Gary Kelly Ain't Waitin' for the DOJ!!

[Lonestar]

"Southwest holds firm orders, options and purchase rights for approximately 250 737-700s, not including the firm orders for 62 737-700s that AirTran Airways holds and which Southwest Airlines would inherit if its proposed takeover of AirTran in 2011 goes ahead as planned."

It looks like Gary isn't waiting for DOJ to start taking over. These aircraft will be flown by current SWA pilots before (or even if?) the two operations are combined.

New B.737-7H4 (N556WN, msn 33936) ordered by Southwest Airlines (slot transfer from AirTran)
New B.737-7H4 (N555LV, msn 36726) ordered by Southwest Airlines (slot transfer from AirTran)

 

[Ty Webb]

Not any real news there. So some delivery slots got switched. Why waste the money painting 'em green, they're only going to get repainted purple.

Interesting to note that AirTran orders are in the 60's, not 50's.

 

[Bob Dylan]

Ouch. That's gonna leave a mark on the trannies!

 

[S3sundowner]

Bob, you crack me up. Great times to work for swa I'm sure; it's too bad neither of us do! I would be crawling to Dallas if I was an aai pilot to make sure this doesn't fall through.

 

[Bob Dylan]

Bob, you crack me up. Great times to work for swa I'm sure; it's too bad neither of us do! I would be crawling to Dallas if I was an aai pilot to make sure this doesn't fall through.

I'm sure that most of the trannies would crawl to Dallas. The problem is the senior captains at that company that post on here and make the entire group look like arrogant clowns. Heck, you can even read posts from a year ago from these guys begging to be bought and stapled.

 

[Ty Webb]

It sucks to be you, Bob . . . . . literally! :laugh:

 

[S3sundowner]

Yeah I know Bob. If only we could have this opportunity Bob. Ty, c'mon man quit bluffing and just let it out "..woooohooooo...". There you go buddy, feels better doesn't it? You too j-rod.....etc., etc.,...

 

[scoreboardII]

not really news, these jets will be used to replace the flying aluminum reinforced battle wagons known as 300's and 500's. Nothing to see here, no net fleet increase. the oft heard 300 glass upgrade is now slipping right, way right.

 

[flint4xx]

Not blue, not purple, but BLURPLE...

 

[Ty Webb]

Ty, c'mon man quit bluffing and just let it out "..woooohooooo...". There you go buddy, feels better doesn't it? You too j-rod.....etc., etc.,...

I'll "woo-hoo" when all is said and done. I'd rather be happy later than disappointed later.

 

[S3sundowner]

Ty, you are an aai captain. You will be a captain at swa rates (read about $7k/month more minimum) VERY SOON if you guys are reasonable. You will keep your seat until this closes with one certificate, probably two years. You will keep your seat during the expected fence. At the end of the fence, there will be significant new hires (hopefully). So, even if you lose your seat on the master sl, you may still keep it after the fences come down. You win no matter what.

 

[Ty Webb]

I'm cautiously optimistic for all of us, former AAI and current SWA alike. I wouldn't be surprised to see larger equipment going across the pond by the end of the decade.

 

[S3sundowner]

And I believe that is the plan. South Americas too. Ty can we have a group hug and just get along?

 

[Bob Dylan]

Yeah I know Bob. If only we could have this opportunity Bob. Ty, c'mon man quit bluffing and just let it out "..woooohooooo...". There you go buddy, feels better doesn't it? You too j-rod.....etc., etc.,...

You and me both dude. I'd give anything to get stapled to Southwest Airlines if I were sitting anywhere on the Trannie list. Basically going from a second or third tier airline with a bottom feeder contract to the best, most stable and highest paying airline in America. YGBFSM. Talk about LUCK!!!

I guess the senior captains there at AirTran don't give a crap about ruining it for everyone else, which is what I totally see happening. Heck, even my stockbroker thinks that Southwest will never integrate the pilots. But Ty knows better. haha. Um, yeah, riiiiight Ty!

 

[Ty Webb]

Who cares what your stockbroker boyfriend says? He must really be top-notch to have a client like you. :laugh:

 

[get2flyin]

This really is turning into the newest iteration of AWA/USAir merger. It really is too bad.

 

[bladeusa]

I disagree.. you are giving a few people here (many who work for neither airline and just stirring the pot) too much credit. Despite what a few anonymous posters on flight info may try to convince you. If SWA's culture is all thats it talked up to be.. things are going to be just fine, no matter the outcome.

 

[DonVerita]

You and me both dude. I'd give anything to get stapled to Southwest Airlines if I were sitting anywhere on the Trannie list. Basically going from a second or third tier airline with a bottom feeder contract to the best, most stable and highest paying airline in America. YGBFSM. Talk about LUCK!!!

I guess the senior captains there at AirTran don't give a crap about ruining it for everyone else, which is what I totally see happening. Heck, even my stockbroker thinks that Southwest will never integrate the pilots. But Ty knows better. haha. Um, yeah, riiiiight Ty!

Your stockbroker? Baaaaaaaahaaaaaaaaaahaaaaaahaaaaaaaa!!! Now there's an industry sage!!

Who do you work for ace? Mesa? Gulfstream? I'm sure you'd beg to be stapled at Pinnacle if you could.

2nd or 3rd tier eh? Get schooled jackwagon. AirTran is a Major and with the new contract is only paid less than SWA and ALA. Paid same or higher than all the other Majors on like equipment except for Delta 737NG. Delta DC9 pays equal to AAI B717.

Don't believe me? Go check it out for yourself right here:
http://www.airlinepilotcentral.com/airlines/legacy.html

 

[IAHERJ]

I'm cautiously optimistic for all of us, former AAI and current SWA alike. I wouldn't be surprised to see larger equipment going across the pond by the end of the decade.

Why wait? You can see large equipment going across the pond this afternoon if you like. It will be painted in Delta/United/American and, did I leave anyone else out....oh yeah, U.S. Airways colors. Head out to ATL/EWR/PHL/JFK/DFW/ORD/DTW/CLT/IAH/IAD anytime to watch this take place.

 

[Ty Webb]

Why wait? You can see large equipment going across the pond this afternoon if you like. It will be painted in Delta/United/American and, did I leave anyone else out....oh yeah, U.S. Airways colors. Head out to ATL/EWR/PHL/JFK/DFW/ORD/DTW/CLT/IAH/IAD anytime to watch this take place.

Oh, I can wait until I'm driving it, thanks!

How're things looking at UAL/CAL for someone with your seniority? What equipment/base/type of flying are you doing?

 

[FIREMAN]

SLOT TRANSFER not AIRCRAFT TRANSFER

 

[dicko]

Not blue, not purple, but BLURPLE...

Please ...... It's 'Burple'TM

I understand you work for Southwest, however I invented the technique; "The bastardization of the English language combining the strange mixing of colors".TM

I discovered it during a Peyote fugue late in 1964. You owe me threven dollars .....

 

[IAHERJ]

Oh, I can wait until I'm driving it, thanks!

How're things looking at UAL/CAL for someone with your seniority? What equipment/base/type of flying are you doing?

Just fine. Got about 1000 below me on the CAL side(yes, I'm still looking backwards if that tells you anything..) and who knows after the SLI comes out. IAH based on the 757/767 as FO. Do a little domestic and a bit of international these days. I've got all but 1 weekend off this month and I did better than many but less than a SWA 737 FO on 3rd year pay as an FO on 5 year pay(on 6th year pay now). Still less than if I had stayed at AirTran where I was an early 2003 hire and would be a 717 CA on 8th year pay but you make the decisions you are faced with given the information you have to work with at the time. I don't regret leaving but the SWA pay would have been nice. I hope we can catch up on our small small narrow body pay and adjust upward on the next contract. We have an uphill climb yet to make here at CAL/UAL but I think things will pan out. Never a dull moment in this industry. Good luck with the merger. I know it will be a good thing for all.

IAHERJ

 

[Ty Webb]

Puh-leez. Burple has been a color since eleventeen forty-four.

 

[Ty Webb]

IIAHERJ- Sounds like it worked out A-OK to me. You've got decent seniority and lots of great variety to choose from. If I lived near a CAL domicile and was offered a spot, I probably would have taken it, too. Still way too early for any of us to know the ending.

Regards,
Ty

 

[mt2]

Puh-leez. Burple has been a color since eleventeen forty-four.

Exactly !! I had it in my box of Crayola thirty-eleven colors years ago.

 

[GuppyWN]

I'm cautiously optimistic for all of us, former AAI and current SWA alike. I wouldn't be surprised to see larger equipment going across the pond by the end of the decade.

What? Was Bob planning on that or did your career expectations get a facelift since 9/28?

Gup

 

[dicko]

Exactly !! I had it in my box of Crayola thirty-eleven colors years ago.

Damn you all .......

I'll see you all in the ridiculously small claims court. You'll recognise me. I'll be wearing a velvet burple smoking jacket.

I'm slewing !

 

[Ty Webb]

What? Was Bob planning on that or did your career expectations get a facelift since 9/28?

Gup

Even when Joe L. was CEO the talk at recurrent was the ridiculously low lease rates on 757's and what we could do with those. Maybe you missed it, but even little Sun Country was planning proving runs to Stanstead ... in 737's!

 

[dh82dvr]

Bob its easy for you to say you would be happy to be stapled but rest assured if you were really in aai shoes I think you would feel differently. Who doesn't want to be in the best position possible? Do you think so little of yourself that a staple is good enough. That right there is the attitude of a loser.