SWA to buy AirTran

[easydoesit]

Gotcha...

 

[critterair2]

Any truth to Joe L. in FLL today?

 

[BILL LUMBERG]

Any truth to Joe L. in FLL today?

FORT LAUDERDALE-AP Airtran CEO "Forklift" Joe Leonard was in South Florida today providing business leaders with insight on his acquisition plans for Miramar-based Spirit Airlines. He advised the South Florida Builders Association that his plan to buy Spirit was not out of desperation as industry watchers have speculated, but rather a strong desire to spread about the Airtran culture. Instead of Wendy's cup-collection-free-ticket promotions, Leonard implied that a Miami Subs cup promotion will entice the local market and stimulate travel.

Leonard was quoted as saying "We are excited to be purchasing Spirit Airlines. We will disparage all executives and whine like babies, unless we get our way!!" Leonard also hinted at a new sports celebrity promoter here in South Florida. "We anticipate the return of Ricky Williams to the Miami Dolphins, and look forward to him joining the Airtran crewmembers in spreading the word about our always low Weedy Weekday fares." Based on past endorsements of Michael Vick in Atlanta, this should prove to be a sure thing. Airtran, formerly known as Valujet after a 1998 merger/acquisition was well-kown to South Florida after an inflight fire and crash into the nearby Everglades.

JUST A JOKE PEOPLE!!!

 

[Kharma Police]

Keep Airtran, My Airtran!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Ty Webb]

Well done . . . . now, where's my red Swingline stapler? Mr. Lumsberg said I could have it back . . . .

FORT LAUDERDALE-AP Airtran CEO "Forklift" Joe Leonard was in South Florida today providing business leaders with insight on his acquisition plans for Miramar-based Spirit Airlines. He advised the South Florida Builders Association that his plan to buy Spirit was not out of desperation as industry watchers have speculated, but rather a strong desire to spread about the Airtran culture. Instead of Wendy's cup-collection-free-ticket promotions, Leonard implied that a Miami Subs cup promotion will entice the local market and stimulate travel.

Leonard was quoted as saying "We are excited to be purchasing Spirit Airlines. We will disparage all executives and whine like babies, unless we get our way!!" Leonard also hinted at a new sports celebrity promoter here in South Florida. "We anticipate the return of Ricky Williams to the Miami Dolphins, and look forward to him joining the Airtran crewmembers in spreading the word about our always low Weedy Weekday fares." Based on past endorsements of Michael Vick in Atlanta, this should prove to be a sure thing. Airtran, formerly known as Valujet after a 1998 merger/acquisition was well-kown to South Florida after an inflight fire and crash into the nearby Everglades.

JUST A JOKE PEOPLE!!!

 

[BILL LUMBERG]

Keep Airtran, My Airtran!!!!!!!!!!

Lanyards and bag stickers!!! That'll hold em off....!!! You guys need a FLY AIRTRAN JETS sign to light up........Lol.....

BTW....the Valujet thing was making fun of the media and every article ever written about you guys always turns into that........gotta watch my Pc around the Kharma PoPo ..... =)

 

[Tanker Clown]

Have you Air Tran guys been hearing anything about being aquired by SWA? I assume that it wouldn't break your hearts.

 

[Kharma Police]

Have you Air Tran guys been hearing anything about being aquired by SWA? I assume that it wouldn't break your hearts.

I think SWA would "break our hearts" by kicking us to the curb.

 

[LeonPhelps]

I think SWA would "break our hearts" by kicking us to the curb.

Huh? I guess that is A WAY of looking at it...I guess you don't think any possible benefit may arise out of working for SWA in lieu of Air Tran? I don't think the buyout will happen, but I just find this perspective interesting. I would have guessed that Air Tran folks(and have talked with many while commuting that would LUV it) would be excited about that possibility, considering all I read on here about contracts, TA's, OJI firings, etc. Oh well...good luck, my friend! See ya the next time I commute on the Tranny!

 

[Kharma Police]

Huh? I guess that is A WAY of looking at it...I guess you don't think any possible benefit may arise out of working for SWA in lieu of Air Tran? I don't think the buyout will happen, but I just find this perspective interesting. I would have guessed that Air Tran folks(and have talked with many while commuting that would LUV it) would be excited about that possibility, considering all I read on here about contracts, TA's, OJI firings, etc. Oh well...good luck, my friend! See ya the next time I commute on the Tranny!

I would not mind a "merger" with SWA, however, I doubt after the problems with Morris Air that Southwest is interested in taking the employees. They will offer "preferential interviews" a'la ATA to satisfy the regulators but I think they would rather just have the 737s, the gates in ATL and one less headache in MCO, BWI and MDW.

 

[Kharma Police]

Lanyards and bag stickers!!! That'll hold em off....!!! You guys need a FLY AIRTRAN JETS sign to light up........Lol.....

BTW....the Valujet thing was making fun of the media and every article ever written about you guys always turns into that........gotta watch my Pc around the Kharma PoPo ..... =)

I like stickers!! Maybe we can change the plastic on the roof of the hanger to the new slogan!

BTW, since you were in bankruptcy did you guys have to get the Judges approval to buy the lanyards or stickers. I bet the vendors wanted the cash up front. Or did Tech Ops make them since they had some free time with maintenance being farmed out?

just kidding

 

[BILL LUMBERG]

I like stickers!! Maybe we can change the plastic on the roof of the hanger to the new slogan!

BTW, since you were in bankruptcy did you guys have to get the Judges approval to buy the lanyards or stickers. I bet the vendors wanted the cash up front. Or did Tech Ops make them since they had some free time with maintenance being farmed out?

just kidding

After a long drought of work (sorting out 5 paint jobs (Woolman, Ron, Leo, Song, Jerry), the paint shop people were activated..............

 

[BILL LUMBERG]

Have you Air Tran guys been hearing anything about being aquired by SWA? I assume that it wouldn't break your hearts.

Hey Tanker, try an original avatar......People will get you confused with that a-hole Lumberg....

 

[PCL_128]

Have you Air Tran guys been hearing anything about being aquired by SWA? I assume that it wouldn't break your hearts.

Don't assume that everyone wants to work for "LUV." Yeah, I'm sure lots of guys here would like a merger, but there are plenty of guys, myself included, that have never had any desire to work at SWA. I never even applied. Nothing against the guys that work at SWA and love it, but it's just not for everyone.

 

[LeonPhelps]

Don't assume that everyone wants to work for "LUV." Yeah, I'm sure lots of guys here would like a merger, but there are plenty of guys, myself included, that have never had any desire to work at SWA. I never even applied. Nothing against the guys that work at SWA and love it, but it's just not for everyone.

Hey man...sure, I'm a new guy to the Airline Industry, and am always looking to learn something new. Just out of intellectual curiosity, what is better about working at Air Tran than SWA? No flame bait here...just curious. I can definitely understand the whole, "I live in Atlanta..." I've got that...but educate the new kid if you wouldn't mind, what in your opinion is better about working at Air Tran? Again, no flame...I commute on the Tranny all the time, and have yet to find a pilot who was anything short of a great dude.

 

[PCL_128]

Hey man...sure, I'm a new guy to the Airline Industry, and am always looking to learn something new. Just out of intellectual curiosity, what is better about working at Air Tran than SWA? No flame bait here...just curious. I can definitely understand the whole, "I live in Atlanta..." I've got that...but educate the new kid if you wouldn't mind, what in your opinion is better about working at Air Tran? Again, no flame...I commute on the Tranny all the time, and have yet to find a pilot who was anything short of a great dude.

Well, some of it comes down to the fact that we just offer a completely different product than SWA. Business class seating, XM radio, assigned seats, etc... Personally, I'm proud of the product that we offer, and I'm not really a fan of the product that SWA offers. Not that there's anything wrong with it, it just caters to a different group. I prefer to work for a company that produces a product that I can support.

Also, a lot of the day-to-day operational aspects of flying the line at SWA are much different than here. You'll frequently see an SWA FO standing out on the ramp waiting intently for his plane to pull into the gate so he can hurry and do a preflight as soon as it pulls in so they can turn the plane in 15 minutes. It just seems that those guys are always in a rush. I know, they all say that you get used to it, but it's just not for me. I prefer a more calm and relaxed schedule. I'd much rather have my 40-minute turns and 2-3 legs a day.

 

[FIREMAN]

Also, a lot of the day-to-day operational aspects of flying the line at SWA are much different than here. You'll frequently see an SWA FO standing out on the ramp waiting intently for his plane to pull into the gate so he can hurry and do a preflight as soon as it pulls in so they can turn the plane in 15 minutes. It just seems that those guys are always in a rush. I know, they all say that you get used to it, but it's just not for me. I prefer a more calm and relaxed schedule. I'd much rather have my 40-minute turns and 2-3 legs a day.

What line are you flying? Most of my FO's and most that are taking the airplane are waiting on the ramp to do a fast perflight. 40 minute turns? Try 25-30 if you are on time, 5 to 10 minutes late and you are down to 15 to 20 minutes.

Why sould we vote for MB when he has not publised a poition paper and voting opened today. Was not impressed with him at a recurrent lunch.

 

[PCL_128]

What line are you flying?

On reserve, and hardly flying. I only spent a handful of nights away from home last month, and still made well over guarantee.

Most of my FO's and most that are taking the airplane are waiting on the ramp to do a fast perflight. 40 minute turns? Try 25-30 if you are on time, 5 to 10 minutes late and you are down to 15 to 20 minutes.

I went and looked at all of my trips for the last two months (sorry, too lazy to look further than that) and found that only 3 turns were less than 30 minutes. Had one 20-minute turn, a 28 minute turn, and a 23 minute turn. All three were originally scheduled for over 30 minutes, but weather delays in ATL screwed things up. The average turn time looked to be about 35-45 minutes. Not sure where your FOs are getting these short turns all the time, but they sure aren't getting assigned to me.

Why sould we vote for MB when he has not publised a poition paper and voting opened today. Was not impressed with him at a recurrent lunch.

I hear that MB will have his position paper posted very soon. What were you not impressed with? Mike and John S. are really the front-runners here, so it's a choice between the two of them for all intents and purposes. I posted on another thread about my feelings on JS, and I don't want to hijack this thread with our union politics, so you'll have to find the other thread for my opinion on him.

 

[CitationLover]

...I prefer to work for a company that produces a product that I can support.

you laughed at midwest ees for saying the same thing.

 

[PCL_128]

you laughed at midwest ees for saying the same thing.

Don't think so. Care to point out a post where I did? My argument was always that the combined carriers would provide a better product together than they could separately.

 

[CitationLover]

Don't think so. Care to point out a post where I did? My argument was always that the combined carriers would provide a better product together than they could separately.

well technically we have the #1 product now, how can it be better?

 

[DonVerita]

They will offer "preferential interviews" a'la ATA to satisfy the regulators but I think they would rather just have the 737s, the gates in ATL and one less headache in MCO, BWI and MDW.

I wouldn't be so sure of that.

A merger, or even a purchase, of AirTran would not even be in the same ballpark as what happened with ATA.

ATA was on the verge of liquidation. ATA had nowhere near the amount of aircraft AirTran has. AirTran is a thriving, profitable company.

Does anyone honestly think SWA would kick 1650 pilots to curb? Who is going to man those 87 B-717's and 50 B-737's. The entire newly purchased route system would fall apart overnight. SWA would hemorrage cash.

I don't see any possibility of these so called preferential interviews. AirTran pilots would be merged into the SWA seniority list. How that integrates is entirely dependent upon if the SWA pilots want to behave like gentlemen and do the right thing with a fair integration system...or do they want to gear up for a long drawn out fight in court with the end result being two wedged pilot groups who sneer at each other for the next 20 or 30 years. Just look at what AA did with Reno and TWA. There's your crystal ball into the future and a blueprint of how not to do a seniority integration.

It is my hope that SWAPA would invite NPA to partake in the SWA culture of Employees First on Day 1 rather than set the stage for decades of devisivness.

I have read some postings of a few beaucoup arrogant SWA people on this board who espoused the following: "Staple 'em to the bottom of the list!" That is not the way to build friendships and solidarity. I don't care what airline you come from; SOLIDARITY (or at least the perception of) is the first step in getting you what you want and need when contract negotiation time rolls around.

 

[fiel12]

Don't assume that everyone wants to work for "LUV." Yeah, I'm sure lots of guys here would like a merger, but there are plenty of guys, myself included, that have never had any desire to work at SWA. I never even applied. Nothing against the guys that work at SWA and love it, but it's just not for everyone.

Amen! Not everyone wants to fly domestic in a 737 (or 717).

 

[Ty Webb]

We've had so many guys jump ship to SWA lately . . . my new avatar is one of 'em. He seems to be making lots of new friends out on the line. . . .

.

 

[CitationLover]

We've had so many guys jump ship to SWA lately . . . my new avatar is one of 'em. He seems to be making lots of new friends out on the line. . . .

.

porn star in a cattle call, yee haw!

 

[fiel12]

BTW, Airtran guys/ gals have always been awesome to me while jumpseating. I don't think it will ever happen. But if it did, I would love to work with the people I've met at AirTran.

 

[maxblast72]

One plus for Airtran is quicker seniority progression. I was hired in April of 2004 and according to the latest seniority list published on the NPA website, I just reached 50%. We have line holding Captains at Airtran hired in 2003.

Just curious if anyone had the hire date of the 50% seniority pilots at Southwest and the hire date/base of the junior most line holding Captain.

Also with Airtran continuing to grow (30% ASM growth for the 3rd Qtr 2007) and Southwest slowing growth to 6-8%, these numbers will probably stay favorable to quicker progression at Airtran (not to mention that the age 65 rule has more impact on Southwest seniority slowing since they have more old guys close to retirement).

 

[BSkin]

Also, a lot of the day-to-day operational aspects of flying the line at SWA are much different than here. You'll frequently see an SWA FO standing out on the ramp waiting intently for his plane to pull into the gate so he can hurry and do a preflight as soon as it pulls in so they can turn the plane in 15 minutes. It just seems that those guys are always in a rush. I know, they all say that you get used to it, but it's just not for me. I prefer a more calm and relaxed schedule. I'd much rather have my 40-minute turns and 2-3 legs a day.

Wait until you hold a schedule to decide on the above! Just going back on reserve myself, only making a little more money. The 3+ years I was an FO, I would say approximately 50-60 percent of the time was always rushed. The other times were either on-time with 30-35 minute turns, or airport appreciation for 2-3 1/2 hours (though I did my best to avoid those)! Don't get me wrong, I like the job, but don't see the point of saying we have it better than LUV, or that our turns are better than LUV.

 

[BSkin]

And no, I don't think SWA buying us would be pretty, especially as a 717 guy!

 

[Lear70]

I have compared my schedules to two very good friends of mine who are at Southwest with the same relative seniority / bidding position (bottom 10% of lineholders).

The turns are, on average, about the same for days working / days off. The Southwest schedules CREDIT a lot more than ours, simply by virtue of *SLIGHTLY* tighter turns giving them 1 extra leg a day with only a 30-60 minute hit on the overnight and their "trip" pay versus credit/actual block.

They also can bid a line with 16 days off, pick up 2 extra days at premium pay, and get a paycheck that's about $1,000 more per month than mine on 1st year pay.

2nd year pay and subsequent isn't even a comparison. As far as management relationships, I can't imagine SWA management firing a pilot for writing up an aircraft that was unsafe or changing a tire 36 hours before returning to duty, and although their upgrade isn't as fast, the pay as a 5-year F/O versus our 5-year CA isn't all that different.

As far as a product? Yes, airTran's is better, hands-down. Some type of entertainment system (sat TV, radio, or internet) is going to have to be something SWA addresses in the next few years (and would make excellent sense with the loan they took out recently), and our pax LOVE our business class at coach fares.

I don't think there would be much of a culture clash AT ALL with a SWA / airTran merger (not that I think it will happen), with the number of regional guys we've hired in the last 4-5 years. airTran isn't a redneck cowboy outfit,,,

Just my .02 cents on differences of SWA -vs- airTran. Personally, I don't like to work as hard as my SWA buddies work. I prefer 2-3 legs a day for 6 hours or so of credit then 16-18 hours in the hotel. I have no urge to burn out by the time I'm 50. They have, however, made fun of my paycheck repeatedly.