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Five by Five | The Podcast for The ALPA Pilots of Frontier Airlines, We Hear You Loud and ClearAuthor: FFT ALPA Master Executive Council
The Trusted ALPA-produced podcast brings the pilots of Frontier Airlines reliable membership news and information. Additional Search Terms: Five by Five, 5 by 5, 5X5, Five X Five Language: en Genres: Aviation, Leisure, News, News Commentary Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Pilot Bargaining | Building and Supporting a Negotiating Committee
Episode 24
Thursday, 7 May, 2026
“[Negotiations are] a very complicated collection of moving parts that really nobody does alone. It takes a team.” -Capt. Phil Otis (UAL), Chair, ALPA National Collective Bargaining Committee In this episode of 5 by 5, we take a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what contract negotiations actually involve, and why outcomes hinge on far more than what happens in those moments across the table from management. Joined by ALPA Managing Attorney for Collective Bargaining Jeff Loesel and United Airlines Captain and ALPA National Collective Bargaining Committee Chair Phil Otis, the conversation breaks down the real work of negotiating committees, the role of polling and pilot engagement, and how trust, credibility, and strategy ultimately determine whether a pilot group succeeds in attaining a ratified agreement. Drawing on decades of experience across multiple carriers, Jeff and Phil explain how negotiations are built long before formal sessions begin, how MECs and committees are meant to function together, and why alignment with pilot priorities is fundamental. The discussion also addresses internal challenges pilots often see, but rarely get explained, including politics, turnover, expectations around flight pay loss, and what effective leadership looks like under the Railway Labor Act. “The key indicator of whether an agreement will be ratified is the faith the pilot group has in the MEC.” — Jeff Loesel, ALPA Managing Attorney for Collective Bargaining This episode is especially relevant for pilots considering service, participating in upcoming elections, or simply trying to understand why negotiations take the time they do. It offers rare insight into the responsibilities, pressures, and teamwork required to deliver a contract that holds up, not just at ratification, but for years afterward. If you want a clearer picture of how negotiations really work, what makes them succeed or fail, and what it means to serve the pilot group at a critical moment, this is a conversation worth hearing.
