Delta Pilots Authorize Strike

CNN reports that Delta’s pilots union has voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike in the event that a three person arbitration panel grants the airline’s request to void the pilot’s contract and unilaterally impose a pay cut.

The article goes on to say that although 95% of the pilots voted to support the strike, industry analysts predict that many will cross the picket line in the event of an actual walkout. After all, nobody wants to lose their job in this climate. “There aren’t a lot of folks hiring pilots out there, and even if you get a job, you start at the bottom, at $15,000 or $20,000 a year,” said industry consultant Michael Boyd.

The panel is scheduled to come back with a decision about the pilots’ contract by April 15th. Delta has said that they will take responsibility for either rebooking or rescheduling all passengers on their flights in the unlikely event of a strike. Previously, I advised passengers holding Delta tickets to trade in their e-tickets for paper tickets, based on information from the frequent flier survival manual. While that still may be good advice, Delta’s reservation agent recently advised me to keep my e-ticket for an upcoming Delta flight. She said that there was no reason another airline could not honor an e-ticket, but paper tickets work just as well.

Sorry if anyone changed his or her ticket unnecessarily.