Delta and Pilots reach tentative agreement

[jmatias]

Good news for me and my skymiles


http://news.delta.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=10184

Aloha,
Jen

 

[dougp26364]

Keep in mind this is a "tentative" agreement. The pilots still have to vote and this deal can still be torpedoed. However it is a very hopeful situation for everyone involved. It almost makes me willing to book a Delta flight again. Almost but not quite yet.

 

[RayH]

Does anyone know what happens to ticketed passengers if Delta pilots reject the tentative agreement? If the pilots strike or the company goes under before my flight, am I stuck holding a worthless piece of paper? I’m thinking of buying a ticket to Key West for October (Delta has the lowest fare).

 

[Dave M]

It's not clear what happens.

If you use a credit card and DL goes under within 60 days after the credit card company mails you the statement with the ticket charge on it, you should be able to successfully protest the charge (because you won't get the promised travel).

If that's not applicable, the current law (now extended to November 30, 2006) requires other airline serving the same route to transport you for a charge of not more than $100, if (and that's a big if in these days of full planes) the other airline has space available. To take advantage of this law, you'll probably have to plan your DL trip through Tampa or Orlando, the only connecting cities to Key West that have both DL and other airline flights.

However, it's probably considerably more likely than ont that either the pilots will ratify the proposed contract or sdome other resolution will be found before DL tanks.

 

[Dave M]

The Delta pilots' vote is scheduled to be completed by May 31. Thus, any tickets for travel on DL between now and then should be okay.

 

[3kids4me]

Hmm...I just charged a Delta flight, so I guess my statement will be coming within 60 days of May 31st. I guess that makes me feel a little better!

Sharon

 

[gidat1]

Question for DaveM...

What if you have booked on Delta for Dec '06 through Hotwire.com? Tickets were paid more than 60 days back. Would Hotwire ( or Expedia, Travelocity) refund or make any other arrangments?

Phil

 

[Dave M]

Probably not.

December is beyond the date when the law requiring other airlines to honor your ticket expires. And, as you allude to, you'll be well beyond the date for claiming a refund from your credit card company.

Hotwire (or another travel agency) is only an agent for Delta. Hotwire doesn't - nor should it be expected to - guarantee that the airline will honor the ticket.

However, I wouldn't worry much. The union leadership negotiated a new contract with Delta, assuming the rank and file would ratify it. Late last week, the union's governing council voted 12-1 (or thereabouts) in favor of the new pact, recommending that the pilots approve it. It's likely that they will. Even if they don't, that doesn't mean the end for Delta. It's likely that there would be a new round of bargaining.

I would bet a lot of money that Delta will still be flying in December and well beyond.

Caveat: I'm not an expert and could be wrong. But I have studied the historical events surrounding airline labor strife. Anything could happen. But the end of an airline due to a union strike would be something new and something no one wants.

 

[Carolinian]

The unions brought down Eastern Airlines, my first carrier of choice, with their ''full pay to the last day'' attitude.

Probably not.

December is beyond the date when the law requiring other airlines to honor your ticket expires. And, as you allude to, you'll be well beyond the date for claiming a refund from your credit card company.

Hotwire (or another travel agency) is only an agent for Delta. Hotwire doesn't - nor should it be expected to - guarantee that the airline will honor the ticket.

However, I wouldn't worry much. The union leadership negotiated a new contract with Delta, assuming the rank and file would ratify it. Late last week, the union's governing council voted 12-1 (or thereabouts) in favor of the new pact, recommending that the pilots approve it. It's likely that they will. Even if they don't, that doesn't mean the end for Delta. It's likely that there would be a new round of bargaining.

I would bet a lot of money that Delta will still be flying in December and well beyond.

Caveat: I'm not an expert and could be wrong. But I have studied the historical events surrounding airline labor strife. Anything could happen. But the end of an airline due to a union strike would be something new and something no one wants.

 

[Dave M]

Eastern had many more problems than its unions. The unions had a part in sending Eastern into bankruptcy, just as has been the case in most of the recent airline bankruptcies. But the unions weren't the primary cause of the eventual demise of Eastern. See, for example, the last paragraph at this link.