New Southwest Domicile - ATL

[HA25]

Oh boy, here we go... *sigh*



As long as you're not bought by Southwest, you should be good with that. And the word is "precedent", by the way. (Sorry, couldn't resist)
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fixed it! Spelling never my strength... you should see how bad I'd be were it not for spellcheck.

I have some good friends at AT, don't get me wrong, Im all about doing the best for your pilot group, but a lot worse could have happened to AT than joining southwest. I remember back in the day in Concorse C when i was a smoker, I'd spend quite a bit of time in the "smoke room" talking to Value Jet/Airtran guys ... I remember the TWA rumors, I remember the ASA rumors! I also remember the time when we called it a lateral move to go from ASA to Airtran... the company had come a long way, but it was naive to think it was going to remain an independent airline for very long.. The airline industry is a natural oligopoly... it's just like it was pre-deregulation, only now it's deregulated.. STILL costs a fortune to run one and turn a profit!

 

[Lear70]

fixed it! Spelling never my strength... you should see how bad I'd be were it not for spellcheck.

I know, just messing with you, I don't usually play "spelling or grammar police".

I have some good friends at AT, don't get me wrong, Im all about doing the best for your pilot group, but a lot worse could have happened to AT than joining southwest. I remember back in the day in Concorse C when i was a smoker, I'd spend quite a bit of time in the "smoke room" talking to Value Jet/Airtran guys ... I remember the TWA rumors, I remember the ASA rumors! I also remember the time when we called it a lateral move to go from ASA to Airtran... the company had come a long way, but it was naive to think it was going to remain an independent airline for very long.. The airline industry is a natural oligopoly... it's just like it was pre-deregulation, only now it's deregulated.. STILL costs a fortune to run one and turn a profit!

Oh I know, but I'm not going to get into another debate of who wishes they had stayed stand-alone and why, we've beat that to death the last 48 hours.

Will make the best of it, just wish they'd have held off on opening the base until the majority of the 717 guys were over instead of the senior people getting skipped then not being able to get back into the base for a good long while. That WAS the plan initially, but I guess enough people kvetched that it would help "ease the pain" on this side of the partition, so they did it early, which actually hurts our guys stuck on the 717 who can't come over.

At least some of our CA's should be a little happier not having to commute when they cross.

 

[HA25]

I know, just messing with you, I don't usually play "spelling or grammar police".

I think us two ex-mods, on Michaels $hit list can at least go that dirty once in a while!

At least some of our CA's should be a little happier not having to commute when they cross.

a would be classmate of mine at American back in 2001 who is a CA at AT now told me there was a captain that was in his upgrade class there at AT who actually had a class date for southwest just before the merger... almost took it too, luck for him they cancelled it before they announced the merger and saved him from a lifetime of misery.

 

[vixin]

Just remember the vacancies at SWA fluctuate monthly. So the Sr AT guys should be able to get in eventually. Thus any RSW FO that wants to be in ATL may get displaced out and gave a hard time getting back in for sometime. I know SC did that when he stole all the CA seats.

 

[vixin]

a would be classmate of mine who is a CA at AT told me there was a captain there at AT who actually had a class date for southwest... almost took it too, luck for him they cancelled it before they announced the merger and saved him from a lifetime of misery.

Funny he wanted to be put on the bottom of the list before now his seniority is much better. Better to be lucky then good sometimes.

 

[roughneck]

It will be interesting to see what the DR outcome is for displacement rights for 717 pilots.

AirTran displacement rights are clearly spelled out in your CBA. The DR won't tell you how to administer your own contract. 717 displacements occur on the AirTran side and have no bearing as to any rights or perceived rights on the Southwest side of the fence. AirTran pilots are not considered displaced when they bid over to SWA.
Sorry Bud.

 

[Lear70]

AirTran displacement rights are clearly spelled out in your CBA. The DR won't tell you how to administer your own contract. 717 displacements occur on the AirTran side and have no bearing as to any rights or perceived rights on the Southwest side of the fence. AirTran pilots are not considered displaced when they bid over to SWA.
Sorry Bud.

We'll just let the arbitrator decide. Not going to get into a tit for tat with anyone about it. Had enough of that this week.

Merry Christmas to ya'! :beer:

 

[redflyer65]

This is a plus for both sides IMHO......It'll get the transitioned AT ATL guys back home to ATL, and slow the defacto displacement of SW FOs in the east coast domiciles, particularly MCO......

I agree. ANY east coast base will help. I'm not sure how much it will help MCO, but any relief for those wanting ATL/East Coast is welcomed in my book.

I hope the former AT guys that want it can hold it. It would be great for them to drive to work. Unfortunately they don't all live there, but definitely good news.

 

[Lear70]

I think us two ex-mods, on Michaels $hit list can at least go that dirty once in a while!

LOL - I heard THAT!

 

[Lear70]

I agree. ANY east coast base will help. I'm not sure how much it will help MCO, but any relief for those wanting ATL/East Coast is welcomed in my book.

I hope the former AT guys that want it can hold it. It would be great for them to drive to work. Unfortunately they don't all live there, but definitely good news.

About 70% of our ATL pilot group commutes, which means about 30% live there of about 1,000 or so pilots, that's 300 peeps. If the majority of them get back in, that should flesh the base out pretty well, even when it grows later on. Good news for them, once the dust settles and people get (mostly) where they want to be.

I'll be chasing the Int'l and longer-haul flying, whichever base east of the Mississippi has it.