My sixth year view of AirTran

[BR715]

I've been here six years. Got hired when the legacies were sucking anyone up, and upgraded at a very young age. Very comfortable right now and making good money. The problem is this! Pretty much everyone here right now except for a couple of coolaid drinkers are becoming very discouraged. Contract bs is destroying morale and no one really gives a crap anymore. Talked to a fo friend of mine that told me a lot of people are going back to their lagacy jobs as the are getting recalled. Also many people here are contemplating the move to Continental, UPS, Fedex, and Southwest. Can't say I blame them. The guys getting hired now probably won't upgrade and the FO pay is horibble. I guess that would make tripple 777 right seat at Continental look pretty appealing. For me I'll ride it out, but sad to see that the company's attitude toward employees and willingness to shop the airline will more than likely someday mean the end of the AirTran name.

 

[400ADude]

I've been here six years. Got hired when the legacies were sucking anyone up, and upgraded at a very young age. Very comfortable right now and making good money. The problem is this! Pretty much everyone here right now except for a couple of coolaid drinkers are becoming very discouraged. Contract bs is destroying morale and no one really gives a crap anymore. Talked to a fo friend of mine that told me a lot of people are going back to their lagacy jobs as the are getting recalled. Also many people here are contemplating the move to Continental, UPS, Fedex, and Southwest. Can't say I blame them. The guys getting hired now probably won't upgrade and the FO pay is horibble. I guess that would make tripple 777 right seat at Continental look pretty appealing. For me I'll ride it out, but sad to see that the company's attitude toward employees and willingness to shop the airline will more than likely someday mean the end of the AirTran name.

Not suprising at all.

 

[Occam's Razor]

Three words: Sears Auto Center

 

[Hagar17]

I saw a lot of young captains at Midway that felt the same way. They became lazy and satisfied. Now a lot of them are FOs at Eagle or out of aviation. Some of the 737 guys landed on their feet with SWA. Some are out of aviation altogether.

 

[-9Capt]

My 9 year view of AirTran:

The apathy around here is embarrassing. We could have had a contract a year ago if we had even the slightest bit of testicular fortitude.

We are about to have a concessionary contract rammed down our throat and no one is stepping up to the plate. Until we hit them in the wallet, expect nothing to change.

Taxi as if the FAA was observing, write up each and every maintenance discrepancy, alert, cabin discrepancy, do not reset CB's, do not test run engines (even if directed by Mx), conduct meticulous pre-flight inspections, do not call for a gate, cleaning, catering. In other words DO YOUR JOB AND NOTHING MORE!!

We have our sights set way too low. I've said it before, I can safely cast my NO vote today.

 

[Lowpayisgreat]

The problem

The problem is there are still long lines of people waiting to get in. Any company will not wake up till the retraining cost soar and the pool of qualified guys goes dry. I'd stay and make the six figures and keep in touch will all your buds elsa where. Why leave good money to start over, stay till the end then start over, unless its UPS or Fedex.

 

[XBOEINGDRVR]

I felt the same way br715, thats why i got out.....

 

[Espalda Mojado]

AirTran is going down. 5 years from now, nobody will know they ever existed.

 

[80for80]

My 9 year view of AirTran:

The apathy around here is embarrassing. We could have had a contract a year ago if we had even the slightest bit of testicular fortitude.

We are about to have a concessionary contract rammed down our throat and no one is stepping up to the plate. Until we hit them in the wallet, expect nothing to change.

Taxi as if the FAA was observing, write up each and every maintenance discrepancy, alert, cabin discrepancy, do not reset CB's, do not test run engines (even if directed by Mx), conduct meticulous pre-flight inspections, do not call for a gate, cleaning, catering. In other words DO YOUR JOB AND NOTHING MORE!!

We have our sights set way too low. I've said it before, I can safely cast my NO vote today.

Not according to Ty Webb!!! He's getting a big fat pay raise!

 

[HA25]

Nothing lasts for ever, but it does seem like the "Legacies" are on the upturn, so at least there is some good news out of our crappy industry and profession.

Man, I wish someone had told me all of this was going to happen 20 years ago.. I'd have gone to Med school.

 

[MJG]

I suppose in this business our airlines are either doing one of two things:

They're either doing fantastic and everyone sees life through rose colored glases, and in turn gets lazy, apathetic and just doesn't think about the long term future.

Or our airline is in the dumps and it's all we can do just to keep our jobs and hang on and will accept just about anything in lieu of a furlough or pink slip.

What a great profession we've all chosen.

Remember this though: as my FO reminded me the other day, we should all work to live, not the other way around.

There is certainly more to life then a nice paycheck and non-rev benefits.

 

[HA25]

Remember this though: as my FO reminded me the other day, we should all work to live, not the other way around.

That is my mantra and moto.. I hate how our culture has forgotten what is important.

As for the airlines, I've been told this before, and it appears to be true... they hire till they furlough, and they furlough till they hire..

Great.

 

[instructordude]

Nothing lasts for ever, but it does seem like the "Legacies" are on the upturn, so at least there is some good news out of our crappy industry and profession.

Man, I wish someone had told me all of this was going to happen 20 years ago.. I'd have gone to Med school.

I'm considering going.

 

[Stifler's Mom]

The problem is there are still long lines of people waiting to get in. Any company will not wake up till the retraining cost soar and the pool of qualified guys goes dry.

You need only look to the other end of Concourse C and realize that your pool won't be drying up anytime soon. Although your contract may not be desireable, AirTran looks very appealing to many ASA pilots right now.

I'm starting to recognize more and more familiar faces in your uniforms.

Best of luck in your new contract!!!!!!!!!!

 

[jonjuan]

Not according to Ty Webb!!! He's getting a big fat pay raise!

Oh, he'll be in new hire training at Virgin America in a 2 years years with the General. Jerkin gear for another 6 years.

 

[HA25]

I'm considering going.

Weren't you the one who thought getting paid $80K/yr to captain an MD-11 or 747 was good money?

Heck, you're in the right place if that's you.. cause you'll be lucky to see much more than 80K/yr in this career anymore.

 

[ReportCanoa]

I'm considering going.

The medical field is in worse shape than aviation. Just try going through all that hell for the same paycheck you get after six years at AirTran.

 

[dtfl]

I've been here six years. Got hired when the legacies were sucking anyone up, and upgraded at a very young age. Very comfortable right now and making good money. The problem is this! Pretty much everyone here right now except for a couple of coolaid drinkers are becoming very discouraged. Contract bs is destroying morale and no one really gives a crap anymore. Talked to a fo friend of mine that told me a lot of people are going back to their lagacy jobs as the are getting recalled. Also many people here are contemplating the move to Continental, UPS, Fedex, and Southwest. Can't say I blame them. The guys getting hired now probably won't upgrade and the FO pay is horibble. I guess that would make tripple 777 right seat at Continental look pretty appealing. For me I'll ride it out, but sad to see that the company's attitude toward employees and willingness to shop the airline will more than likely someday mean the end of the AirTran name.

Why won't they guys getting hired now upgrade? THey will sit as FO forever? How is that?

 

[Ty Webb]

Yep....

About 18 months ago we got to a fork in the road. Management had a real opportunity to work with the pilot group and reach a mutually beneficial contract and move forward to continue to build a successful airline, a la Southwest.

It seems clear now that this step was beyond the skill and ability of this management team . . . and, failing to rise to the occaision, they did the only thing they knew how . . . pull out the Eastern Airlines Contract Negotiation Playbook.

This colossal blunder demonstrates pretty clearly that these guys are stuck in the 1980's and have pretty much taken this place as far as their skill and experience was capable of taking it.

Maybe it's time to take those hefty bags full of bonus money and ride off into the sunset, and let some new blood take the helm.

 

[BR715]

Thanks for all of the responses guys. Just got home from my 4 day trip, and found out that my washing maching just flooded the whole down stairs of the house. All of the hardwoods need to be replaced. I think I will finish my bottle of wine and go to bed. Hope I will wake up and find out that this crap is just a nightmare. Happy Thanksgiving and Merry fricking Christmas!