Monday, I flew PIT-MSP. Our flight was delayed 30 minutes due to crew rest time. So we get on and taxi out, then come back to the gate, mechanical problem with the air conditioning unit (smoking). Ended up being 1 hr 45 min late.

Today, I flew MSP-DTW-PIT. I had to connect because the non-stops were over $700, my boss would flip. So I took the connection for $500+. Their fares are outrageous. My flight from MSP to DTW was delayed due to a mechancial problem with the emergency brake. So they put me on a different plane to DTW leaving a couple gates down. Get to DTW, connection leaves on time. Go to get my luggage - didn't show up. It was on the original delayed flight. Baggage services looks it up and says it is going to be on the next flight coming into PIT from DTW. Almost 2 hours later, my luggage finally arrives (I guess I was lucky that it did show up tonight).

This isn't the first time I've had problems with NWA and their ancient DC-9's. I just wish there was a decent alternative PIT-MSP because I fly there alot.

Worst part - I have to fly back next week! Both of those flights are Canadair regional jets. Hopefully they will be in better shape than the DC-9's. Luckily I'm flying home Wednesday, before "chaos". This was a last minute trip (booked last weekend), fare is $869!

 

[Martha7]

Good luck, Debbie B! My Dh also has upcoming flights booked on NWA. We've just moved from the Detroit area to Minneapolis, so we're still stuck with "Northworst"! I thought my Dh should make alternate reservations on anther airline for his trip to Phoenix on the 27th, but I don't think he has.