RIP AirTran. Nostalgia thread

[Luv2BFlyin]

HVD, I agree...I realize that AAI has/had great people...but the company underpaid for decades....and yes there have been some high profile gaffes by SWA pilots (Branson and La Guardia), having a fellow SWA pilot (yes FAT) declare that we do NOT deserve a raise is a little troubling....I get the angst, even the righteous pride in a former work place, but that attitude is well, let's say divisive.,..

In business 17 years when merged (less than 2 decades). How long did WN underpay? Right up until the bankruptcies after 9/11 and will be again shortly, that is decades. We'd be better served by looking forward as opposed to sharing uninformed opinions about the past. We all have them and they are useless now.

 

[Just thinking]

MJ.............. one idiot..... big deal.
What about the article, that was published by the union in their RP rag, which accomplished more for the denegration of the pilot group and our profession than a solitary individual spouting off. For the union to publish his drivel was a waste of the union funds, gives voice to the kool aid enema crowd and works into the company rhetoric. BWI Cappy dragging us backwards. Have you called him to voice your displeasure with his article?

 

[DUBLINFLYER]

Maybe PCL is afraid of the round dials and actually having to hand fly a plane for the first time in his life

 

[SpauldingSmails]

Maybe PCL is afraid of the round dials and actually having to hand fly a plane for the first time in his life

Well, given what we know of PCL - he already has, and paid for the privilege of doing so.

 

[madjack]

Luv2B....17 years....almost two decades of below market wages....I stand corrected

 

[Ty Webb]

Actually, it was 21 years, and the wages were not always below market.

When I was hired (2001) the top pay for 12th yr CA was $152./hr. As I've pointed out here before, that was more than SWA was paying. It was also more than the legacies were paying for similar equipment in the post-9/11 world, unfortunately.

And, MJ, any former AAI guy that shows up on the line at SWA and truly thinks that they are there to babysit the Capt is just an a-hole. . . . Probably the same a-hole that would spend their time watching me, to the detriment of their FO duties.

I used to tell them, "Hey, if you want to watch me do my job, that's fine, just make sure you do your work first . . . because right now, your work isn't getting done". :laugh:

 

[slaquer5]

Actually, it was 21 years, and the wages were not always below market.

When I was hired (2001) the top pay for 12th yr CA was $152./hr. As I've pointed out here before, that was more than SWA was paying. It was also more than the legacies were paying for similar equipment in the post-9/11 world, unfortunately.

And, MJ, any former AAI guy that shows up on the line at SWA and truly thinks that they are there to babysit the Capt is just an a-hole. . . . Probably the same a-hole that would spend their time watching me, to the detriment of their FO duties.

I used to tell them, "Hey, if you want to watch me do my job, that's fine, just make sure you do your work first . . . because right now, your work isn't getting done". :laugh:

The original AirTran Airways, a Boeing 737 operator with service to/from Orlando, was founded by AirTran Corporation, the holding company of Mesaba Airlines of Minneapolis, Minnesota, operating as a Northwest Airlink carrier with hubs in Minneapolis and Detroit. In 1994

You lost me. If AT started in 1994, how could they have 12 year captains in 2001?

 

[canyonblue]

When I was hired (2001) the top pay for 12th yr CA was $152./hr. As I've pointed out here before, that was more than SWA was paying.

SWA 12 year CA pay on 9/01/01 was $149.90, I wouldn't lose sleep over $2.10 or the fact that 10 years later it went to $216.00. Not a bad increase.

 

[Ty Webb]

Come on, now....... If you look at the list, some VJ guys were hired in '93.

And, FWIW, I didn't say it was better, just trying to keep the conversation real.

I've been happy on the SWA side, largely because everyone has been very welcoming, don't be the turd in the punch bowl.

 

[HowardBorden]

I've been happy on the SWA side, largely because everyone has been very welcoming, don't be the turd in the punch bowl.

Over and over I keep hearing this from both sides. FAT pilots keep saying they have been welcomed and treated well at SWA by the vast majority.

SWA captains keep saying that the vast majority of AirTran pilots are great to fly with.

Other than the 5% on both sides that were D-Bags before this deal went down, everyone seems to be getting along just fine.

It must be absolutely killing Glee.

 

[SWA Bubba]

Over and over I keep hearing this from both sides. FAT pilots keep saying they have been welcomed and treated well at SWA by the vast majority.

SWA captains keep saying that the vast majority of AirTran pilots are great to fly with.

Other than the 5% on both sides that were D-Bags before this deal went down, everyone seems to be getting along just fine.

It must be absolutely killing Glee.

He's apparently not here to respond right now, so lemme help you out, Howie:

"You fly to LBB! I eat ice cream sundaes all the time! That's fantastic!!"

Feel better now?

Bubba

 

[Luv2BFlyin]

SWA 12 year CA pay on 9/01/01 was $149.90, I wouldn't lose sleep over $2.10 or the fact that 10 years later it went to $216.00. Not a bad increase.

Not to quibble but in 10 years ours went to the high $180's. That would be 17 years after start up, where was WN in relation to their peers in say '89 or so? Just keepin it real.

 

[redflyer65]

Don't forget the huge stock options and profit sharing checks every year. Just sayin'

 

[Luv2BFlyin]

Don't forget the huge stock options and profit sharing checks every year. Just sayin'

How did the rates compare?

Fortunately the stock options worked out, but most wouldn't calculate future gambling's in current income. As far as profit sharing, read the SWAPA forum concerning that gem. Delta definitely has it better in their PS and 401K without a match. Letting the company borrow your money for 9 months is almost as bad as letting the federal government borrow it for up to a year waiting on a refund.

 

[redflyer65]

How did the rates compare?

Fortunately the stock options worked out, but most wouldn't calculate future gambling's in current income. As far as profit sharing, read the SWAPA forum concerning that gem. Delta definitely has it better in their PS and 401K without a match. Letting the company borrow your money for 9 months is almost as bad as letting the federal government borrow it for up to a year waiting on a refund.

How'd that compare at AirTran? Isn't that what we were talking about? Several hundred SW guys retired multi-millionaires because of that simple combination (Options & PS). So maybe the rates were lower, but they made out like bandits. Hell, even some FA's were millionaires.

I'll admit the current Delta setup is better and I'd like to see improvements in that regard. But they've also been thru bankruptcy and were gutted when SW wasn't. While DL was going through that process, SW guys were still getting PS and hanging on to every dollar they saved in retirement (Defined Benefit vs. 401k) Apples and oranges many times over many years, really between all three airlines you've mentioned. You can pick points in time, but for the most part the SW guys have done better for the long run. And hopefully we can make some improvements.

 

[canyonblue]

Not to quibble but in 10 years ours went to the high $180's. That would be 17 years after start up, where was WN in relation to their peers in say '89 or so? Just keepin it real.

Oh God alright already, you're right I'm wrong everything sucks. You must be a thrill to sit next to on a four day Schleprock.

 

[Ty Webb]

I'll bet he's fine, as long as no one's poking him in the eye, telling him how he won the lottery.

 

[canyonblue]

I'll bet he's fine, as long as no one's poking him in the eye, telling him how he won the lottery.

Come on Ty, you know those four digit guys would say "there's a lottery?"

 

[Luv2BFlyin]

I'll bet he's fine, as long as no one's poking him in the eye, telling him how he won the lottery.

Exactly, only poked in the eye once but that was by an f/a and she was the only one that didn't know she was a b! Tch out of the whole crew.

Almost all the CA's I'm flying with are surprised by how much I'm working to make up the difference. No problems, they just don't have a clue. Even the junior captains haven't shown any animosity, very professional.

 

[canyonblue]

Almost all the CA's I'm flying with are surprised by how much I'm working to make up the difference. No problems, they just don't have a clue.

Uh, maybe it's because they're rich and struggling to make a living doesn't compute. Most probably have more in their Profit-sharing than you have made the last 10 years.