<p>Okay so my younger D is going to visit her older Sister at UMD College Park Sept. 13th. She is booked on Northwest. Just saw a news blurb that they may go out on strike August 25th. Has anyone ever delt with striking airlines? I don’t know if I should be scrambling for new reservations or just wait and see. This is just a pleasure trip to see where her sister is attending school. We are in CA
and younger D’s college doesn’t start until Sept. 25th.</p>
<p>I will be in the middle of a trip, using NWA frequent flyer miles, when the strike could happen. Not worried. Why not? Because it’s a threat at this point, and a pretty empty one. NWA is working under bankruptcy right now, and the attendants have to be aware that a strike might kill the airline entirely. (Of course, I dearly hope no one gets to say “I told you so” about this one.)</p>
<p>I’m biting my nails about the strike, too. We’re booked to leave on NW on the 23rd and return on the 30th. I guess I’ll just leave on the 23rd and hope for the best.</p>
<p>I’m with dmd77. Why worry? Strikes have happened in the past and things work out. More often strikes are threatened and DON’T happen. It was supposed to happen earlier but they delayed because of the events in London, so they are sensitive to what’s going on. </p>
<p>If MomZ scrambles for new reservations, she’s lost the value of her NWA ticket, most likely. If it’s really a concern, you can cancel the trip. My 15 year old is scheduled to return by NWA on 8/26. I’m confident we’ll see her again (she’s traveling alone).</p>
<p>I would not be so optimistic that a strike will not happen. The NWA employees are at the point where they don’t care if the airline goes down, and financially, it is probably a wash for them: They get certain financial advantages through unemployment etc.</p>
<p>All the same, what is more likely is a targeted disruption of specific flights, coupled with pickets. And, if past experience is any guide, the airlines can pull in trained management personnel to pick up some slack if a full strike occurs. So either way, some or most flights go on, but somewhat wobbly.</p>
<p>I will be in the air on the way home from Minneapolis when the current strike deadline passes. I hope the flight attendants don’t stop serving drinks and pick up picket signs right in the middle of the flight.</p>
<p>I fly NW a lot, and I agree with newsmassdad - in following this story over several months I get a sense that many of the employees really don’t care any more if their strike takes the airline down. They are so sick of more and more deep wage cuts that many feel it is time to take a stand and deal with whatever fallout happens. And if the airline dies, so be it. I really hope I’m wrong and it all gets settled - I’ve got too many frequent flyer miles invested in Northwest.</p>