Alaska vs Airtran

[gt1900]

Morale at AK is horrible.. I have friends there and they say its not the company it was 5 years ago. I believe the upgrade is around 10 years, and then you can count on 4 years of reserve. I believe reserve is running over 2 years at AK if you want SEA as a base. With that said, id much rather live in SEA, ANC, or even LAX than ATL. AAI's upgrade is going to run probably about 5 or 6 years, currently its about 6 months on reserve for FO's. I believe you can make more money at AAI, the pay rates are about the same, but at AAI you can pick up a lot more flying and work your schedule to around 95 hours and 15 days off each month. I believe AK has a cap, but I could be wrong. Upgrade time is about half at AAI, so your gonna be making Capt wages 5 or 6 years earlier than at AK..... I think AK is more stable. No one competes with them in Alaska and they have a lot more money in the bank than AAI. The decision that you need to make is where you want to live. IF you and east coast guy the decision is simple, Airtran, if your from the west, Alaska. Even though your quality of life at AAI would probably be better, your quality of life living in SEA trumps the ATL..

 

[Kharma Police]

Why does Seattle have one the highest rates of suicide in the country?

 

[The Victors]

Well it may not matter. If consolidation kicks off like everyone is predicting next month, AirTran and Alaska may become the same airline in the future.

This weeks new merger predictions:

1. Delta and Northwest
2. Continental and United
3. American and US Airways
4. AirTran and Alaska
5. Southwest
6. Jetblue and Frontier

I wouldnt leave swa out of any merger predictions. They will be buying somebody. That being said, I believe both airtran and Alaska will become merger fodder.

 

[CatfishVT9]

Not so fast. Fornaro was asked about the possibility of a merger with Alaska at the town hall meeting a month or so ago. No hem-hawing around, he flat out said no. No synergies to be gained there.

 

[IdRtherBsailing]

Why does Seattle have one the highest rates of suicide in the country?

Cobain shot himself, Pear Jam cut their hair, and everyone is wayyyy over caffeinated.

 

[Secret Squirrel]

Not so fast. Fornaro was asked about the possibility of a merger with Alaska at the town hall meeting a month or so ago. No hem-hawing around, he flat out said no. No synergies to be gained there.

Then it is a sure thing. We are merging with Alaska. When has management ever told any work group what is going on in the company.

 

[airline#5]

THIS MANAGEMENT DOES! Then, of course, the deals fall apart.

 

[Eagle757shark]

Not so fast. Fornaro was asked about the possibility of a merger with Alaska at the town hall meeting a month or so ago. No hem-hawing around, he flat out said no. No synergies to be gained there.

AirTran has been outbid on two big deals that they attempted. If there is any chance they are currently speaking with Alaska, they will adamently deny it. Especially with Southwest out there and the potential for another company to step in and spoil a deal. No CEO is going to LOOK you in the EYE and say yes we are currently looking at this deal. The answers will always be NO in public in this competitive business. When consolidation begins, I imagine AirTran will be looking at merger opportunities as well. So again, Alaska and AirTran could be merger partners in the future when consolidation kicks off. Just speculation to this point.

 

[ATLplt]

AirTran and Alaska would make a ton of sense to me. Add in a Midwest hub and start connecting the dots. Bases in ANC, SEA, LAX, ATL, BWI, MCO, and somewhere in the Midwest = kick ass airline covering all of North America.

 

[tico]

Alaska:
Has always been a career destination and up until lately, their morale has seemed high. They have been around a long long time. They have always been a classy and prestigous place to work.

Airtran...........well, I don't know what to say here?

They have never been a classy and prestigious place to work. Until recently they have had an incredible spin team that could always sell ice to eskimos. And to the ignorant and uninformed they always appeared to be as you said........Lets be clear. This Alaska Airlines is not even a shell of the former airline....They are borrowing the name and that is it.....Over the last ten years or so they have sent all the talent and experience up the river.....we are nothing more than an old whore in a new dress.....Doesn't mean that you should not come to work here.....just know that it is not a destination and has not been for years....good jumping off point though.............