Northwest passengers hope labor dispute won't leave them stranded

MINNEAPOLIS — Mary Lou Fiala was determined to take her two sons on vacation today — even if a looming mechanics strike at Northwest Airlines meant that she might not have a return flight from Montana.

"It makes me hesitant, but it's not going to stop me," said Fiala, 48, of Stillwater, Minn. "We need to take a vacation, and we're going to take a vacation."

Fiala, with her 11- and 9-year-old sons in tow, said she wasn't looking for tickets on another airline, yet. Other travelers were already planning for the worst — despite Northwest's assurances that replacement mechanics will keep the airline flying if there's a strike — and the long-term impact on the airline of that uncertainty could be considerable.

"With any luck they'll be able to find another (return) flight on another carrier," said Doug Campbell, 42, of Minneapolis, who was traveling to his father's 80th birthday celebration in Tucson, Ariz.

Negotiators for the airline and the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association were still meeting this evening in Washington, D.C. ahead of a 9:01 p.m. PDT deadline tonight. Campbell and Fiala both said if flying isn't an option they would rent cars and drive back. "It's a long drive from Tucson," Campbell said. "Hopefully, it won't come to that."

Baseball Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew was among those who may be looking for another way home if Northwest mechanics strike. The former Minnesota Twins slugger arrived on a Northwest flight on Friday for a weekend reunion of the 1965 American League Championship team at the Metrodome. He was scheduled to return home to Arizona on Northwest on Monday.

Killebrew — pulling roller luggage at the Twin Cities airport — said he didn't know how a strike would affect his return home. "So I'm going to try to make alternative arrangements if that happens," he said.

The airline has said a strike would not seriously disrupt its operations. The company has arranged for a total of 1,900 managers, temporary workers and vendors to take over in case of a strike.

In a strike, Northwest said vendors outside of its Detroit and Minneapolis hubs would permanently take over so-called "line maintenance," which is work that can be done at a gate or overnight.