Southwest looking to contain costs - article

[waveflyer]

So.....anyway....

How are things on the air tran side lately?

I've drawn down one fleet type and opened a base

I'd rather not do anything like that again. To that end, yes, air tran will have earned those few months off -
Probably not break even though vs line holders if it's as weird and inefficient as my past experiences were

 

[Luv2BFlyin]

You can tell ATL that as far as I'm concerned. You won't find too many on this side that will stand to listen to any of this. It is what it is.

400k? I make half that as an FO and anyone that's a CA can make >400 if they want work their ass off. If that's not your gig, then the base salary is still impressive.

I'll admit their might not have been half the AirTran pilots trying to get on at SW, but the number was quite impressive. Many had tried 2-3 times already.

You said I was doubling my salary immediately. By my calculations, that may eventually happen thanks to my age and the devaluation of the dollar, sometime around 2035 or a little later, Lord willing. And, that could have happened at the Tranny as well. Our International could have continued growing while WN remained the largest domestic carrier.

BTW, if somebody brings it up and I respond, if they can't stand it, to bad. They can ask for me to be removed from the trip.

 

[madjack]

Ok...

 

[waveflyer]

I love this idea that we'll have pilots in their 40's now that will never upgrade-
15-20+ years to go! but you guys all know that you'll never upgrade.

 

[vixin]

Yea, your FO rate was 79/hr when SW stepped in

That was top FO pay by the way.

 

[PCL_128]

That was top FO pay by the way.

Which nobody came close to, because upgrade time was 3-5 years. That's now become 20 years. You guys love to miss that point.

 

[vixin]

I didn't miss anything. I don't have it anymore because I just don't care, but what were 3-5 yr CA rates? Just realize there are just as many no make that more SWA pilots that aren't happy with the purchase either. Get over it move on. Or in your case out. To be delusional of the likelihood AAI was going to survive in today's environment. Well it's just ignorant. Wasn't it going about 7 yrs at time of purchase? Again not sure but I think that's what LEAR70 said on SWAPA forum.

 

[DUBLINFLYER]

the 3 to 5 CA upgrades was pre 911?, the post 911 was 10 years todate

 

[27 driver]

Prior to the stagnation period that everyone hit in 08 it was 3-5 year upgrade. After 08 like everyone else it was 0 growth. IMHO it was the CEO that screwed that up. He was a bean counter. The previous CEO actually wanted to grow an airline. Sound familiar?

 

[PCL_128]

the 3 to 5 CA upgrades was pre 911?, the post 911 was 10 years todate

Incorrect. Upgrades were less than one year pre-9/11. It got up to 3 years later, and was around 6 at the time the merger was announced.

 

[PCL_128]

Just realize there are just as many no make that more SWA pilots that aren't happy with the purchase either.

I get that, and I can understand why. What I will never understand or accept is this insistence on their part that we "won the lottery," or similar nonsense. It's ok to be unhappy with it on your side. It's not ok to make it seem as though we were just working for a piece of trash airline and we were lucky that SWA deigned us with their glorious offer of employment.

To be delusional of the likelihood AAI was going to survive in today's environment.

You might want to explain that to Richard Anderson, who recently said that SWA isn't the competitor that AirTran was. Delta hasn't been impressed. In fact, they're laughing all the way to the bank. It'll be funny as hell when those former AirTran 717s start doing direct flights from ATL to DAL.

 

[Kenney G]

I didn't miss anything. To be delusional of the likelihood AAI was going to survive in today's environment. Well it's just ignorant.




So what airlines where you applying to? You are convinced AirTran was never going to make it. If that was the case for you not to put apps out and just sit around waiting for the end is, well it's just ignorant as you like to say.

 

[Tripower455]

Red flyer, to state that half or more than half of the AirTran pilots had a "current" app with SW is dishonest and or quite an exaggeration,

Yeah, it was only around 400, a little less than 1/4, not 1/2........

How many SW guys had apps in with AT on 9/27?

 

[PCL_128]

I'm still waiting for someone to show me proof of these hundreds of AirTran pilots who had apps in at SWA. I've never believed it, and I never will, until I see some evidence. Just more SWAPA propaganda.

 

[DUBLINFLYER]

PCL since your not a SWA pilot you don't know anything, the FO's that came on line in 2003 were only given to opportunity last year to upgrade - you can do the math

 

[PCL_128]

We were talking about AirTran, not SWA. You're right, I don't have a clue what upgrade times were there. I just know what they are now, and it ain't pretty.

 

[HowardBorden]

It'll be funny as hell when those former AirTran 717s start doing direct flights from ATL to DAL.

That might happen for a nano second, but in case you haven't heard, Delta doesn't own any gates at Love. As for the two that American must divest, the DOJ says Delta need not apply.

 

[vixin]

So what airlines where you applying to? You are convinced AirTran was never going to make it. If that was the case for you not to put apps out and just sit around waiting for the end is, well it's just ignorant as you like to say.

I work for SWA so no I wasn't applying elsewhere. Never applied to AAI.

I also understand there are a few things that aren't the best for AAI pilots, but really its time to unit and fight the right fight GK VDV and RB.

 

[Ty Webb]

I work for SWA so no I wasn't applying elsewhere. Never applied to AAI.

I also understand there are a few things that aren't the best for AAI pilots, but really its time to unit and fight the right fight GK VDV and RB.

Never say never, but on the CA side, there are 450+ of us that are still looking forward to losing our seats and bases this year, and the associated pay cuts and commutes.... We have more immediate and pressing concerns, to say the least.

 

[Dan Roman]

I work for SWA so no I wasn't applying elsewhere. Never applied to AAI.

I also understand there are a few things that aren't the best for AAI pilots, but really its time to unit and fight the right fight GK VDV and RB.

Vixen, don't I remember you absolutely slamming the AirTran folks on here? I believe something about AirTran pilots being inferior to SWA pilots? A lot of that went on here...you can't that back dude.