Air Tran or CAL? haven't we been here before?

[Hair-on-Fire]

airTran definitely won't be "pulling a jetBlue", we're probably going to post profitable quarters and years for quite a while yet to come, no reason to defer deliveries, I think they'd ACCELERATE THEM if they thought operationally they could get away with it.

This must be your first airline job.

 

[Lear70]

No, it's my 4th.

But thanks for asking.

 

[DBCOOPER]

Hair-on-fire,

You couldn't have posted a better question/comment. Anyone that is THAT confident that their airline is too good to do a 180 (sometimes for reasons out of the company's control) is fooling themselves.

Airtran has been an exciting place to work for a few years now, and there is always a group of people that get too caught up in the "kool-aid drinking". They make comments like this guy....it does nothing but show his/her arrogance. It's actually kind of humerous to see that there are still pilots out there that think their company is invinsible.

And, to do my part for the title of the thread......I will go to the first one that calls. If I had the choice, I would take CO for many of the reasons already listed. However, I'd happily stay in ATL and get reaquainted with my old airplane again with Airtran.

 

[Airtran717]

Airtran is most definitely not invincible. But it is a decent place to work. It could be better (contract 2005 hopefully) .....but it could be a lot worse.

We are ALL (by that i mean everyone on this board) just one terrorist attack away from furlough.

Ill even go farther and say we are ALL just one "bad management decision" away from furlough.

 

[propjob27]

There was a guy in my CAL new hire class (Aug 2006) who was allready employed by AirTran. And in fact, he is not an isolated case. However, to my knowledge, there are NO former CAL guys in AirTran new hire classes.

That might tell you something.

 

[Lear70]

You couldn't have posted a better question/comment. Anyone that is THAT confident that their airline is too good to do a 180 (sometimes for reasons out of the company's control) is fooling themselves.

Airtran has been an exciting place to work for a few years now, and there is always a group of people that get too caught up in the "kool-aid drinking". They make comments like this guy....it does nothing but show his/her arrogance. It's actually kind of humerous to see that there are still pilots out there that think their company is invinsible.

First, the word is "invincible".

Second, I never said we were "invincible", I simply said that I didn't THINK, given our financial performance and fares only going UP, that we would be selling off aircraft like jetBlue did.

I never said we were furlough-proof, recession-proof, fuel crisis-proof, or any other such nonsense.

I also said many good things in support of CAL. So how does that make ME arrogant?

Read the post and understand what it means before you go off on your high horse.

And, to do my part for the title of the thread......I will go to the first one that calls. If I had the choice, I would take CO for many of the reasons already listed. However, I'd happily stay in ATL and get reaquainted with my old airplane again with Airtran.

So you bash someone that works at airTran then say you'd like to work there?

That's classy...

 

[ASA]

There was a guy in my CAL new hire class (Aug 2006) who was allready employed by AirTran. And in fact, he is not an isolated case. However, to my knowledge, there are NO former CAL guys in AirTran new hire classes.

That might tell you something.

So you should base your decision on what other pilots do? Would you also follow the herd to the great Eastern back in the 80s? Think for yourself--these former AirTran pilots at CAL might regret that decision one day. None of us know the future.

 

[Eagle757shark]

The bottom line is everyone has to choose what is best for them and their family. As far as WE ALL KNOW RIGHT NOW, both companies are doing well in this current environment and I think there is a bit of excitment at both companies for the future. Growth, upgrades, whom....in this crazy industry we could even see CAL and AirTran merge together! Surprises are always popping up in this industry! ( I don't recall any management coming to us pilots and asking us) Good luck to all wherever you end up, we won't know the end until its time to retire!

 

[DBCOOPER]

Lear Boy,

You weren't specific at all with that JetBlue comment. You mentioned nothing about financial performance or rising fares to back that up.

I read and understood your post just fine. That was the only arrogant comment made....and it was. That's why someone else asked if it was your first airline job.

As far as challenging (or bashing in your words) an employee.......and then having my app in with Valujet at the same time....YEA, your point is?

Look, I have many friends over there.....they bash Valujet everyday. The simple fact of it is, the last few years have been good mainly due to alot of growth and quick upgrades, that won't last. Most people I know, including me, would work there b/c at the time there isn't much else out there. It would be convenient due to the fact that i live in ATL, and I have a few years in the 737NG....THAT'S IT!! Believe me, it's not that sharp looking pilot group that gets my heart pumping....

Alright, I'm getting off the point but just please don't make comments like that. Valujet could defer jets next week for all you know. You think guys at JetBlue thought that would be happening a year ago? NOPE.

Please check my spelling now, I think I did pretty good. Although, that one word...."convenient" really had me thinking

 

[Ty Webb]

DB Cooper:

Trade in your mullet and your Molly Hatchet t-shirt for something current.

Valujet was ten years ago . . . . and the "new" contract that made things good "for the last couple of years" was signed in 2001. The last DC9 was out of here when . . . hell, I can't even remember when, that's how long it's been.

We'll have over 125 aircraft by the end of this year, and by the end of next year, we'll be sitting very close to 150 aircraft and we'll have a new contract (dam.n straight we will).

As for our pilot group . . . every pilot group has its snazzy dressers. Some of our larger models came from Legacies with crew meals . . . but I'm sure they all look pretty to you and Uppercrust at closing time.

 

[Lame Lizard]

Valujet was ten years ago . . . . and the "new" contract that made things good "for the last couple of years" was signed in 2001. The last DC9 was out of here when . . . hell, I can't even remember when, that's how long it's been.


.

Valuejet may have been over ten years ago but there is still Valuejet leftovers at your airline. I am sure it was these leftovers that was so hard up to find pilots that they were left with no choice but to hire you. Saaadddd.

 

[imadumbpilot]

Well,

I certainly had no intent on having this turn into a bash fest of either airline. We at Continental certainly have our share of "snazzy " dressers, and pilots who don't exactly have a strong union background to say the least.

That would be true of most airlines I think. I know of at least one pilot who was hired around the same time as I was who came from AirTran, and he suffered throught the furlough. He would have been much better off had he stayed at Airtran, it will be difficult to make up the difference in money lost vs what he would have made at AirTran.

Anyway, my friend will make up his own mind on what is right for him. He does not read aviation message boards, (I'm the loser who does that ). I was just interested in what other people would do given the same circumstances. It seems the preponderance would take the interview at CAL and the job if offered, which is what I would do.

Thanks

 

[FLB717]

Many of those "Left Overs" are some of the finest people that I have ever flown with.

 

[Ty Webb]

Valuejet may have been over ten years ago but there is still Valuejet leftovers at your airline. I am sure it was these leftovers that was so hard up to find pilots that they were left with no choice but to hire you. Saaadddd.

You're just bumming because they didn't hire you Chuckie, and you're stuck at Skyways . . . . why else would you make it your life's mission to hang out in AirTran strings?

It's pretty clear no one but you even finds your posts informative or amusing . . . . . so go cry into your Old Milwaukee's Best Light and don't let the screen door hit you on the way out.


.

 

[Lear70]

You weren't specific at all with that JetBlue comment. You mentioned nothing about financial performance or rising fares to back that up.

D Pooper,

I didn't HAVE to be specific, anyone with half a brain could have understood the inference. We ARE doing well and, at present, there is no reason to believe delivery deferral OR asset sale will occur. I'm sorry YOU misunderstood what I wrote, along with whatshisname.

I read and understood your post just fine. That was the only arrogant comment made....and it was. That's why someone else asked if it was your first airline job.

If you say so, I don't see a bunch of other people jumping on the bandwagon to jump my back about it, just you two.

As far as challenging (or bashing in your words) an employee.......and then having my app in with Valujet at the same time....YEA, your point is?

My point is it's hypocritical to bash the airline and its employees in one breath and then say you want to work there in your next.

Pick one.

Look, I have many friends over there.....they bash Valujet everyday. The simple fact of it is, the last few years have been good mainly due to alot of growth and quick upgrades, that won't last.

At current PLANNED deliveries, it will for at least the next half-decade, and I'll bet you a C-note it'll continue well after that.

Most people I know, including me, would work there b/c at the time there isn't much else out there.

Ummm, ever heard of (in no particular order):

Continental
jetBlue
Southwest
UPS
FedEx

That's 5 other good, solid airlines that would be increases in QOL over any regional. But "there isn't much else out there"?

That dog won't hunt.