AirTran halts expansion at DFW

[moresky]

The Nature of things

During times of drought the scavengers and bottom feeders thrive and the top predators suffer. Perhaps the rains are coming, restoring the grasslands allowing the top predators to once again dominate and kill, sending the scavengers and bottom feeders back to where they belong, at the bottom of the food chain looking for scraps.

 

[pilotman121]

American Airlines

It is funny that American pilots forget the years of working for William Crandell.

 

[OffHot]

"Delta, NWA, everyone has done it. Heck, if SWA doesn't like the rules they try to change it. ie DFW, and SEA. Why is it when AA is shrewd they are evil, whenever anyone else does it, it is just business."


Would it be because AA had their hand in getting this law passed in the first place! You criticize SWA for wanting to change the law, yet when AA was king they got the local congressman to pass this law so they would not have to compete. Oh thats fair.

 

[AFcitrus]

Oh come on now. Why don't you fly for free so they can even have lower fares? (if you care so much about the "people.")


Bye Bye--General Lee

Isn't it funny (ha, ha funny) when someone who doesn't have anything intelligent to add to a consversation opens their mouth (or keyboard as the case may be) and types something really stupid.

 

[Chuck Yogourt]

Isn't it funny (ha, ha funny) when someone who doesn't have anything intelligent to add to a consversation opens their mouth (or keyboard as the case may be) and types something really stupid.

You mean like Ty Webb? Who does he work for again?

 

[Jeff Helgeson]

If you want to run with the big dogs...

I believe Mr Cox wakes up in the morning, trips over his dog and blames SWA..That man just doesn't like us, yet he wants us at DFW. He just doesn't get it. AA717driver has it right, AA should not role over and let Air Tran eat their lunch, AirTran tried, they failed, they will try again. AA is not Delta, which is why SWA wants no part of DFW. AA at Love, we can handle. Isn't this a fun business.

.....you can't just sit on the porch!

This is a hard-ball industry with no do-overs.

Play ball!

 

[Jeff Helgeson]

It's Robert Crandall

It is funny that American pilots forget the years of working for William Crandell.

It's uncle Bob! With expertise like that you are a prime candidate to go to work for the Boyd Group.

 

[acbarney]

I live in MSP, had heard on the news AIrTran was pulling out. Anybody at AirTran heard something FACTUAL about this.

AA

It's ATA that's pulling out of MSP....Geez even in bankruptcy no one knows the difference.

 

[-9Capt]

I live in MSP, had heard on the news AIrTran was pulling out. Anybody at AirTran heard something FACTUAL about this.

Based on this press release, I'd say you got some bad info.


AirTran Airways Expands Network in Key Business Markets of Chicago, Boston and Minneapolis/St. Paul

Monday October 17, 1:09 pm ET

Daily Nonstop Flights From Chicago-Midway to Two New Cities to Begin December 6

ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AAI - News), today announced the airline will expand its network in key business markets with new daily nonstop flights from Chicago Midway Airport to Boston Logan International Airport and Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, beginning December 6, 2005.
The new service will include four daily nonstop flights between Chicago (Midway) and Minneapolis/St. Paul, as well as three daily nonstop flights between Chicago (Midway) and Boston. All new flights will be served by the airline's popular Boeing 717 aircraft.
"AirTran Airways continues to pursue opportunities to expand our network in key business markets across the country," said Kevin Healy, AirTran Airways vice president of planning. "This new service connects these popular markets with convenient schedules designed to meet the needs of the business traveler and fare structures that will stimulate leisure demand as well. Our product combines key business attributes -- new Boeing aircraft, assigned seating, large overhead bins and business class -- with low fares that never require roundtrip purchase or a Saturday night stay which all of our customers appreciate."

 

[mdf]

During times of drought the scavengers and bottom feeders thrive and the top predators suffer. Perhaps the rains are coming, restoring the grasslands allowing the top predators to once again dominate and kill, sending the scavengers and bottom feeders back to where they belong, at the bottom of the food chain looking for scraps.

You sir are a real poet. Ted Kazinski is that you?

 

[conman]

The real loosers here are the people of DFW who used to get low fares to LAX.

\

When you have professionals that think like this it is no wonder this job is in the toliet. If you really want to fly people or supplies around for charity then there are plenty of opportunities in third world countries.

 

[aa73]

The problem is American is viewed by the general public and other airlines for that matter as being pompous arrogant a$$holes. You claim to have a great product but when I for one fly on you, your services is lousy. Your agents yell at the customers for asking simple questions, your flight attendants are rude and uncaring. Then, you have the people of north Texas and the surrounding states by the gonads and charge them out the ying yang to go out of state. That's why you are considered evil.

I think you're out to lunch. Most of the general public views ALL legacy airlines as "pompous and arrogant a$$holes." I mena, if it's not JB or SW, everyone else sucks. Maybe you are one of the ones that had a bad experience on AA... and as such, you claim that "everyone thinks AA is evil."

Like AAflyer said above, I usually get great comments from the pax deplaning my flights. I think overall we have a decent product, but nothing spectacular. As in, we are a typical legacy carrier that pleases a lot of people, pisses off a lot of people, but most people don't notice much difference bewteen us and, say, DL, UA, etc.

A lot of AA employees are ex-other-airline types, and for the most part they provide great service. That said, if you have a grudge against AA for something that happened, I can't blame you for having a negative view of them. However, if you find yourself on one of my flights, I can at least try and change that view.

 

[Chuck Yogourt]

I think you're out to lunch. Most of the general public views ALL legacy airlines as "pompous and arrogant a$$holes." I mena, if it's not JB or SW, everyone else sucks. Maybe you are one of the ones that had a bad experience on AA... and as such, you claim that "everyone thinks AA is evil."

Like AAflyer said above, I usually get great comments from the pax deplaning my flights. I think overall we have a decent product, but nothing spectacular. As in, we are a typical legacy carrier that pleases a lot of people, pisses off a lot of people, but most people don't notice much difference bewteen us and, say, DL, UA, etc.

A lot of AA employees are ex-other-airline types, and for the most part they provide great service. That said, if you have a grudge against AA for something that happened, I can't blame you for having a negative view of them. However, if you find yourself on one of my flights, I can at least try and change that view.

Maybe it was wrong of me to put it the way I did. I have flown AA over 200 times and my review of your airline is 50/50. Some of your people have gone above and beyond while others have been down right hostile. I have an article from a major DFW area publication that did a survey on customer service. The comments in it should get every AA employees attention. Your own CEO provided the survey. It was one he had done to try to figure out why your reputation for treating people like crap was so strong. He was shocked and dismayed. I think the comment one of your frequent flyers made says it all. " I think we all would rather have an enima than have to fly AA. But it is the only game in town."

Personally, I would rather fly AA than NWA any day. Southwest included. Being pushed around like a heard of sheep just shows how much SWA has destroyed the airline traveling experience. With that said, I know when I fly SWA, I won't be chewed out by a gate agent for asking when the aircraft will be arriving or having to throw my ticket in the lap of a flight attendent who is in my seat and refuses to move his butt because "There are plenty of open seats over there". That happen earlier this year on a flight from LGA.

 

[SDF2BUF2MCO]

Personally, I would rather fly AA than NWA any day. Southwest included. Being pushed around like a heard of sheep just shows how much SWA has destroyed the airline traveling experience.

Is there any airline out there that meets your approval? Granted, passenger travel isn't what it used to be but my experience has been worst case vanilla/neutral. Think much of it is driven by costs. It is a blessing and a curse - air travel is affordable for the common man (which means more aviation related jobs) but our society has been "Walmartized" (meaning cheaper prices but less frills plus lower wages for the workers).

 

[aa73]

Maybe it was wrong of me to put it the way I did. I have flown AA over 200 times and my review of your airline is 50/50. Some of your people have gone above and beyond while others have been down right hostile. I have an article from a major DFW area publication that did a survey on customer service. The comments in it should get every AA employees attention. Your own CEO provided the survey. It was one he had done to try to figure out why your reputation for treating people like crap was so strong. He was shocked and dismayed. I think the comment one of your frequent flyers made says it all. " I think we all would rather have an enima than have to fly AA. But it is the only game in town."

Personally, I would rather fly AA than NWA any day. Southwest included. Being pushed around like a heard of sheep just shows how much SWA has destroyed the airline traveling experience. With that said, I know when I fly SWA, I won't be chewed out by a gate agent for asking when the aircraft will be arriving or having to throw my ticket in the lap of a flight attendent who is in my seat and refuses to move his butt because "There are plenty of open seats over there". That happen earlier this year on a flight from LGA.

I think you have valid points, but what you are describing is precisely the same exact gripes I hear from passengers AND employees from every legacy airline out there. We are all basically the same. Well, except maybe CO. They are in a league above.

I too have heard pax complaining that we are the only game in town.. and I've also heard pax thanking us that we are the only game in town. It goes both ways, and I think you'll see that at almost every legacy these days.

 

[TheDonger]

The real loosers here are the people of DFW who used to get low fares to LAX.

Now, now. The real losers are the people that like funny radio commericals, but some "discount airline with some pilot guys" just don't think its funny. :beer: