What to do if NWA really strikes?

[aaronlisar]

I'm getting a little concerned about our flight back to Grand Rapids, MI from MCO on 8-20. NWA and the union is supposed to be meeting again today but I'm at a loss as to what I would do if they actually strike and the flight is grounded. Yeah sure they have said that the flights will fly but this also just seems to be a ploy by the management to keep peoples reservations. I've read local articles here where travel agents are suggesting that their customers seriously consider purchasing tickets on another airline for just in case. My big problem is that we had to budget away our money in order to go on this vacation and I don't have room enough in the budget to purchase another ticket to fly home. If our flight doesnt leave on 8-20 I don't know how we will get home and due to recent changes with my wifes job, I don't think we could even afford another night in Orlando. This is all very worrysome but on the bright side we do fly out on Saturday for a wonderful week in Disney.

 

[LilyLake]

I feel your pain. We leave this Saturday, too. And we're scheduled to return on the 20th. I keep hearing lots of "helpful" advice from TA's about considering other airlines,... but they're not helpful if you've already purchased your tickets.

I'm interested in hearing some advice, too. We'll have 3 kids with and I'm not looking forward to spending hours at the airport not knowing what to do.

 

[zulaya]

Here's hoping you are worried for naught...and that I'm in good shape come October.

 

[mainelyj]

I thought I read in USA Today, that Northwest is prepared with 1000 reserve workers if there is a strike.

 

[CarolA]

OK. If they strike, first call the airline. If they decide to play nice and cancel the flight EARLY then they will work with you on a rebooking. (Call as SOON as you hear the strike has happened) However, my past experience with airlines having labor problems is they won't rebook you until the last minute.

Two, if they strike and NW does not rebook you over the phone get to the airport EARLY.... The two hour rule should be doubled in cases like this. Prepare to stand in the line from you know where! Because even if they cancel just a few flights it's going to be crazy.

A few things in your favor. I am not sure NW has a huge mechanic base in Orlando. It's possible that they use a contract service there and in that case the contract service may just keep going.

The concern I would have is that NW is trying to bluff this out. That means they will wait until the LAST possible second to confess that they are NOT going to fly this flight.

If your flight gets cancelled are you willing to break up the family unit? If so, when you do get to an agent tell them that wife needs to get home so she doesn't lose her job and you will sepearte. It might be easier to get just one person rebooked on the 20th.

Good luck

This is the USA Today article from this morning. Personally, I don't think it sounds hopeful since the airline has now managed to upset the pilots and "replacement Flight Attendants" never pick up the slack!

Northwest prepares for mechanics strike
By Dan Reed, USA TODAY
Management at Northwest Airlines is stepping up its campaign to convince the public and its unionized workers that it will continue operating even if its mechanics strike on Aug. 20.
After months of refusing to talk to the news media, CEO Douglas Steenland and other Northwest senior executives will meet with reporters today at company headquarters in Eagan, Minn.

They'll explain again why the carrier desperately needs $1.1 billion in annual labor cost savings and outline plans for uninterrupted flights during a possible strike.

The news conference is part of an aggressive communications strategy with two apparent aims — scaring members of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association into accepting management's contract offer and reassuring the public that Northwest will continue to operate fully and safely, even during a strike.

Talks between the airline and its mechanics reached an impasse last month, and federal labor law permits a strike — or a lockout — at 12:01 a.m. Aug. 20.

In other strike preparations this week, the USA's No. 4 carrier:

• Began moving trained replacement mechanics into position for deployment if there is a strike.

• Continued to train replacement flight attendants to be used if that union honors the mechanics' picket line.

• Operated one flight on Wednesday using a charter carrier and left open the possibility of doing it again.

• Moved up a lighter autumn schedule to coincide with the possible strike. Normally, that happens after Labor Day.

• Discussed with bus companies the possibility of carrying passengers on short routes where flights may be disrupted.

Management says that without $176 million in annual cost savings from the mechanics, the airline is headed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

To achieve those savings, Northwest plans to eliminate 53% of the 4,500 mechanics jobs at Northwest and cut the pay and benefits of those who remain by 26%. In bankruptcy, cuts could be deeper.

Leaders of AMFA say management's confidence that Northwest can continue to operate is weakening.

Steve MacFarlane, AMFA's assistant national director, said many of the contingency plans by management betray management doubt about the ability to keep flying.

"If they're so confident, why are they lining up bus companies to transport passengers on shorter routes? If they're so confident, why are they moving up the fall schedule change?" MacFarlane said.

On Wednesday, Champion Air, a Bloomington, Minn.-based charter operator with 16 planes, operated one round trip between Northwest's Detroit hub and Dallas/Fort Worth Airport. Champion used one of its own planes and its own crew members to operate Northwest Flight 705.

Mark McClain, a Northwest captain and head of the Air Line Pilots Association unit there, called the so-called wet lease flight by Champion "a flagrant and outrageous violation of our contract." He said he phoned Steenland Wednesday morning and spoke for 20 minutes. He later filed a grievance under procedures outlined in the pilots' contract.

McClain said Steenland told him that the contracting out of flights to charter companies is being reviewed but did not rule out Champion flying a route again."

 

[Lewisc]

Carol--Sure sounds like they're trying to "bluff" it out. Relying on a charter airline with 16 planes. Buses. I agree last minute cancellations will be the big problem.

Your advice is sound. Decide in advance if you can split your family. Have a cell phone with the phone number of airlines that fly your route programmed in. Decide what's more important waiting for NW to get you to your destination for the price you paid or waiting for a refund and booking another airline like SW, possibly for a higher price than you paid. It's unlikely SW will honor your NW tickets or fare but they might offer some discounted fares to distressed passengers.

 

[PlutoPony]

If it's crucial that you get back home on the 20th or 21st, I would look at airline schedules now to see where else you can depart from and get back home easily, just as a back-up. Especially look for flights late in the day if your NW flight is in the a.m. - it may take a while to get alternatives worked out. Are there direct flights from say Tampa home? Or could you fly into Detroit in a pinch? Try to have other options in mind that might work for you, don't wait for the airline to come up with other ideas..... Good luck - doing this homework in advance may give you a real advantage over those who haven't.

 

[Disneyjosh229]

OK. If they strike, first call the airline. If they decide to play nice and cancel the flight EARLY then they will work with you on a rebooking. (Call as SOON as you hear the strike has happened) However, my past experience with airlines having labor problems is they won't rebook ."

IF they mechanics can't reach an agreement by the 20th, planes will still fly and the world will still spin!! A Mechanic is a Mechanic, there are tons of contractors that would be more then willing to take over NWA maintannce for a few weeks (or months). I would be EXTREMLY suprised if more then 10 flights were cancelled on the 20th. An Aircraft can fly 25 flights (or more) before it needs the work of a mechanic, so I wouldn't be too worried. In the unlikly event that your flight does get cancelled, Im sure they will take care of you and get you and your family to MCO as soon as possible.

 

[CarolA]

I think the bigger risk for the 20th is the pilots and flight attendants honoring the pickets. And NW appears to have angered both of those groups and to have concerns if they are "hiring" replacements. However, it's not that easy... I can't just show up and be a Flight Attendant. I have to be certified and I have to be certified on the plane type being flown. Same thing with pilots so....

I don't think NW's actions are helping. Hiring the charter line is just going to make the pilots and flight attendants unions furious....


And that's the part NW will be hoping goes ok. So.. they will wait until the VERY last second to "discover" they have no Flight Attendants! (I have seen this one before!)

 

[Disneyjosh229]

Carola,

What airlines do you work for? Im guessing SW being out of BNA, but I might be wrong

 

[Brian Noble]

I'm with y'all: I have a flight to the beach on 8/19, and returning 8/26. It will be interesting to see how it plays.

I think the bigger risk for the 20th is the pilots and flight attendants honoring the pickets

I think this is the issue. If it is just the mechanics, the planes will mostly fly---NW is prepared for that. If the FAs honor the picket, the airline is close to grounded---NWA has 9000 FAs, and the 1000 replacements they have (a) aren't fully trained (unlike the replacement mechanics) and (b) won't cut the mustard except on the most profitable (ocean-hopping) routes. If the pilots honor the picket, then they may as well just close up shop---I am not aware of any replacement pilots in the wings.

If I were a betting man: I'd place a bet that the mechanics are definitely going to strike. The two sides are no where near an agreement. I'd lay good odds (90-10) that the pilots *won't* honor the picket line---they've already agreed to significant cuts, and think the other two unions should follow suit. I'd say its about 60-40 that the FAs *won't* honor the picket; they've been told by their union that their contract allows NW to replace them if they honor the picket. On the other hand, the FAs face the same sort of new contract proposal that the mechanics do---significant layoffs, and 25% pay cuts for the remainder. That might just be enough to push them over the edge.

As for what to do: If you already have trip insurance, call their help line *now* to see what they will do for you in the event of a strike that (a) stops the airline completely (most will pay for one-way tickets in the same class of service as your canceled flight) or (b) cancels/significantly delays your flight (generally less generous). If you don't have trip insurance, see if there is any company that will still sell you a policy that will cover this. Be very careful: some policies consider the declaration of impasse to be a "strike announcement" and won't pay no matter what. Other policies don't consider impass to be an announcement, because the strike might still not happen. You'll want to call the company underwriting the policy you are considering before committing.

If your insurance will cover a flight, know in advance what your flight options will be, and be ready to call the *instant* the conditions for reimbursement are met. On some policies, that's grounded for 24 or 48 consecutive hours, so those of you flying on the 20th may not be able to do anything right away. However, calling another airline directly and letting the insurance company sort it out later may get you home faster than letting NWA try to rebook you.

If you absolutely, positively, must get somewhere (i.e. you'll lose your job, miss your wedding, what-have-you) then you should buy a fully refundable ticket as a backup RIGHT NOW. Don't wait, because if NW starts cancelling flights, other flights will get full in a hurry. If you don't need it, no problem---you'll get your money back. If you do need it, you'll have it. It won't be reimbursed by NWA, and may not even be covered by applicable insurance, but you won't lose your job/marriage.

 

[CarolA]

Carola,

What airlines do you work for? Im guessing SW being out of BNA, but I might be wrong

None of them! I don't think I could take it. However, I fly A LOT on business and had family members in the business (all long retired)

(I am actually out of Atlanta now and miss SW)

I got a lot of strike experience during the AA fisasco several years ago. AA's Flight Attendants went on strike and management had a plan... Yeah.. first you fly the plane to Nashville and "hope" some attendants show up. Then RIGHT at time to leave you announce that you can't fly and the plane takes off to Dallas to see if it can find attendants there. This had the great impact of allowing the Delta flight to take off half an hour before so didn't have to write us over there... It was a NIGHTMARE!!!!

So even if the planes fly... that doesn't mean passengers get to board.


I spent some time on www.flyertalk.com this morning. There is a thread there that some NW Attendants have posted on. The attendants are currently voting on honoring the strike. No results will be known until the 19th.

My fear is the "wet lease" of Champion flights is just going to make folks mad. I seem to recall that Flight Attendants don't get paid unless the plane flies... So if NW uses this company then the folks working the replaced flight are not going to get a check... THat is not going to go over well. (It wouldn't go over well with me at least!)

 

[Loriannf]

Just a suggestion, I know it's a long trip, but think about reserving a car just in case. It might be better to drive than wait in the airport 8 -10 hours wondering if they're going to rebook, or whatever.

We fly into and out of Detroit a lot, especially in fall/winter so we always have a back up plan. We've been diverted to Columbus, rented a car, and arrived back in Toledo hours, sometimes a full day, before the "scheduled" flight arrives. Renting a car is certainly cheaper than buying "just in case" tickets.

Lori

 

[CarolA]

I did notice NWA backed down on the "wet lease" of the planes from the charter company. So that was a good sign on thier part.

However, they keep announcing that they have 1,500 mechanics in reserve and 1,000 flight attendants. A few thoughts.... they currently have 4,000 mechanics and something like 9,000 flight attendants... the math doesn't add up LOL!

 

[Disneyjosh229]

I did notice NWA backed down on the "wet lease" of the planes from the charter company. So that was a good sign on thier part.

However, they keep announcing that they have 1,500 mechanics in reserve and 1,000 flight attendants. A few thoughts.... they currently have 4,000 mechanics and something like 9,000 flight attendants... the math doesn't add up LOL!

The 20th is going to be a very interesting day in the aviaton community!!

 

[CarolA]

The 20th is going to be a very interesting day in the aviaton community!!

I'm with you... there are two possible outcomes

1. The general public notices nothing and just keeps flying

2.... CHOAS breaks out (and not the FA brand!)

Lucky for me I am not flying that day!

 

[Skroops]

I'm thinking this labor dispute is about to get ugly. Or should I say uglier! 1000 scab flight attendants can't keep the airline running its full schedule. The pilots are more likely to cross the picket line. Unforunately, MCO isn't one of the highest revenue routes. It is possible that the other NWA unions will not honor the picket line, but it looks unlikey because of the way they have been treated by NWA recently. As CarolA mentioned, we won't find out the way the flight attendants vote until Aug.19th. Either way this labor dispute goes, it looks like NWA has been threatening bancruptcy to bust the unions. That should happen in October before the new bancruptcy laws come into effect. Anyone notice the executive NWA share dumping? Interesting.

 

[Disneyjosh229]

The pilots are more likely to cross the picket line.

I beg to differ. The pilots have allready been through there "cost cutting" process. They've given up 25% of their benefits and 8% of there salary. There would be no logical reason for the pilots to go on strike (total breach of contract). The only reason why FA's are thinking about joining the mechanic's is because there next in the quest to lower overhead. If anyone in the airline industry deserves a raise, its the FA's. They do everything and there the least paid of the 3.