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AirTran Alaska merger

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Data said:
WOW! An F..A..A approved departure where we turn left right after takeoff and then turn right and fly back over the runway! That must take weeks to learn in the sim! Do they let the FOs fly that departure?
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Actually, we don't do the Lemon Creek departure anymore. I think someone got rolled pretty good by turbulence and almost got a very close look at some granite. Not easy or for the weak of heart.
 
Kharma Police said:
Yes, they make money yet still furlough pilots, go figure. They have a monopoly on some routes in Alaska and Seattle, tell me how they are doing in LAX. If Delta or Southwest wanted to make their lives miserable they could in a heartbeat. Delta could drop the code share and spool up the NWA operations in SEA and ANC. They have already started to ramp up their operations on the west coast. Look what happened with Midwest when they didn't adapt to the changes in the playing field. Heck, Mesa could set up shop in ANC like they did in Hawaii, it didn't take them long to run Aloha out of business. Alaska Air can keep plodding along the same course and keep making hay while the sun is shinning but the winters up north in the future will keep getting longer and darker. In my opinion they will have to merge with someone.
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Mr. Kharma Police, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.
 
scottm said:
Mr. Kharma Police, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.
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Wow, I didn't know you could "hear me" over the internet. Too bad you didn't hear what I just called you........
 
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Lear70 said:
So, in this discussion of a merger, explain to me exactly WHAT relevance, if any, the above diatribe has towards whether any worthwhile "synergies" would exist? That *WAS* the original thread topic, incidentally...

Obviously the route structures would compliment (East/West) and, again, the flying is flying is flying. The end. Period. I have faith in my brethren at AirTran that they could cross-train to AL ops and ETOPS without issue, so that is a COMPLETE non-issue for the merits of this discussion.

Just trying to get this thread back on track from where it jumped the shark so explain to me, how exactly, the differences in flying have ANYTHING to do with the financial reasons a merger might or might not happen, because that's the ONLY reason this would, or wouldn't, come to fruition...
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Don't ask me. You were the one who said Alaska flying isn't much more difficult then the flying we do at AAI. I just told you that you were full of it and had no idea what you were talking about. Same thing with comparing AAI's international ops with ALA's. ALA has a lot more internationl flying with over 3X's as many internatioanl destinations as AAI.

Like I said before. ALA's business plan wouldn't work with AAI's flying. AAI makes money simply because they are CHEAP, in very competitive markets. Alaska makes money with EAS, Cargo, and by having a very good customer base that loves them (even though there has been major changes in the last 5-10 years). Alaska has made it very hard for other airlines to come in and compete on the west coast. Its easier for DAL and AMR to use them as a code share partners, rather then to compete with them. Trust me, Id love to see the merger happen more then anything, but I also know how unlikely it is. ALA would be the purchaser, and there business plan wouldn't work on AAI routes.
 
gt1900 said:
Don't ask me. You were the one who said Alaska flying isn't much more difficult then the flying we do at AAI. I just told you that you were full of it and had no idea what you were talking about. Same thing with comparing AAI's international ops with ALA's. ALA has a lot more internationl flying with over 3X's as many internatioanl destinations as AAI.
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It was in response to Z-Pilot's statement in post #4 in case you missed it.

And anyone that thinks the TYPE of flying and whether it's more challenging or not makes a D*MN bit of difference when two carriers decide to integrate needs to take a reasonable suspicion test or is so far out of touch with aviation reality as to need their head checked by a licensed professional...
 
gt1900, feel free to repost without the cursing (or clever ways to hide the cursing). You're free to express the fact that you believe I'm full of crap, but use a different word than the one you chose to remain in line with the ToS.

/mod
 
Love it how you delete a thread that calls you out! CLASSIC!

I said your full of it (insert word). You claimed AAI's flying was not that much different then ALA's. Im assuming from the previous threads that you now know you have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. You also claimed AAI had more international flying then ALA. Again, you have no idea what you are talking about. AAG flys to over 3X's as many international destinations as AAI and ALA flys to at least 2X's as many! The flying can't even be compared. Nuff said!
 
gt1900 said:
I had a Cpt get very, very nervous in ROC when they were reporting 200-1/2 with snow and winds gusting to 30 with fair breaking action. Thats a pretty regular occurance for the guys at Alaska!
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Ahnah,

Did the "Cpt" pee himself or throw up on on you ? Thankfully you were there to save the day.

The AirTran 'management' team are ex US Air and they have the taint :D of that airline all over them. Merging with Airtran management would be like marrying the company bike or a Tijuana hooker.
 
Lear70 said:
It was in response to Z-Pilot's statement in post #4 in case you missed it.
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Apologies. It was not my intention to flame up a thread with focusing on: "our pilots are better than your pilots" issue.

My intention is to point out revenue, and experience...all while making profit.

For instance, flying cargo in the state of Alaska is unique, as everything has to be flown into most of the interior Alaska. Alaska Airlines knows how to do this profitably, and knows how to do this year-round.

As far as challenging flying, anyone is capable of learning it. However, there are increased training expenses related to flying in Southeast Alaska, and interior Alaska. There are special qualifications, and IOE is longer, because one trip has to be through SE, and another trip in the Arctic. Again, Alaska can manage that profitably.

That's really all I was saying way back on page one. Both carriers have a unique niche market, and has figured out how to operate profitably in their own back yards.

With all that said, airline executives' greed easily overcome any real or "spin machine" synergies.
 
gt1900 said:
Love it how you delete a thread that calls you out! CLASSIC!
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Yes, right before I posted an OPEN INVITATION for you to repost it without the cursing. Classic, I'm sure... But why am I not surprised you missed the obvious; you've been doing that since you got hired.

I said your full of it (insert word). You claimed AAI's flying was not that much different then ALA's. Im assuming from the previous threads that you now know you have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. You also claimed AAI had more international flying then ALA. Again, you have no idea what you are talking about. AAG flys to over 3X's as many international destinations as AAI and ALA flys to at least 2X's as many! The flying can't even be compared. Nuff said!
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No, I never claimed AAI had *MORE* international flying than ALA, I said that AAI had a lot of their own international flying and, again, international flying is international flying.

If you have such a hard-on for ALA, maybe you should go there to work. I personally don't care where I work as long as the paycheck and days off are worth my while. The flying is NOT that difficult... challenging? Sure. Outright hard? No, not really, and I'd put our pilots right up there in the same capabilities as any other airline's crew members. With the proper training, AirTran pilots could fly ALA ops just as safely as anyone else. THAT was the point you keep missing, even though I keep smacking you over the head with it.

Sorry you don't feel the same about your coworkers. Why don't you go down to ops and voice your opinion about how sub-par our pilots are compared to ALA pilots. I'm sure you'll get a warm response. Just like back when you were supporting management when you first got here...
 
Z_Pilot said:
Apologies. It was not my intention to flame up a thread with focusing on: "our pilots are better than your pilots" issue.

My intention is to point out revenue, and experience...all while making profit.

For instance, flying cargo in the state of Alaska is unique, as everything has to be flown into most of the interior Alaska. Alaska Airlines knows how to do this profitably, and knows how to do this year-round.

As far as challenging flying, anyone is capable of learning it. However, there are increased training expenses related to flying in Southeast Alaska, and interior Alaska. There are special qualifications, and IOE is longer, because one trip has to be through SE, and another trip in the Arctic. Again, Alaska can manage that profitably.

That's really all I was saying way back on page one. Both carriers have a unique niche market, and has figured out how to operate profitably in their own back yards.

With all that said, airline executives' greed easily overcome any real or "spin machine" synergies.
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Great post, sorry I misunderstood the intent. Happens on FI... :beer:

I'm certain the ALA pilots will continue to make ALA profitable doing their jobs safely and professionally as they always have. It's certainly challenging up there (these days I'm doing it in a 20-series Lear without EGPWS or TAWS, which sucks), but the challenge *does* make it fun at the same time versus doing YIP-LRD 4 times a week (boring, but still pays the bills). :)
 
lear70 said:
no, i never claimed aai had *more* international flying than ala, i said that aai had a lot of their own international flying and, again, international flying is international flying.
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oooooppppssssyyyyyyy! I think someone just steped on their junk!

Im so confused. In one post you say that AAI has more international ops then ALA, on another you say they don't. Which is it?
 
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