New AAI ALPA Strategy: Fire SWA Haters!

[Taco Rocket]

Good one Taco. Another pilot spouting off about stock price, labor costs and how to run an airline. You missed your calling.

Typical FI: attack the person, not the ideas.

 

[slaquer5]

Typical FI: attack the person, not the ideas.

It might be, because its hard to reason with an idiot. Go back to your village.

 

[GoodTimes]

OK Taco,

Enlighten us with your expansive knowledge of SWA's "unit costs" in a this "saturated market" with "slimming margins". And while you're at it, why don't you tell us all which stocks are worth buying. No one's attacking you. We'd really like to hear from an expert.

 

[ATLplt]

And while you're at it, why don't you tell us all which stocks are worth buying.

"Blue Horseshoe loves Anacott Steel."

 

[waveflyer]

And taco-
While you're at it- maybe you and Kmart can tell us how GK is so unworthy of trust...

 

[PapaWoody]

Finally a dose of reality. It's been amusing reading numerous posts where everyone thinks he is going to double his unit labor costs for the sake of "culture."

You are overpaid relative to your peers on similar equipment. It's a fact. Couple this with slimming margins in a saturated market, and a stock that has gone nowhere in almost 10 years, and... well -- you figure it out.

I have three points in response to your post, which is just thinly veiled envy, imo:

1. SWA pilots are paid approximately what we were paid in the mid 80's, adjusted for inflation. So it would seem that we aren't "overpaid relative" to our peers, our peers are underpaid relative to us. The leverage that you have in your next negotiations will be due to us, whereas we will gain nothing from your anemic contract. You're welcome.

2. At which point, when SWA has continued to be profitable come hell or high water, should we, in your esteemed opinion, consider giving some of our "overpay" back? Sorry your company's business plan can't support a decent contract - a problem that we don't currently (and probably never will) have.

3. Herb has always run his airline with the concept that although a viable culture might cost him a little money in the short term, it would save him / make him money in the long term. Every time. And I'm pretty sure Gary knows that also.

Thanks for your concern. However, we and our AirTran brothers and sisters will be just fine without it. Now go work on getting back what you gave away.

PapaWoody

 

[K-Mart]

And taco-
While you're at it- maybe you and Kmart can tell us how GK is so unworthy of trust...

Sorry bubba but Mr. Kelly cares about a profit and that is about it.

As far as trust is concerned I'll give you an example: Frontier. If you do work at Southwest then you will know what I am talking about.

For the AAI guys, seriously, he would let you work at the wages you are curently at for as long as he could and blame it on SWAPA. He would do it, trust me. We should work to get this thing done without going to the mediation or even worse arbitration phase.

When asked about the problem of too many executives and VP's at Exxon and other oil companies making 150K-200K Mr. Kelly replied "I've got the same problem with over 5000 execs making that here too."

He's not on our team and will never be. And please stop calling him f@cking Gary. You don't know him and he probably wouldn't give you the time of day so stop kissing his a$$.

 

[maxthrottle]

You go PCL128! Stick it to SWAPA. SWA's only way of survival is AAI and we should be compensated appropriately. Sure you were recalled but we're all behind you. Like we were at PCL. Hopefully you can use your National position to gerrymander the outcome of this SLI. We're all counting on you.

 

[Quiet Flight]

Let's just say that the "little side business" made a whole lot more last year than any SWA FO did, that's for sure

You have a side business that grossed "a whole lot more than" $268,000 last year?

Could you define "whole lot more"? Just curious. Thanks.

 

[Quiet Flight]

Sorry your company's business plan can't support a decent contract - a problem that we don't currently (and probably never will) have.

I don't know it all when it comes to airlines, but I do know this: DO NOT EVER say "Never"!

And yes, I work for SWA. I'd love to stay near the top, but history and the cyclic nature of this industry seem to dictate otherwise. Best of luck to all of us.

 

[Ty Webb]

You have a side business that grossed "a whole lot more than" $268,000 last year?

Could you define "whole lot more"? Just curious. Thanks.

So, you're telling me that a SWA FO averaged 268. every hour, until they "timed out"? Hard to believe.

Yes, our business is doing very well. My wife should get a lot of the credit.

 

[ASADFW7]

Some times I wonder what the heck is wrong with this industry then the last two pages remind me this is like wrestling entertainment.

 

[Daytonaflyer]

So what is the purpose of SWA buying Airtran. It seems to me they bought a company who has recently been posting losses, will be paying their employees a lot more, and keeping most of the current route structure. Doesn't losses plus paying higher salaries equal bigger losses? Is this all to get into Atlanta?

 

[FlyinGuy]

Yes!!!

 

[B727Driver]

So what is the purpose of SWA buying Airtran. It seems to me they bought a company who has recently been posting losses, will be paying their employees a lot more, and keeping most of the current route structure. Doesn't losses plus paying higher salaries equal bigger losses? Is this all to get into Atlanta?

It got SWA DCA, more LGA slots, ATL and AirTran’s future 737 delivery slots which will probably be converted to -800’s. The rest, only the powers that be in Dallas know.

 

[Luv2BFlyin]

So what is the purpose of SWA buying Airtran. It seems to me they bought a company who has recently been posting losses, will be paying their employees a lot more, and keeping most of the current route structure. Doesn't losses plus paying higher salaries equal bigger losses? Is this all to get into Atlanta?

I'd like to think that someone saw potential that our inept leadership couldn't manifest with thier "the beatings will continue until morale improves" approach. We were marginally successful in spite of ourselves more often than not.

BTW, profitable until 08 and 09 and then in the black again in 10 as well as forcasted for full year profit in 11.

 

[Taco Rocket]

I have three points in response to your post, which is just thinly veiled envy, imo:

1. SWA pilots are paid approximately what we were paid in the mid 80's, adjusted for inflation. So it would seem that we aren't "overpaid relative" to our peers, our peers are underpaid relative to us. The leverage that you have in your next negotiations will be due to us, whereas we will gain nothing from your anemic contract. You're welcome.

This then-and-now argument interests me. I'm not talking about what you made in the 1980's, or what Pan Am paid in the 1960's, or any other analogy. I'm talking about now. Southwest pilots, now, today, are paid a lot more than pilots flying similar equipment at other airlines. Your argument assumes that every pilot group is engaged in pattern bargaining. Some competing unions are NOT asking for an improvement to the Southwest contract. These facts illustrate the point that Southwest pilots relatively overpaid.


2. At which point, when SWA has continued to be profitable come hell or high water, should we, in your esteemed opinion, consider giving some of our "overpay" back? Sorry your company's business plan can't support a decent contract - a problem that we don't currently (and probably never will) have.


I never stated you should return money to your employer.


3. Herb has always run his airline with the concept that although a viable culture might cost him a little money in the short term, it would save him / make him money in the long term. Every time. And I'm pretty sure Gary knows that also.

Thanks for your concern. However, we and our AirTran brothers and sisters will be just fine without it. Now go work on getting back what you gave away.

Why do you speak for "Herb" and "Gary?" Do you know these people personally? Are you directed to speak this way by a representative of the corporation? I had assumed you were labor.

 

[Taco Rocket]

So what is the purpose of SWA buying Airtran. It seems to me they bought a company who has recently been posting losses, will be paying their employees a lot more, and keeping most of the current route structure. Doesn't losses plus paying higher salaries equal bigger losses? Is this all to get into Atlanta?

If you listen to many on this board the purpose of purchasing AirTran was to give everyone a huge raise.

 

[Tripower455]

I have three points in response to your post, which is just thinly veiled envy, imo:

1. SWA pilots are paid approximately what we were paid in the mid 80's, adjusted for inflation. So it would seem that we aren't "overpaid relative" to our peers, our peers are underpaid relative to us. The leverage that you have in your next negotiations will be due to us, whereas we will gain nothing from your anemic contract. You're welcome.

This then-and-now argument interests me. I'm not talking about what you made in the 1980's, or what Pan Am paid in the 1960's, or any other analogy. I'm talking about now. Southwest pilots, now, today, are paid a lot more than pilots flying similar equipment at other airlines. Your argument assumes that every pilot group is engaged in pattern bargaining. Some competing unions are NOT asking for an improvement to the Southwest contract. These facts illustrate the point that Southwest pilots relatively overpaid.


2. At which point, when SWA has continued to be profitable come hell or high water, should we, in your esteemed opinion, consider giving some of our "overpay" back? Sorry your company's business plan can't support a decent contract - a problem that we don't currently (and probably never will) have.


I never stated you should return money to your employer.


3. Herb has always run his airline with the concept that although a viable culture might cost him a little money in the short term, it would save him / make him money in the long term. Every time. And I'm pretty sure Gary knows that also.

Thanks for your concern. However, we and our AirTran brothers and sisters will be just fine without it. Now go work on getting back what you gave away.

Why do you speak for "Herb" and "Gary?" Do you know these people personally? Are you directed to speak this way by a representative of the corporation? I had assumed you were labor.

I've met both Herb and Gary several times, and yes, that's exactly how they want be addressed. WN is a different company than you're used to. Enjoy it.

 

[SKC]

I've met both Herb and Gary several times, and yes, that's exactly how they want be addressed. WN is a different company than you're used to. Enjoy it.

I agree completely.