MDW here comes Airtran

[mnboyev]

ATA Fellas are good folks !! Welcome all that have come to wear the AirTran colors !!

Hey Steph... Keep em coming on the property !! Get those great folks through indoc Before the Holidays !!

The USAIR gate and ATA Gates in MSP are Torn up bigger that doo doo..?? Wonder where they'll put the flights ? Probably on E1... Holding out sucks big wind baby.

I heard only a 737 will work on the ATA gate ?? Better check it out fellas.. Im sure the accountability dept will get it straight .... LOLOOLOOL

 

[SWA/FO]

Guys....FOs still don't make policy here at SWA. All I am saying is if there is money to made on those routes we will make a play for them. None of this is set in stone, of course...just my opinion. I guess the gates we could use in MSP would come from ATA's unused gates and/or that SunCountry terminal.
(if its still there)

I don't think we are scard of AirTran...if we were, we would just buy you guys. We kicked your A$$ in the MDW deal and will be kicking your a$$ for years to come. You guys know thats right..Face facts, baby... nobody wants to listen to Elton John all day long on XM. That what ones own ipod is for.

I too thought that ATA deal with the codeshare thing was working great. I have several friends over there and I happen to like them a lot. For the record I have several good friends over at AirTran too.

 

[Airtran Fanatic]

I don't think we are scard of AirTran...if we were, we would just buy you guys. We kicked your A$$ in the MDW deal and will be kicking your a$$ for years to come. You guys know thats right..Face facts, baby... nobody wants to listen to Elton John all day long on XM. That what ones own ipod is for.

I hate it when posts turn into "my dad can beat up your dad" kind of deals. I dont think SWA is scared of Airtran, but also, I dont think that Airtran is afraid of SWA either. I think we could probably compete all day long against one another (cost wise) and not bat an eye or break a sweat. I think there is room in MDW and the rest of the United States for both of us.

May we all prosper! AIRTRAN, SWA, and ATA!!

PS. I wish the Elton John thing would go away... : there are a lot of great stations on the XM besides that lite rock or whatever... If they had asked me I would have told them to paint Motley Crue on the side

but they didnt

 

[AFcitrus]

Guys....FOs still don't make policy here at SWA. All I am saying is if there is money to made on those routes we will make a play for them. None of this is set in stone, of course...just my opinion. I guess the gates we could use in MSP would come from ATA's unused gates and/or that SunCountry terminal.
(if its still there)

I don't think we are scard of AirTran...if we were, we would just buy you guys. We kicked your A$$ in the MDW deal and will be kicking your a$$ for years to come. You guys know thats right..Face facts, baby... nobody wants to listen to Elton John all day long on XM. That what ones own ipod is for.

I too thought that ATA deal with the codeshare thing was working great. I have several friends over there and I happen to like them a lot. For the record I have several good friends over at AirTran too.

You're right nobody likes listening to Elton John all day. But they sure do like listening to that MLB, ACC, Big-10 or Pack-10 game that they are not able to be in front a TV for while flying across the country. Try getting those on your ipod, bud.

 

[TriStar_drvr]

FWIW, I flew with a former ATA pilot on my last trip. He was already furloughed when he got the call. Really a good guy and we need to hire more ATA Pilots! Anyone from the Southwest Peoples Department reading this forum? Hello.................

Thanks. Although it seems our record of getting through the interview process isn't very good....

 

[TriStar_drvr]

ATA Fellas are good folks !! Welcome all that have come to wear the AirTran colors !!

Hey Steph... Keep em coming on the property !! Get those great folks through indoc Before the Holidays !!

Thanks for the endorsement. Now if Steph is paying attention....

 

[TV9Driver]

Yeah, what's the deal? I had an ex-ATA guy in my new hire class at AirTran and he said out of the 44 or so ATA pilots offered preferential interviews, only 2 were hired. Sounds like SWA is missing the boat on a great group of pilots. Their loss is our gain!

 

[apdsm]

I guess the gates we could use in MSP would come from ATA's unused gates and/or that SunCountry terminal.

Or quite possibly the gates that SWA is rumored to already own at the new Humphrey terminal!

 

[airline#5]

It's true. SWA had no intention of hiring any ATA pilots. They offered the pref. interviews to help win the battle of Midway. As an ATA pilot I wish to hell that AirTran would have won the bid for the ATA gates. I have know doubt that they would have hired many ATA guys just as they have all along since SWA paid to protect their turf. As if ATA mngmnt hasn't f'ed their pilots enough, SWA had to jump in on the fun. When they have assurance that ATA's 8 gates will go to them, Kelly will instruct his lacky Dennison to shut the place down. Plan complete, with no objection from Daley. Out of work again.

 

[SWA/FO]

Lots of ATA folks jumped infront of many applicants here at SWA. That is a fact.

Unfortunately, some did not interview so well. When you have had a job for so long, one tends to get out of "interview shape". Maybe some people thought they were already "in" and let their guard down during the interview or like I said before they had not interviewed in a while and it showed. The SWA plan gave ATA a fighting chance.

 

[Metro752]

SWA & AirTRAN should merge into ATA.

BTW, SWA not hiring a 5 year pilot or whatever from ATA because he didn't interview well, is pretty stupid, in my opinion. I've have two not so pleasant experiences with the SWA PD, quota filling morons. If they need one green person cuz Big Brutha says so, but they have two blues that are more qualified, they still need that green. Thats a fact, jack

 

[SWA/FO]

Metro752,

What are you talking about? Are you saying that Southwest should hand out a job because they feel sorry for someone?

Maybe you need to step back and really look at your "not so pleasant experiences" and try to figure out what went wrong. I have a buddy that should have been hired in 2002...didn't get the call. He thought it went well but after the letter came he started to reflect/look back and decided that is was not that great of an interview. He is in the process now and hopefully things went better this time around.

Besides, this thread is about AirTran taking over the World...or something like that....

 

[HalinTexas]

Unfortunately, some did not interview so well.

Can you define this for me?After three tried I'm clueless. In more ways than one.

 

[HalinTexas]

Lots of ATA folks jumped infront of many applicants here at SWA. That is a fact.

I reject that statment.About 50 interviewed with SWA as part of the preferential interview process. Less than 10 were hired. I think the number was 8, not sure. This "advantage" as you and others have called it, was less than one in five hiring rate. Many more than 50 have applied in the last year and a half outside the pref. interview, and less than 1/5 have been hired.

 

[SWA/FO]

You can reject it all you want.... But the 50 or so that interviewed waited less time for an interview then many in the application stack. It took my buddy 3 years to get a call w/ the type.

I have no idea why you were not hired? I have no idea why I wasn't hired at Fed Ex..... If you think its some conspircy then so be it.

I know SWA doesn't like to waste money. Why waste money interviewing ATA guys if you know from the start you don't want them.

 

[ATA For Now!]

I have no idea why I wasn't hired at Fed Ex. I know SWA doesn't like to waste money. Why waste money interviewing ATA guys if you know from the start you don't want them.

I know why you weren't hired by FedEx...they saw what a DIK you are!

How can you possibly make a blanket statement like " Why waste money interviewing ATA guys if you know from the start you don't want them"

That is about the stupidest thing I have seen here for ohhh....20 minutes or so. The guys I have flown with at ATA have been nothing but 100% professional. I will miss them all (well, almost all) very much.

Enjoy!

 

[mnboyev]

I just want to make it to retirement. 20 Years to go baby.(maybe 25).. I hope the industry settles down a bit. It certainly is getting a little too sporty.

Orange Belly Money Makers... Green Tail Penny Pinchers..... Its all good. Just dont take away my damn jacket !! Take away my jacket and my hat stays at home !

I'm hoping for that MSP Virtual Base Baby !!! I think we need a gate that will accomodate 717's !!! ATA's ramp is tore up !! and What about contract MX now ? Without ATA MX ... who's gonna fill the hydraulic res up on occasion ? The ATA gate will not go low enough for a 9.... ie why ATA got it from MAC via NWA......

 

[mnboyev]

Dont call him a DIK.... Thats not professional....

..... He's ok.... He cant help he's got a little orange crush goin on.....

I do agree.... They should have hired the ATA fellas without too much discourse.... As long as they didnt have any odd habits and or wild haircuts.

Anywhoo.... AirTran would be more than happy to take em... After they get done hiring the FlyI fellas... I understand that is the flavor of the day ?? Good folks too..... But C'mon... Get the 737 fellas from ATA on board.... Better Landings on the way hopefully !!!! Good midwestern values and work ethic.

 

[Jim Smyth]

I reject that statment.About 50 interviewed with SWA as part of the preferential interview process. Less than 10 were hired. I think the number was 8, not sure. This "advantage" as you and others have called it, was less than one in five hiring rate. Many more than 50 have applied in the last year and a half outside the pref. interview, and less than 1/5 have been hired.

I am not saying that 8 out 50 is a good number and I wish we could hire everybody! But when I hired on in 1992 the ratio was 1 out of 12 that got hired at SWA. So the numbers your using are pretty much in line with what has happened in the past if not slightly better than my era. As you know the industry is in the worst shape I have every seen in my 24 year carrer so far and competition if fierce to say the least. There isnt much logic sometimes when it comes down to airline interviewing. Some guys have to scrap along all there lives and dont get many interviews/job offers and some get hired with every airline they apply to. I was in the scraper catagory getting hired at 2 out of 7 airline interviews. I sincerely wish all the ATA folks the best and hope things workout for us both!

Sorry for getting off topic here...............

 

[canyonblue]

How can you possibly make a blanket statement like " Why waste money interviewing ATA guys if you know from the start you don't want them"

I read that to mean, Southwest would not spend money interviewing ATA pilots, just for the sake of being nice. They only spend money to interview who looks best for SWA, and I would include that to be many of the ATA pilots. Do they miss the mark sometimes? Of course. I think every SWA pilot can name at least one or two friends that were turned down at the interview, and were dumbfounded by the result. The ATA pilots I have encountered are top notch, and I believe that we are missing out on a lot of great pilots. The people who decide who gets on at SWA, are the only ones who can explain why. And they don't talk.

 

[1800 RVR]

But the 50 or so that interviewed waited less time for an interview then many in the application stack.

I was part of the pref group, and I had my app in since 2001 w/ a type. I think I had waited longer than some of the non-ATA applicants that came through. By you making a blanket statement like that is inaccurate.

Now, that being said, I did not get hired at SWA. I'm happy for those ATA bros that did. BUT, from indirect knowledge of the people involved in the hiring process, THEY NEVER HAD ANY INTENTION OF HIRING ME! That, my friend is BS. Don't bring me in for an interview, getting my hopes up that "We really want to hire all of you", getting all excited and trying my G-D DAM- hardest, knowing in their heads before even meeting me that I wasn't even in the running. I can handle rejection in the form of "You know, we're sorry that you are getting furloughed, and we see that you have a type and meet our mins, but your hours are not competitive at this time." That is the honorable way of dealing with someone. THAT I can handle.

Now, some of you may say that I'm bitter that I didn't get hired. Nope. I'm happily employed and I wish nothing but the best for all my friends at SWA. The pilots there are great! I appreciate all of the rides that I get to and from work. I was just making a point that maybe, just maybe, somewhere in the hiring process, some people don't get a fair shake.

To all of the ATA guys out there: I'm sorry for all of the BS that is going on. It kills me to see what's going on. Hang in there - I hope that something better will come around for all of you. PM me if you have any questions.

1800 RVR

 

[SWAdude]

BUT, from indirect knowledge of the people involved in the hiring process, THEY NEVER HAD ANY INTENTION OF HIRING ME! 1800 RVR

Your sources are incorrect. And probably just trying to protect you. Now you have direct information from people involved.

Rejection is difficult to face. It is for everyone. But to think that SWA brings applicants in that they know they will reject is simply being in denial. This company wouldn't waste a penny on anyone that they remotely thought that to be a possibility.

Believe what you want. But that idea alone is not the standard that SWA looks for in a candidate. And we do pick up on those attitudes in the interview.

 

[SWA/FO]

I guess it should have read "Southwest doesn't like to waste money. Southwest would not waste its time conducting interviews just for a dog and pony show." Or something like CanyonBlue said. You guys are so sensitive..

While this was in no way an attempt to dis ATA guys. (I'm sure whatever I type will be twisted around). What you guys are talking about would be more like a merger/buy out where we would take everybody, like a Morris deal. Sorry, that is not the case here, not right now. Just because you work or worked for ATA you don't have an automatic in.. you still have to make it past "the process".

Maybe they stopped interviewing guys because we are going to be buying out ATA and y'all are coming over anyway? Who knows what they are "planning"

 

[BFL370]

SWA/FO......keeep up the good work posting, you make the ATA guys look great.

 

[1800 RVR]

Your sources are incorrect. And probably just trying to protect you. Now you have direct information from people involved.

SWAdude,

I hear ya. The source that I heard from came from someone that is also involved in the process (supposedly). Let me just say, we were told that ATA candidates didn't have enough quality experience and PIC turbine, even though 4-year captains in the 737 were getting shot down. You never know what's true or not; you just evaluate what is plausible as truth or not.

I truly believe that I had my best interview ever when I went to DAL. I walked out of the process feeling that I had put my best foot forward, etc. It wasn't to be. I'm not mad or angry, I just believe that the whole process isn't 100% bulletproof. At my present employer, I thought I had blown the interview - I walked out literally thinking that I had no chance in heck. Surprise: I got hired.

I wasn't expecting SWA to give me a job; I knew that I had to earn it. I was grateful that they brought me down to talk to me. There is just a small part of me that thinks that I was never competitve to begin with, and due to the deal in MDW between Daley, ATA, and SWA, "x" amount of people had to be interviewed by SWA to appear as they were interested in keeping Chicago jobs in Chicago.

Again, to repeat, I'm not angry,and I wish all the best to my fellow pilots at SWA. This is just one man's opinion and $0.02.

 

[SWA/FO]

Sure pick on the SWA/FO the most quoted man on flightinfo.com. And the only 5 Star Senior Member on the entire board!!!

 

[humveedriver]

Apparently all these ATA pilots aren't "5-Star Senior Members" or "the most quoted man on flightinfo.com", I guess thats what it takes to get on at SWA these days.

 

[Alcatraz]

FWIW, I think SWA/FO is getting a little too much heat from this.

I know of 14 ATA furloughees who got hired by SWA, plus one non furloughee. I'd also be willing to bet there are several more that I don't know or haven't heard of, which makes the numbers more consistent with applicants from the street. I do, however, think the numbers should/could have been much higher... nearly EVERY ATA pilot I knew or flew with was not only a great pilot but someone I'd look forward to flying another 5-day trip with.

SWA didn't hire some people that really should have gotten the job IMHO. SWA also hired some people that I didn't think were as good for SWA as some they denied... but is there any airline or company that hires exactly right?

I interviewed at AirTran before I interviewed at SWA. Due to many factors, only some of which were beyond my control, I really screwed up the interview at AirTran and didn't get hired. This reality check made me work that much harder for the SWA interview, and it worked. I know of several ATA guys that were the opposite: they interviewed at SWA first, got turned down, then interviewed at AirTran and got hired. Perhaps this is one reason the statistics may show AirTran hiring a few more ATA pilots than SWA (but I'm not even sure that's an accurate statistic).

And who knows, as a SWA jumpseater told me a while back, "There will be no more rumors until the merger is complete."

Anyway, this industry is a mess, and I wish it could just work out for the best for everyone.

 

[Pilot Knob]

Replying to an earlier post, there is no way you will see SW at MSP as long as NW is still in business. This is red tail country and they have the Metropolitan Airport Commision wired for sound. Why do you think an airline that is in such dire straights as NW has the pull to boot all non-codeshare airlines to the Humphrey? No team can win evey game, and in my opinion SW would do better focusing their attention elsewhere. As a side note, SW got what they wanted out of the ATA deal, keeping AirTran out! I do believe initially the deal appeared better to the ATA folks, but in the long run I don't believe this will be the case. SW will cut the cord on ATA when they are done playing. Remember Chicago Express. A profitable feeder bringing 1,000,000 passengers a year into MDW set out to pasture because it didn't fit into the SW plan. I hope this isn't the case, but I don't think it is out of the question. Just my 2 cents worth.