NWA flight attendent possible strike this month?

[jengelbrecht]

Anyone have any thoughts on this?
We are booked on NWA for out trip in mid-Sept. and hoping we won't be scrambling at the last minute to get another flight.

 

[hercamore]

dang it all!. I heard this on the news last night.

I am flying out of SE minn...my only airline choices are NW and AA. I haven't flown since 12/04, but just last week made a NW res to Pensacola, Fl to visit my DD on 8/21. We are flying down to Orlando from Pensacola, too, but that's on Delta, thankfully.


herc

 

[Julylady]

We are flying NWA on Sept 22 and Sept 29. I am hoping that whatever happens has happened and is resolved by then!

 

[kjs1976]

We're flying 8/20-23....dang it all! First, I play this game with Delta in April with the pilots possibly striking days after our Vegas trip, then in June when we took students to DC, and now with NWA.....AGAIN?????????????

Anyone have any ideas on how a strike with flight attendants would impact flights? Anyone have any anticipated strike dates? I heard this morning on the news that they would have a 15 day cooling off period after a strike was announced.

 

[dudspizza]

Not sure how it would affect flights, but my guess is that is it would cripple them unless there are line crossers.

The news reported last night that most NWA flight attendants make $16,000-$32,000 a year. These folks are not getting rich on the airline, that is for sure.

Hey Hercamore, flying from Rochester? Did you end up having to fly to MSP first or did you get a flight to Detroit from Rochester?

Duds

 

[jengelbrecht]

The NWA flight attendants have set a strike date of August 15. According to the Detroit Free Press, they will be ready to strike the 15th with a series of short walk-outs targeting certain cities or flights, or a massive walkout.

Hopefully negotiations will continue and this is resolved before then. Let's all keep our fingers crossed.

 

[Cameo]

Oh, I'm just sick over this. NWA is my ONLY option for flying out of our North Dakota airport. I have a training class scheduled in Orlando and was going to make it a surprise trip to Cocoa Beach and WDW. Now I don't know what will happen. My training class is non-refundable ($1000 out of my own pocket since I am self-employed), not to mention the cost of all the tickets and all the vacation plans. I could just cry! I hope they get this all resolved before mid-month.

 

[jengelbrecht]

That's terrible, Cameo! Shame on me, I was upset and my ticket was only $117 round trip! Of course there are 4 of us, but still WAY less than what you're paying.
I wonder what the airlines' policy is on refunds in the event of a strike. I guess we'd better read up on that!

 

[Cameo]

I don't know if it helps but I just sent NWA an e-mail expressing my frustration and asking questions like, "Will I get my non-refundable airline ticket refunding in the event of a strike?," "Will you work with my other vacation entities to see if they will waive fees because of your employees striking?," "Will you waive the fee to redeposit frequent flier miles?"

My airline ticket was $535 out of Bismarck. My three family members are on frequent flier tickets but you also have to pay a fee to have that redeposited. (Thank goodness I didn't pay for those tickets, though. Then I would probably literally be physically ill about now.) Plus there will be a cancellation fee at WDW for the package and at the Cocoa Beach hotel we were going to stay at.

I hope all my worry is for naught and that everything is worked out. Please, please, please!!!!

 

[ducklite]

Cameo--

United and Continental both fly out of Bismark to Orlando. They should have no problem taking your ticket (as long as you've got an actual ticket) and flying you to Orlando.

Your family flying on FF tickets might not be accomodated.

But at least you would still be able to attend the conference.

Anne

 

[hercamore]

jenglebrecht, where did you read about the 8/15 date?

Man, this really is the pits!

Duds, I'm flying RST/MSP/MEM/Pns

I could have flown into DTW, but I prefer MSP to the Detriot airport.

Can anyone advise me here, should they strike, do I just call american and see if they'll take the ticket. what's the timeframe on that?

cameo, let us know what NW responds to your email. HOpe it's good news.

herc.

 

[jengelbrecht]

Hercamore, I read this in the Detroit Free Press (freep.com). Guess we have a few weeks to ponder this announcement. I'll be anxious to hear more.

 

[jodifla]

Rumor mill in Michigan says that NWA is ready for a strike if the flight attendants walk.

NWA apparently starts squirreling away out of work flight attendants in hotel rooms, just like they did with the mechanics.

 

[antmaril]

I'm very worried about this too. I am going to Vegas with girlfriends in early September on NW and we've purchased over $600 in show tickets. We could probably rebook the flights and Bellagio, but those show tickets are no exchange or refund. It is a big problem.

I hope they settle!

 

[jengelbrecht]

That's what I've heard, too. Hubby's friend works for NWA and said he heard replacements are already lined up. Only a rumor, though...so take it with a grain of salt. It wouldn't surprise me though, the mechanics were replaced during the strike, why not flight attendants, too?

 

[pugdog]

Everyone thought the machanics strike would cripple the airline, not the case. So who says that they won't do the same thing with the FA and keep flying. Unions just don't have the power or clout that they used to have.
What ever happens I hope it's solved soon, I'm flying NWA to LAS in september and the world in december.

 

[CarolA]

I don't know if it helps but I just sent NWA an e-mail expressing my frustration and asking questions like, "Will I get my non-refundable airline ticket refunding in the event of a strike?," "Will you work with my other vacation entities to see if they will waive fees because of your employees striking?," "Will you waive the fee to redeposit frequent flier miles?"

:

And you will get a response that says something like "you will be fine we won't strike"

Right now the rank and file who deal with these type of emails know just as much as you and I do. All you can do is sit and wait.

(And no, they won'r work with other vacation entities, they won't have time!)

Should they strike, you then get the next step... trying to get it resolved. so when they strike they cancel that DAY'S flights not the next day. So if they strike on Monday and you are flying on Tuesday after you call and wait an hour on line you may still get told "your flight hasn't been cancelled" If your flight is a WEEK later you will get told that.

Actually what is more dangerous is the "CHAOS" theory. That's the random strike.. Folks on flyertalk are saying that's whats going to happen. Who knows?

 

[DebbieB]

Yikes! I'm flying PIT/MSP on 8/14 on Northwest, returning 8/18. I can get there, but it might be a long road back...............

 

[DisMN]

Tonites news out of Duluth had some info. Sounds like Aug 15th is the deadline BUT they said that there are plans in the works to have mini strikes here and there. Not sure but I think that's what CarolA was talking about.
The news said that what would happen is that without any prior notice FA's would simply not be on a flight, very spur of the moment.

Don't have a clue how this is all gonna play out for folks. Good luck to those of you with flights in the next month or two.


.

 

[antmaril]

The CHAOS plan is what's scary. Even if they have replacements lined up, NW won't know where they will be needed. They will strike randomly. Not an easy fix - and the flight attendants know that, obviously.

It's going to get interesting folks. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.