RSW FAs harrass FAT FA

[75M]

There there...Bubba.

 

[caseyd]

First: First person anecdotes have very limited value in framing an accurate portrait of reality. Second and third person accounts are completely worthless and often agenda driven sensationalism.

Second: As a Southwest guy, I strongly urge everyone to kill this "RSW" thing. I don't like the way it reflects on my new co-workers, but I especially don't like the way it reflects on me.

this is the rationale of one who upholds not just an airline or the industry but a profession...well said Candidate.

and i have no dog in that fight at all..beyond a common profession

 

[SWA Bubba]

There there...Bubba.

Thanks, 75M, I feel much better now! Don't forget to bring your matronly comfort to Fletch as well--he seems like he could use it!

Bubba

 

[75M]

I'm nothing if not matronly

 

[Whataburger]

Also most of the AirTran guys that went first wanted to go. Wait till the rest come over the partition it will be like US airways part II.

There's no "I" in TEAM, but there is a PAR and a TIT and an ION in PARTITION. These days I see more PAR's and less TIT's even when my atom is charged.

 

[SWA Bubba]

There's no "I" in TEAM, but there is a PAR and a TIT and an ION in PARTITION. These days I see more PAR's and less TIT's even when my atom is charged.

True, that there's no 'I' in team, but there IS an "Eat me," if you're willing to use the 'E' twice. Does that help?

Bubba

 

[Ty Webb]

True, that there's no 'I' in team, but there IS an "Eat me," if you're willing to use the 'E' twice. Does that help?

Bubba

Well done.
:laugh: :laugh: :beer:

 

[SWAInflt]

Sad to hear there may be descension in the ranks amongst the WN/FL stews. Retired from WN inflight after 13 years when they offered the buyouts back in 2009.

Giving up my seniority number was the biggest mistake I've ever made and I regret it every day. I'd be the first to defend the work that flight attendants do and they are indeed safety/customer service professionals but I never knew how good I had it as a semi-senior WN stew until I went back to working a "real" job in the 9 to 5 world. Frankly, it sucks. I'm currently working as a computer technician making about 30k/yr. If I were still flying, I'd be making nearly twice as much working half as many days per week doing the exact same job I hired on at making $14 flt/hr back in the mid 90s.

Sure, there were some long days and reroutes and crappy passengers. But, there were also cushy overnights in swank hotels, some of the best inflight work rules in the industry and of course the 1-2-3...

The guys and girls in the cabin at WN/FL need to get over themselves and realize how lucky they are and how good they've got it.

 

[saabcaptain]

Hazed? My first year 8 years ago was great. Sure, I got my share of "wow, new bags... you must be new! you look like a kid, wow! etc." but it was all in fun. I was treated great. Pilots and FAs bought me drinks that year, no one ever looked down at me. Whoever thinks that is crazy, you get barely teased for being "new" and really only get picked out of the crowd to be WELCOMED by others. If they think it is hazing they have lost their mind or are unable to get over the fact that someone is no longer saluting them.

I have flown with many, many former AirTran attendants in the last few months and all are super excited to be here, very happy with the raise and their seniority (because I assume these are the senior ones) etc. All the fellow pilots and I have been very welcoming and buy the drinks and welcome them. The other original SWA flight attendants have varied from welcoming to indifferent but I haven't seen any hostility that is for sure.

I think the pilot/FA transitions are going well so far, my only remaining fear is that will change as this first group are most likely those who bid for and really wanted to be the first over the line and therefore excited at the prospect. It is the last few who perhaps want to never come here that concern me. I have an open mind.

 

[Lear70]

Just remember that the ones waiting until the end may be doing so, not because they don't want to be at Southwest, but because as CA's they want to stay in the seat as long as possible and F/O's want to stay off reserve so they let all the guys and gals junior to them transition over and plug the bottom...

Lots of reasons to come over late. Money isn't everything.

 

[scoreboardII]

Uh....1-2-3 not so much anymore, try $12 beers and $15 Margarita's.

 

[Ty Webb]

I think the pilot/FA transitions are going well so far, my only remaining fear is that will change as this first group are most likely those who bid for and really wanted to be the first over the line and therefore excited at the prospect. It is the last few who perhaps want to never come here that concern me. I have an open mind.

That would be logical, if the transitions were going by seniority and choice, but they're not, due to the MKE base closing, and the decision to sell the 717 leases.

For example, the October class has 10 year pilots from MKE who may or may not have bid SWA FO, instead of 15th yr pilots from ATL who definitely bid SWA FO.

The last pilots transitioning won't be the guys who bid ATL 717, it will be the guys who are presently flying the 717, even if their bid was SWA FO and they are a 16th yr employee. That is causing a lot of the current angst, especially among senior FO's who are stuck on the 717 while watching guys junior to them go to SWA and get a pay increase.

Regards,
Ty

 

[Britpilot]

Yup. That's correct and it's very frustrating.
46% of ATL 737 pilots on reserve next month, 50 hour lines. Many junior pilots from MKE getting to cross the partition and no more training classes for the rest of the year and no plan for next year.

 

[redflyer65]

No more training classes this year? I thought there was at least three more. Were they cancelled?

 

[madjack]

Two transition classes announced later this year...

 

[Lear70]

No more training classes this year? I thought there was at least three more. Were they cancelled?

There is one that started this month, another starting in September (bid already closed) and another starting in October (bid already closed).

These bids finish shutting down the MKE crew base except for the pilots who were awarded 717 in their flush bid and cannot be allowed to go to 737 ahead of pilots who were awarded 737 in their flush bid - violates the SIA. I think 7 crews left in MKE... Yeah, just 14 guys/gals.

The rest were a few spots in ATL. There were rumors of more classes but nothing yet, they would have to train around Thanksgiving/Christmas and I'm not sure the GO wants to do that, but you never know...

The next class is scheduled for Jan (an extra class but we don't know where from), another in Feb, then shutting down 30% of the MCO 737 base in March, some ATL people in April, then only 717 pilots for May-Aug until after the summer, then finish closing the MCO 737 base down in September.

That's the last official transition flow from DAL, I'm sure it'll change a few more times between now and then.

 

[Tripower455]

Well, flew with another ex AT guy this last trip.... Great guy, great trip and he's happy as a pig in mud here. Made more $$$ than in the last 2 months than he ever made as a Capt over there.

 

[Britpilot]

Those are for October. Therefore no classes to bid for this year and according to the original plan no classes until March 2013.
Less than 200 pilots trained this year only 1500 to go. Plan is going well don't ya think?

 

[texman]

The training center can do 700 plus a year. There will be a late sim session starting next year.

 

[FR8dognit]

When I was a new hire a few years back, we had the "E" sim session. Got done at 0330[or there about]. They trained 600+ new hires that year and the year after plus all the captains that upgraded. They can run a whole mess of people through in a short time if they have to. We had 2 or 3 fewer sims then too.

 

[GIZMONC]

Quote from the TWU 556 SOUTHWEST Airlines FA UNION:

"On Friday, August 17, TWU Local 556 was honored to witness the new graduates of Special Merger Training Class 259 pin on their Southwest Airlines wings and become full Members of our Union. Following the ceremonies, our newest Southwest Airlines Flight Attendants headed out for their homes and, for many, to new locations where they will be based. We look forward to working with you soon, and congratulations again on your accomplishment.
Not to rest as we continue to grow our ranks, Special Merger Training Class 260 gets rolling Monday, August 20. We expect there will be about 75 to 80 of Air Tran’s finest, ready to make their move over to SWA and join us in our continued success. We look forward to meeting you and wish you the best of luck and good times in your Special Merger Training. It’s a great ride and we are glad you are here."

 

[obadie]

On the van in STL. AT Captain and FO were riding to the hotel with us. SW FA tried to greet them with a hello and handshake. The AT FO never looked up and keeped looking at her phone. SW CA said hello and asked how their day was going. The AT CA said " Disgruntled". Our CA just ignored his response. We all showed up downstairs and the same AT crew came down. Our FA bought them a round. The AT crew had the drinks returned.

 

[dicko]

Reality vs "super duper excited". Shocking.

 

[JT12345]

Also most of the AirTran guys that went first wanted to go. Wait till the rest come over the partition it will be like US airways part II.

Now I disagree with this. For me it is over and done with. You win some and lose some.

At USA they are still working on it last time I checked. We are already past that point. It just keeps getting worse for AAI as time goes on, and looks like our union is not getting anywhere with management about that. I don't see any sacrifice on the SWA side of this to make this work, and it is harder to get past that for some than anything else going on this side. I saw sacrifice with the first deal at least. Dollars for seniority, but some of the language was really bad for FOs upgrading way down the road, and most of the other stuff has been beat to death on here. So they are going to make us pay for voting the first deal down, and I wonder how much. I still think my job is in jeopardy. I understand why some can't see it with the history at SWA, but the rest of the industry history says otherwise.

Good thing retirements are picking up and there is a pilot shortage coming. Less retirements than I would like at SWA/AAI given the economy, but every little bit will help. I still have a job. In the grand scheme I am more worried about my percentage from the bottom than the top right now, and I know there are a lot of people that can't see it or are just not being honest with themselves or those around them.

 

[B727FA]

Our FA bought them a round. The AT crew had the drinks returned.

I would love for that not to be true. I'm sorry it happened. In general, have things been better or worse during this? I know at DL with the year from the vote to FA integration went a long way in allowing cooler heads to prevail. I think it also helped that we were all DL, as in brand (paint, uniforms, procedures, etc.) before we tried to mix the FA crews.

 

[Britpilot]

The training center can do 700 plus a year. There will be a late sim session starting next year.

The problem is not how many the TD can handle it's how many of us they will ALLOW to go. So far not so many.

 

[Dan Roman]

Quote from the TWU 556 SOUTHWEST Airlines FA UNION:

. We expect there will be about 75 to 80 of Air Tran’s finest, ready to make their move over to SWA and join us in our continued success. We look forward to meeting you and wish you the best of luck and good times in your Special Merger Training. It’s a great ride and we are glad you are here."

"Glad you are here......as long as we can steal your flying flying and make sure you are junior to us!
Special Merger Training????? Is that like a quickie warrior spirit course or something?

 

[freightdogfred]

Guess TWU 556 SOUTHWEST Airlines FA UNION never got the SWAPA memo that it was an acquisition, not a merger.

 

[redflyer65]

On the van in STL. AT Captain and FO were riding to the hotel with us. SW FA tried to greet them with a hello and handshake. The AT FO never looked up and keeped looking at her phone. SW CA said hello and asked how their day was going. The AT CA said " Disgruntled". Our CA just ignored his response. We all showed up downstairs and the same AT crew came down. Our FA bought them a round. The AT crew had the drinks returned.

Man that's painful.

Unfortunately I think there might be more to follow.

 

[Just thinking]

"Man that's painful.
Unfortunately I think there might be more to follow.".....................

Almost as painful and embarrassing as the SWA pilot that originally showed up with a jump seat form and then was given a seat in the back. Shortly before departure a United pilot shows up with another jump seat form. gate agent comes down with final count and one seat left in business class.... United guy told to take it and welcome aboard..... SWA pilot comes forward and insists that he sit in business class......

SWA Captain says to a Airtran jump-seater......."Hey we got on of your guys in the right seat up front.... right where you all belong."

Everyday the Airtran pilots are confronted with a variety of insults and tasteless comments. Who is ruining the culture?