An Instructor at NWA told me that the de-icers only sprayed ONE of a DC-9 jet's two wings at FSD, Sioux Falls, S.D this winter! Apparently the passengers paid attention and prevented what could have easily been a crash.
A very senior lady Check Airman was the Captain on a different flight where the de-ice crew was planning to check the upper wing (surface) with a wand, to see if cold fuel in the wing tanks caused any clear ice to form on the rough stripes. Well, the de-ice crew told the flightcrew that a wand was stuck in the elevator. They thought that the t-tail, being higher than the wings, was the upper wing! Her name is L-.
Outsourcing at its best. But the price is always right. The brilliant leadership at NWA apparently laid off a very large number of senior ramp personnel this fall. Airlines are very well-insured against a hull loss-whether your family is onboard or not.