OT: Goodbye Northwest Airlines.

Nak · Thu Oct 30, 08 10:19 am **OT: Goodbye Northwest Airlines.**

The Justice Department has approved the merger of Delta Airlines and Northwest Airlines. Corporate closing took place within an hour of the approval. Delta will operate both airlines separately only as long as it takes to merge operations.

I started flying for NWA almost 20 years ago. I chose Northwest because I believed that the airline was the safest airline in the world. I still believe that today. The culture at NWA fostered a dedication to safety among the pilots that is unsurpassed in the industry. As a First Officer at NWA, I always felt secure in the knowledge that I could override the Captain if I felt safety was an issue, so long as the decision I made was the safer one. The attitude in the cockpit has always been, "if there's a disagreement on a safety issue, take the conservative route and talk about it on the ground."

Northwest Airlines has operated continuously under one name longer than any other U.S. Airline.

Nearly 60 years ago, Northwest pioneered the "Great Circle Route" across the Pacific Ocean to Asia when other airlines said it couldn't be done.

Northwest Airlines was the first airline to ban smoking on its flights.

Northwest Airlines began operations on October 1, 1926 as a two-plane airmail carrier between Minneapolis/St. Paul and Chicago flying two rented, open-cockpit biplanes. Today, 82 years later, she is no more.` Sad

On the good side, Delta/NWA flies to LOTS of kiting destinations, world-wide.

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3753 Posts Los Angeles, CA Videographer

Hadn't heard this...

Does that mean you'll be flying other routes/places more often? Seems like you're always going to Japan and Hawaii! Cool

Nak · Thu Oct 30, 08 11:08 am

Yeah, I try and bid Tokyo - Honolulu as much as I can. Once operations merge, I might not be able to do that anymore. Sad

A lot is going to change... I'm based in Seattle, and depending on a lot of things, that might change. (Not by my choice.)

surfboy1968 · Since 17 Jun 2008 219 Posts south padre island Stoked

Safety first ??? What about the 2 drunk pilots a few years back ?

Joshiebaby · Since 14 Oct 2007 569 Posts Vancouver, WA Addicted

Sure it wasn't Nak prefunking for some drunk kiting?

No but really that airline is legit and it sucks that you have to go BK to stay around. And it sucks more that all these legacy airlines just shed their pension programs in order to be more competitive with the startups who didn't offer them. One goes BK, can lower their prices and then all the others follow suit or aren't competitive.

That is Jacked up. You have to go BK in order to compete. Who came up with that idea for a business plan?

On another note. If you don't mind playing the credit card game for free flights I suggest you sign up for the NWA card (annual fee free first year) and the Delta card (annual fee free the first year). Both give you 20k + miles... So it makes sense to do cause their programs will probably be merging. 50k miles is a free ticket pretty much anywhere.

Good luck with your bidding Nak and hope that you get the long trips!

Nak · Thu Oct 30, 08 12:18 pm

Nak · Thu Oct 30, 08 12:35 pm

Kraemer · Since 24 Apr 2006 1736 Posts Sky Pilot Unicorn Captain

pdxmonkeyboy · Thu Oct 30, 08 1:40 pm

All good points Nak, but you failed to mention that there food was horrible.

Nak · Thu Oct 30, 08 2:38 pm

eric · Since 13 Jan 2006 1853 Posts XTreme Poster

My experience with Northwest has been very good. In fact, my favorite two airlines are Alaska and Northwest. My least two favorite are US Airways and Delta, with US Air being so bad I will never fly them again unless it is absolutely the only way yo get somewhere.

I hope that the good groove of Northwest can pull Delta up by their bootstraps.

Eric

Joshiebaby · Since 14 Oct 2007 569 Posts Vancouver, WA Addicted

Chooch · Thu Oct 30, 08 3:41 pm

Boy someone better check and make sure Spike is still alive. He had a few hours to catch that mistake Razz

pdxmonkeyboy · Thu Oct 30, 08 4:07 pm

Joshiebaby · Since 14 Oct 2007 569 Posts Vancouver, WA Addicted

F. Yeah I kinda got distracted.

forrest · Fri Oct 31, 08 9:22 am

That's sad to hear Nak, I hope they don't move you anywhere, you're an asset to this community.

Nak · Sat Nov 01, 08 4:29 am

Thanks Forrest!

I won't be going anywhere though. If I get based somewhere else, it'll just be a fu*&^%g long commute to work! I'll have to burn 3 or 4 days off a month to get to & from my new base, which would mean a lot less riding. Sad