You and the rest of your gang keep telling yourselves how great you are, how innovative you are with your "#1 Internet" et al while peddling along in your old as dirt Classics; hot cabins and mx breakdowns nothwithstanding. Funny how Delta can make the 717 profitable but somehow SWA can't.
As I recall, you guys used to fly even older, nastier, used DC-9s. You eventually bought newer airplanes, and retired the older ones as you had the opportunity. What do you see differently about -300s being slowly phased out in favor of NGs at SWA? Not too familiar with your own history? The -300s are still making money--and a lot more than your 717s could ever make.
Delta
believes they can make the 717 profitable, but only as replacements 70-seat RJs. So, okay, I suppose the 717 is somewhat better than a 70-seat RJ. Happy now? That make you feel all better?
Inefficiencies reign supreme at SWA. We see it every day and as much as you probably hate to admit, I bet you see it too. Getting stuck in the old ways of the famous SWA mantra, "That's How We've Always Done It" has been the demise of many a large corporation. Don't think for one second that yours is any different.
Finally, your comment about upgrading to new technology should be done only when it's "strictly necessary" is exactly the type of attitude I'd expect from someone who shuns technology rather than embraces it. I bet you just love flying the -300 sweatbox on 6 intra-state legs in Texas don't you, doing max speed to get to your LBB layover 5 minutes early. Technology should be a never-ending rolling advancement. Stop by ATL one day and take the tram over to the new F Concourse to see a piece of it up close.
No, I
don't love flying the -300 on "6 intra-state legs in Texas." Don't do much of that out of LAS, fortunately, and there isn't
nearly as much of that anywhere in the system these days, actually. But on the other hand, if that makes the company money (and keeps my job secure and well-paid), then I'm all for it. What is it you don't get about this? I'll say it one more time for the guy whose either incredibly stupid, very forgetful, or just trying to be a dick:
it's more important for an airline's aircraft to make money, than it is for the airline's aircraft to keep the pilots more comfortable and lazy. Seriously, what is it that you don't understand about this? I'm glad
you're not in charge of actually managing anything.
Glad to hear that AirTran was so much more "technologically advanced" and more "innovative and efficient" than Southwest. Tell me again which company always made a profit, pays its employees much better, and has never furloughed again? And which on hasn't done any of those? Again, thank God for everyone here that you're not in charge of jack sh!t around here.
By the way, you keep saying "your company," meaning mine. Don't you mean "ours"? They're the ones paying your salary these days, since your old management couldn't wait to get rid of you. And if you really can't stand the thought of flying a -300 instead of your idea of the best airplane ever made (the 717), then keep in mind that you know where they're going. And I hear those guys are hiring as well. You can fly for Delta, on the very bottom of their totem pole, where even
they believe the 717 should be.
Get a grip, man. Get over things that you can't change. Or don't.
Bubba
