As a former AA F/A, and now a captain at CMR, I have both views...inside and outside.
I departed AA and started at CMR in the 1990s. I started well before CMR was purchased by DAL. The way we (my family and I)were treated by CMR was better than AA by far. The pass benefits for us, and my parents, were improved (free vs. the D2 service charge); the medical coverage was better (fixed dollar co-pay vs. percentage of the bill co-pay and lower monthly cost vs. AA's monthly cost) and a better overall attitude.
I could return from a three day trip at AA and believe morale couldn't get much worse. Then, during my next trip, find that the morale was indeed worse. The worst day at CMR, including those leading up to the strike, were better than my best day at AA during the last 10 years or so.
I still maintain contact with some of my former co-workers at AA, pilots and F/As. According to some, if AA isn't around tomorrow, they won't look for another flying job. That tells me AMR/AA management does take the fun out of flying.
I do realize my take on things at AA was partially my own doing because I wasn't doing the kind of flying I wanted to do. That said, the management at AA (excluding Arpey, Hettermann, etc.) did a masterful job of infuriating its work force. Carty was at AA when I departed. I know little of Arpey and do know Mark Hettermann. I'm glad I'm not in their shoes.
Good luck and fly safe!
