Gary Kelly's ATN Comments at Message To The Field

[K-Mart]

Like the effect that Egypt and the Middle East coupled with potential $150 oil can have on a break even operation like AirTran. I don't think GK is going to risk SWA when he has options. He will ALWAYS keep his options open. A smooth SLI and labor peace will make this decision much easier for him.

If oil does get to that point and stays for awhile then not only with this deal probably not go thru but I can see some forloughs on the SWA side. As far as the Airtran side, who knows.

 

[Bill Nelson]

If oil does get to that point and stays for awhile then not only with this deal probably not go thru but I can see some forloughs on the SWA side. As far as the Airtran side, who knows.

We are hedged through 2014 with much better terms than last time. We are good, are you?

 

[K-Mart]

We are hedged through 2014 with much better terms than last time. We are good, are you?

I'm fine I just hope oil doesn't get there. It won't be good for us however we're hedged.

 

[Bob Dylan]

If oil does get to that point and stays for awhile then not only with this deal probably not go thru but I can see some forloughs on the SWA side. As far as the Airtran side, who knows.

No, what will happen is that he will use the slots and gates of Guadalupe Holdings and slowly close the operation down. SWA pilots will never see a furlough, but Guadalupe Holding pilots will. in fact, every one of those pilots could eventually be furloughed permanently.

Take the staple.

 

[shagadelic]

You know, the more I read from GL the more I'm starting to think he is at AirTran. Welcome aboard General.

Have you noticed all the Delta guys try to sew as much discontent as possible? I would to if I were them. SWA isn't going to be the same competition in Atlanta they are used to.... I look forward to it. :beer:

Hey General, just think, if you were had gone to SWA, you could be making close to 3 bills like me...all going to Lubbock. God, that sucks for me. :laugh:

 

[Ty Webb]

I thought I was on your ignore list?

Sorry bud, I'm just trying to talk some sense into you guys from a outsiders perspective.

Yes, we can see how well your own career advice has worked out for you. How is cargo corner in MIA these days? Still hoping to get to the left seat of a widebody for $85. an hour?

At this rate, it looks like you're going to blow it.

News Flash . . . . Merger Committees haven't even begun to discuss SLI. If you are basing your opinion on what you read here, it's time for more EST.

Either you guys take a staple, or plan on never going over. JMHO.

Bobby, you're an idiot. Not even the most militant SWA guys think they are going to get a staple . . . but here's good ol' Bobby, looking about as "with it" as Dennis Kucinich. :laugh:

I love how General Lee is now your ally and biggest cheerleader. He is steering you guys down the path of destruction

The General is . . . the General. He's not leading us anywhere, he's an outsider, voicing his opinion, just as you are. He's been through an SLI . . . howsaboutyerself?.

.....:laugh::laugh::laugh:

 

[Lear70]

Oh good, Bob "Swingline" Dylan is back.

How did that go again, Kharma? "Skip... skip... skip..." lol

 

[Bob Dylan]

.....:laugh::laugh::laugh:

Fine man. I think you have the wrong idea about me. I'm NOT flaming and I'm just stating MY opinion as an outsider too. I'll even admit that in the past I was having a little fun with you because of some of the things you said about me.

In any case, as an OUTSIDER, I honestly think that SWA will protect their own employees, and in the end AT pilots will not join their seniority list unless they agree to being stapled to the bottom. This assumption is based on the fact that SWA values their corporate culture more than just about anything. Pissing off every SWA FO is not something that I see them doing. It will be bad for business.

I do see them taking what they want from AT (gates, routes and planes) and slowly closing down Guadalupe Holdings. Will they state that publically? Of course not, but that is probably the plan if you guys don't agree to a staple.

Jeez, you will have already gained massive pay increases and stability. You expect not to give something up for that? I guess you expect to get it ALL. Which is why I predict you will get NOTHING.

Good luck. You guys really need to pull your heads out of your asssses.

 

[texman]

I don't know how it is going to go down, but I don't see any AT guy out of a job. What I do like is the potential this will have for both SWA/AT. I just dislike ALPA and how corrupt they are.

 

[Lear70]

Bob, not that I think you bring any good discussion to the table, but I *HIGHLY* suggest editing your comment for profanity. CLR has been pretty aggressive in policing the board lately, and I don't want to see ANYONE get put in the penalty box.

Speaking strictly NOT as a mod, since I'm not moderating these threads, just trying to make sure you stick around to keep things amusing. :beer:

 

[FlyinGuy]

Every now and then I sit down and read a little FI. Sometimes I think I just farted but then I realize I just read one of the General's posts!!!

 

[Bob Dylan]

Bob, not that I think you bring any good discussion to the table,

It's absolutely shocking to me to witness how blinded you guys are by greed. Shocking!

You're going to piss away probably the luckiest lottery ticket in the history of aviation all because you want more, more, more. AirTran to Southwest Airlines. Unreal.

I don't see the CEO of SWA offering up everything that you guys are getting without expecting you to start out at the new company where every other pilot on the list started out. I guess you think that you should get massive pay raises and benefit increases as well as jumping ahead of Southwest pilots who have worked there longer than you. Ain't gonna happen bro.

Oh yeah, keep listening to the bs that General Lee is feeding you. That's hilarious that all of the sudden he holds distinction with you Trannies.

Take the staple and count your blessings. Everybody knows that if it came down to a vote, you guys would vote in a staple with a majority. C'mon, think McFly, think!

 

[Bob Dylan]

Oh good, Bob "Swingline" Dylan is back.

How did that go again, Kharma? "Skip... skip... skip..." lol

I don't comment on these threads often, but if these comments from the CEO of SWA are true, I think that is a pretty big clue about what is going to happen.

I hope you guys are smart enough to see it, otherwise you will be blowing the opportunity of a lifetime and end up with nothing.

Just keep listening to General Lee though, I'm sure he knows.

 

[dh82dvr]

How is that some of you will say senoirity is everything, but hey you AAI guys should give up ALL of yours for a big paycheck.

 

[humveedriver]

Isn't it best for the employees at both airlines to be "combined" as soon as possible? What if GK decides having a second airline with cheaper costs is easier to grow? All this talk about about culture, but what what I'm hearing from several SWA pilots on this board is that SWA is becoming more "legacy" like every day. I sincerely hope that SWA management is still as touchy feely as some claim the are.

 

[Bill Nelson]

What if GK decides having a second airline with cheaper costs is easier to grow?

If AirTran can't grow I'll take my chances.

 

[texman]

Isn't it best for the employees at both airlines to be "combined" as soon as possible? What if GK decides having a second airline with cheaper costs is easier to grow? All this talk about about culture, but what what I'm hearing from several SWA pilots on this board is that SWA is becoming more "legacy" like every day. I sincerely hope that SWA management is still as touchy feely as some claim the are.

We all hope this goes good, but GK realy can't grow AT, per our contract. No whipsaw. The SWA pilot group has seeing what ALPA has done to the industry.

 

[texman]

Isn't it best for the employees at both airlines to be "combined" as soon as possible? What if GK decides having a second airline with cheaper costs is easier to grow? All this talk about about culture, but what what I'm hearing from several SWA pilots on this board is that SWA is becoming more "legacy" like every day. I sincerely hope that SWA management is still as touchy feely as some claim the are.

From a biz stand point, GK will use AT to grow the SWA side. Your cost are low and it will help.

 

[Lear70]

It's absolutely shocking to me to witness how blinded you guys are by greed. Shocking!

Greed? I'm simply expecting it to be a fair INTEGRATION. That does NOT equal a staple and almost every, single Southwest pilot on here has said so as well (with two notable exceptions). Two. That's it. Everyone else on the SOUTHWEST side isn't expecting a staple, either. So if we say the same thing, that's greed?

I don't comment on these threads often, but if these comments from the CEO of SWA are true, I think that is a pretty big clue about what is going to happen.

A week may go by before you post (I'm assuming because of your schedule), but by post count, you post just as much as any other, regular poster in these threads and you say the same thing, over and over again.

A staple isn't going to happen. The Merger Committees will come up with something fair and we'll vote on it. If it passes, we're in business. If it doesn't, it goes to arbitration. If it takes longer, it takes longer. WE aren't wound up about it, so why are YOU so wound up about something that doesn't even affect you?

I have my own opinions why you're being so caustic to the AAI pilots, and you're mildly amusing in your rants, but that's about it. Incidentally, you're already on almost every AAI pilot's ignore list so nothing you say is really changing anyone's mind...

It'll all be OK, man. Relax and let the process run its course.

 

[737tanker]

What if GK decides having a second airline with cheaper costs is easier to grow?

Per the SWAPA contract, SL6 to be specific, GK can't add 1 aircraft to AirTran unless he maintains a 3.61 to 1 of operational SWA aircraft to AirTran's total aircraft. Operational aircraft for SWA must be flying scheduled service and not maintenance spares or parked in the desert. The 3.61:1 ratio must be maintained until the 2 companies are combined. So basically GK can't grow AirTran unless he grows SWA at 3.61 times the rate.

 

[StopNTSing]

How is that some of you will say senoirity is everything, but hey you AAI guys should give up ALL of yours for a big paycheck.

...as opposed to SWA guys, who should presumably give up our seniority for nada?

 

[whoknows]

...as opposed to SWA guys, who should presumably give up our seniority for nada?

If you "gave" the AirTran pilot staight relative seniority you still have lost nothing as AirTran pilots are bring a 140 aircraft with them.

 

[Slug]

Actually, you gain a delayed upgrade. SWA F/Os will lose career earnings due to this. My loss is about 5% over my career for total earnings. Seeing that every AT pilot gains no less than 30% in career earnings my vote is against relative seniority.

 

[StopNTSing]

If you "gave" the AirTran pilot staight relative seniority you still have lost nothing as AirTran pilots are bring a 140 aircraft with them.

After more than a dozen threads and hundreds of posts on the subject, if you still can't (or won't) see the windfall a straight relative seniority integration would be for the AirTran pilots, I'm not going to try and educate you.

 

[On Your Six]

...as opposed to SWA guys, who should presumably give up our seniority for nada?

That is what happened here apparently. The Delta guys got a 5 percent raise initially and some stock. That was it.

OYS

 

[On Your Six]

Actually, you gain a delayed upgrade. SWA F/Os will lose career earnings due to this. My loss is about 5% over my career for total earnings. Seeing that every AT pilot gains no less than 30% in career earnings my vote is against relative seniority.

That didn't seem to matter in any of the recent arbitration hearings. Each losing side had that defense.


OYS

 

[Bwipilot]

That didn't seem to matter in any of the recent arbitration hearings. Each losing side had that defense.

Really, did the US pilots show that they'd have better career earnings than the AWA pilots--especially the furloughed US Air pilots? The US pilots' main point was that they'd put more years into the airline/their careers. Career expectations was a big factor. US pilots on the street stayed on the street, pilots getting high paying positions kept their high paying positions.

 

[Bwipilot]

Bobby, you're an idiot. Not even the most militant SWA guys think they are going to get a staple . . . but here's good ol' Bobby, looking about as "with it" as Dennis Kucinich.

Ty, I think you'd be surprised at how many SWA FOs are demanding a staple. Thankfully, they're polite enough to not rub it into others faces on a public forum. Those espousing relative seniority, keep pushing the rest of us towards the "Swingline" position.

Que sera, sera. It's all just a forum. Still, both sides will vote on the SLI if something happens before arbitration and then public opinion will be important. Hopefully, both sides won't be so poisoned that the USAPA fracture is guaranteed. That seems to be the goal of the outsiders.

 

[whoknows]

After more than a dozen threads and hundreds of posts on the subject, if you still can't (or won't) see the windfall a straight relative seniority integration would be for the AirTran pilots, I'm not going to try and educate you.

Try this again. What has a Southwest pilot lost, not what an AirTran pilot has gained.

 

[funnyman12]

I would bet there is a way to do a fair integration where every SW pilot increases their relative seniority by a little and every Airtran pilot loses a little relative seniority. That is better than DOH and less than straight relative. That is my guess on where the arbitrators may rule. I'm probably totally wrong, but..........sounds kinda fair to me.