AirTran Culture

[(HCDAW)]

Hi all:

I'm hoping I can get some help from some of the AirTran pilots out there.

I am a member of a team that is analyzing the Southwest/AirTran acquisition as part of a project for an MBA course we are taking. My module requires me to look at the cultures of the two companies and opine on any challenges they may face during integration.

I have a good sense for the Southwest culture, but I don't know much about AirTran. Would someone be willing to comment on the AirTran culture?

You can be as general or specific as you like, but it would be helpful if you could comment on: any underlying organizational values that AirTran promotes; the managerial culture; any organizational heroes (along the lines of Herb Kelleher at Southwest); any organizational myths or stories (like Southwest giving a bottle of liquor to travelers to compete with Braniff I think it was?), any organizational rituals (like Southwest's spirit parties), and any cultural symbols (roughly defined as any setting or image that a company may use to make a statement about the company...Southwest has tons of pictures lining the wall of their headquarters, for example).

Of course you can PM me if you would prefer not to post in the open forum.

I really appreciate the help!

PS: In case you are wondering, I was a pilot with Southwest for two years, but I am no longer there. I have absolutely no ulterior motive or agenda; I honestly just want to help my team get a decent grade. Thanks!

 

[fletch717]

Study a Russian work camp, that will give you an idea what the culture is at AT on a good day.

 

[Wesb737fo]

You aren't there anymore? Can we ask why not?

 

[jonjuan]

Study a Russian work camp, that will give you an idea what the culture is at AT on a good day.

He said he's working on an MBA and wanted insight into airtran management culture. A more appropriate study would be the movie "Scarface.".

 

[fletch717]

Pick any company that is completely incompetent and covers for it by using fear and intimidation, that would be us.

 

[Jetjockey]

Pick any company that is completely incompetent and covers for it by using fear and intimidation, that would be us.

That sounds like most of corporate America.

 

[Kharma Police]

Wonderful people to work with, difficult company to work for.

 

[(HCDAW)]

You aren't there anymore? Can we ask why not?

Sure...I really enjoyed the flying and my time at Southwest, but I guess I would say it was the combination of a slow economy, age 65, and the prospect of slow advancement. I suppose the job wasn't a good fit for my family, so I decided to take the opportunity to change careers. It's definitely been an interesting experience, but I would be lying if I said there aren't times when I miss the job.

Thanks for the input!

 

[Bob Dylan]

AirTran captains are very greedy.

 

[Kharma Police]

AirTran captains are very greedy.

"Greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right. Greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures, the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed, in all of its forms; greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge, has marked the upward surge of mankind and greed, you mark my words, will not only save Teldar Paper, but that other malfunctioning corporation called the U.S.A."

 

[Roomwithaview]

Not to hijack your thread but you do realize that Gordon Gecko was the bad guy and that greed did him in at the end?

 

[Kharma Police]

Not to hijack your thread but you do realize that Gordon Gecko was the bad guy and that greed did him in at the end?

He would have gotten away with it if it hadn't been for that wacko Charlie Sheen!

 

[Captain Jeff]

Well... How do you feel about voice mail? You should call AT headquarters. Press 0 for the operator and you will quickly be told the operator is unavailable and that you should call back later. I would give you the number, but then you would think I set something up. Find the number yourself and give it a try. If someone actually answers tell them what your trying to do and see if someone actually calls you back.

 

[slaquer5]

He would have gotten away with it if it hadn't been for that wacko Charlie Sheen!

That was good.

 

[Max Powers]

Honestly there are TWO AirTrans........One if you are on reserve and the other if you have a schedule. The latter is a nice life usually 16 to 18 days off on average, depending on your seniority. The former is similar to that scene in "Pulp Fiction" where you have a leather strap containing a ball tied around your head and you feel this burning sensation around your anus as you hear loud grunts and smack sounds.

 

[instructordude]

AirTran captains are very greedy.

When you make more money than most pilots in the industry you become greedy. An Airtran Capt is the tip of the pear.

 

[humveedriver]

When you make more money than most pilots in the industry you become greedy. An Airtran Capt is the tip of the spear.

That's us in a nutshell. Industry leaders.

 

[DonVerita]

Any idea offered by Employees to improve the operation is immediately dismissed out of hand (even if it saves money) because Management didn't think of it first.

Management flat out refuses to acknowledge illogical operational procedures and refuses to fix them because that would call attention to their incompetence. It's a frustrating circle that never ends.

 

[Secret Squirrel]

It is not about fixing the problem, but affixing blame for the problem.

 

[Ticker]

Read Gordon Bethunes book "From Worst to First". In it he highlights the things one must do in order to be a good leader who will create a healthy work environment that will promote a successful business. He then contrasts that with the things one should avoid doing for the same reasons.

Take all the "don't do this" items and you have Airtran corporate culture.

 

[Captain Jeff]

I just thought of something that might help you understand the tran. There is a loud speaker in the crew room so someone doesn't have to leave her cubical to scream at flight attendants. No joke, it the crappy kind of speaker you might see on a pole at a parade. It is set at parade volume too.

Hows your paper coming?

 

[LeeRoyJenkins]

I just thought of something that might help you understand the tran. There is a loud speaker in the crew room so someone doesn't have to leave her cubical to scream at flight attendants. No joke, it the crappy kind of speaker you might see on a pole at a parade. It is set at parade volume too.

Hows your paper coming?

Are you saying that at AirTran the pilots have to share a crew room with the F/A's?

 

[WalterSobchak]

Any idea offered by Employees to improve the operation is immediately dismissed out of hand (even if it saves money) because Management didn't think of it first.

Management flat out refuses to acknowledge illogical operational procedures and refuses to fix them because that would call attention to their incompetence. It's a frustrating circle that never ends.

Based on my experience working on the ground for AirTran a few years back, I think this is a very accurate summary.

Back in 2004, AirTran tried to beef up DFW...going from about 8-10 departures a day to around 25 departures a day almost overnight. They attempted to do this with no additional equipment or staffing and even failed to let the TSA know about their intention to increase their flight schedule, resulting in insanely long security lines. There were rampers puking on the ramp from exhaustion almost every morning.

When DFW station dropped to almost dead-last in just about every possible performance metric, the company finally allowed station management to hire more employees. They gave them three...and, all three quit within weeks. That was just about par for the course.

 

[tankerhead]

Honestly there are TWO AirTrans........One if you are on reserve and the other if you have a schedule. The latter is a nice life usually 16 to 18 days off on average, depending on your seniority. The former is similar to that scene in "Pulp Fiction" where you have a leather strap containing a ball tied around your head and you feel this burning sensation around your anus as you hear loud grunts and smack sounds.

And the F.A.'s ask, "What's not to like?"

....and I believe its called a "ball gag".

 

[Sy-bill]

The more I read, the more I can see SWA acquiring employees that are damaged goods. If you go out and earn the job you really want, you are more likely to turn the page. Being handed the job without effort, the page may not be turned because of an abused, closed mind. Kind of like the difference of getting a dog as a new puppy vs getting it after its been abused.

Good luck to SWA.

 

[Ticker]

Are you saying that at AirTran the pilots have to share a crew room with the F/A's?

It's great! 30 or so sets of bags just plopped willy nilly all over the crew room (there used to be a movable bag rack that was ALWAYS empty) and always one or two gals splayed out on one of the limited couches to take a nap (first choice is always the one directly in front of the tv...ALWAYS).

I think the term was "tran-tastic"!

 

[Pilot Knob]

It's like the 70's TV show "Taxi". A big area with dozens of pilots and FA's on 3 hour sits, and Louie sitting in the cage screeching"FA Jones, please report to the tracking window" "First Officer Smith, please complete your check in". Haven't seen it in a while, but reserve FA's sitting ready used to have to put bulletins and such their coworkers Vfiles when they didn't have a work assignment.

And to top it all off, we ride the elevator with the trash dumpster emptying the contents of the C concourse in to the dumpster outside.

 

[27 driver]

Don't forget the man with the nice shoes feverishly inserting nasty-grams into the v-files of the "non team players".
There used to be a sign under that speaker warning not to stand too close as hearing damage may occur. I thought that was classic.

 

[Ty Webb]

The more I read, the more I can see SWA acquiring employees that are damaged goods. If you go out and earn the job you really want, you are more likely to turn the page. Being handed the job without effort, the page may not be turned because of an abused, closed mind.

In 5 months of stupid posts, this is the stupidest post yet. Congratulations . . . . your village must be truly proud of their Idiot. . . . . . All hail Sybil Microphallus, king of the idiots.

 

[Sy-bill]

In 5 months of stupid posts, this is the stupidest post yet. Congratulations . . . . your village must be truly proud of their Idiot. . . . . . All hail Sybil Microphallus, king of the idiots.

And this is an example of an "intelligent" post? Your maturity level I am certain your mother would be proud of.

Case in point.