  Douglasm Member Username: Douglasm Post Number: 621 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.189.188.28 |
Don't know if this has been brought up yet but.... Northwest Airlines is being threatened with a strike by its flight attendants on 8/15. If they go out, NWA says they might go under. Since Northwest is THE major carrier out of Metro, any speculation on what that would mean to travel in and out of Detroit? | ||
Karl Member Username: Karl Post Number: 3460 Registered: 09-2005 Posted From: 72.25.177.194 |
"Go Greyhound" | ||
Detroitej72 Member Username: Detroitej72 Post Number: 64 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 66.184.3.44 |
We could use the Boblo boats to shuttle people through the Great Lake and the Erie Canel just like days past. | ||
Naturalsister Member Username: Naturalsister Post Number: 781 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 69.215.244.18 |
The People Mover. later - naturalsister | ||
Detroitej72 Member Username: Detroitej72 Post Number: 68 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 66.184.3.44 |
Trainman no doubt has a solution for this. He will be posting his new crusade shortly. Stay tuned for details... | ||
Burnsie Member Username: Burnsie Post Number: 548 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 141.216.1.4 |
Wouldn't NWA just bus in replacements like they've done with the other unions? | ||
Douglasm Member Username: Douglasm Post Number: 622 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.189.188.28 |
No they probably couldn't. The union has threatened NWA with random work stoppages, and the airline has said if more than 20% of their flights are hit, they would probably have to liquidate. The union has said that the strikes would be random, lasting from 15 minutes to a full day, and/or targeting specific flights. In short, travel will be a crapshoot for the passenger. NWA's in court right now to try and stop the threat and impose a new contract on the union. NWA and it's unions have been at each other's throat since the carrier went Chapter 11. | ||
Deputy_mayor_2026 Member Username: Deputy_mayor_2026 Post Number: 110 Registered: 04-2006 Posted From: 198.111.167.34 |
Just traveled on NWA, and Danny or whoever else would be likely into gangster rap, that's not Niggers With Attitude, to Japan. The attendents seemed rather unhappy with their jobs and service was a little sub par. However, I understand how that works with employment that sucks. | ||
Aiw Member Username: Aiw Post Number: 5750 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 67.71.66.228 |
You'll find that same awesome service level on just about every North American Airline. | ||
Itsjeff Member Username: Itsjeff Post Number: 6566 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.136.149.133 |
The collapse of Northwest would be a huge blow to the area. As a "hub," we have a an airport at our disposal that will take us anywhere we want to go in the world, nonstop. This is a convenience for Detroiters, but an important tool for business. Without Northwest, Metro would be relegated to "regional airport" status, akin to Cleveland or Pittsburgh. We'd have fewer destination options and more flights with layovers. And I'd be stuck with 24,000 worldperk miles. | ||
Deputy_mayor_2026 Member Username: Deputy_mayor_2026 Post Number: 111 Registered: 04-2006 Posted From: 198.111.167.34 |
Itsjeff is right on. With United or anyone else we would have to stop somewhere, i.e. Chicago for United, so I am going to be sad to see it go, if it does. | ||
Quinn Member Username: Quinn Post Number: 817 Registered: 01-2005 Posted From: 69.242.213.101 |
I have horror stories for Delta, Southwest, Eastern (now defunct), United AND Northwest. Everyone sucks as$ unless you're in first class. Hey...I'm going to put that on a t-shirt. I would really be sad to see NW go. It would really be a kick to our economy and our pride. I agree with itsjeff...right on the money. | ||
Smogboy Member Username: Smogboy Post Number: 3635 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 69.47.100.44 |
Just in preparation of the strike I booked on United for my business trip next week. I wasn't going to take a chance and bail out on a job because of a NWA work stoppage. And as much as I kvetch about NWA and their service, they do offer somewhat decent service; they get me there without too many frills. Granted it's come a LONG way since the days they served meals, had magazines, blankets, pillows and other amenities but for travel out of Detroit, there aren't too many choices. The few times I've been delayed by NWA I've never been in a mad rush to get anywhere so it's probably affected me less than if I HAD to be somewhere. | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 4222 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 71.193.193.49 |
This is terrible news. jjaba can't take the Bob-lo Boat to Japan. Last time jjaba called, the Greyhound bus doesn't go there either. jjaba checked the Bullet train schedules and they only run within Japan, not over the Pacific fucking Ocean. Terrible news. jjaba, sayanara MF. | ||
Douglasm Member Username: Douglasm Post Number: 623 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.189.188.28 |
Judge will rule on the legality of the strike action Monday..... | ||
Busterwmu Member Username: Busterwmu Post Number: 263 Registered: 09-2004 Posted From: 68.164.106.176 |
Amtrak has been cheaper all the while and is much more comfortable! | ||
Goat Member Username: Goat Post Number: 8698 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 70.53.96.174 |
Because Amtrak can take you to europe or the carribean and it is faster. Great logic! | ||
Deputy_mayor_2026 Member Username: Deputy_mayor_2026 Post Number: 112 Registered: 04-2006 Posted From: 205.188.116.137 |
As an enrolled student at U of M this fall, I looked into amtrak prices to Detroit. I may have done something wrong, but when I looked it was $23 from AA to Detroit one way. That is quite expensive, almost fifty dollars to go there and back. | ||
Smogboy Member Username: Smogboy Post Number: 3645 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 69.47.100.44 |
I don't think anyone would debate the prices between Amtrak and any major airline but for me, there's a time issue here. I'd much rather get to my destination faster and enjoy my time THERE as opposed to spending that time on the train. Sure I can relax, veg out and chill on the train but sometimes I just want to get to a place that much faster. | ||
Douglasm Member Username: Douglasm Post Number: 624 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.189.188.28 |
Understand that the NWA flight attendants strike action has been put off for 10 days due to the current "situation". Judge still rules Monday. | ||
Dalangdon Member Username: Dalangdon Post Number: 48 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 67.171.17.254 |
If Amtrak were decently funded, you could take a high speed train to either Chicago or Toronto, and fly out of there, but that would understandably be a blow to civic pride (and I don't mean that sarcastically. I know that's important) | ||
Dialh4hipster Member Username: Dialh4hipster Post Number: 1742 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 68.61.187.234 |
Deputy, I have taken the train from A2 to Detroit for $9 each way. I just checked it and fares today are $10 one-way. I'm not sure where you got that fare, unless it was a last-minute peak travel issue. | ||
Busterwmu Member Username: Busterwmu Post Number: 264 Registered: 09-2004 Posted From: 68.164.106.209 |
Deputy Mayor, you should also look into the Student Advantage card and discount that comes with being s student. It'll get you 15% off Amtrak tickets anywhere in the Country. I have it for going back and forth between Dearborn and Western Michigan U in Kalamazoo, and it has saved me a bundle. As a side note, Amtrak 353 to Chicago had quite a load of people getting aboard going west from Dearborn today. Great to see! | ||
Deputy_mayor_2026 Member Username: Deputy_mayor_2026 Post Number: 113 Registered: 04-2006 Posted From: 152.163.100.8 |
I may have made a mistake when I checked. Ten dollars each way is not too bad. Thanks for the info! | ||
Detroitplanner Member Username: Detroitplanner Post Number: 106 Registered: 04-2006 Posted From: 63.85.13.248 |
<-- wonders why the deputy mayor would choose U of M over WSU or UDM? | ||
Fastcarsfreedom Member Username: Fastcarsfreedom Post Number: 48 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 67.71.59.68 |
Taking the train to Toronto or Chicago and flying simply isn't convenient. Facing facts, there is a good chance that Northwest is here to stay, in some form or another--we all need to hope for that--in addition to giving this area the convenience of a huge airline hub, NWA is also a huge employer in SE Michigan--and one that none of us can afford to lose. However, if the unthinkable were to happen, all would not likely be lost for DTW. Detroit is one of the top "O&D" airline markets in the U.S. with our impressive list of Fortune 500 HQs in the area, as well as a large population. Hubs in big O&D markets make money--this is why USAirways dumped Pittsburgh as a hub in favor of Philly. If NWA wasn't here--someone else, or some group of carriers would come along to fill the void. Past talk of potential NWA mergers with Continental or Delta would mean bad news for Cleveland and/or Cincinnati more than it would mean bad news for DTW. Overall this is a great airline market with world-class facilities--that aside, this area needs to rally around NWA as much as possible and hope for a bright future for them. Our friends in MSP and MEM would appreciate that support too. |
