SWA today like the airline in the book, "Nuts!"?

[General Lee]

It's my third airline, and although it is far from perfect and debatably traveling on an unchangeable path to mediocrity, I will still choose SWA on its worst day over the vast majority of others on their best day.

Those that have not experienced the seedy underbelly of this cutthroat industry truly do not understand how good we have it. Some of the biggest critics that actually work here have never worked anywhere else, not all of the critics of course, but a large majority.

Could it be better? Of course!

Was it once better than now? Most definitely!


Are we in the death spiral? I think not.

Probably not in a death spiral Howie, but definitely not the same it was prior to your "hostile" takeover of the other pilot group. Bad feelings, the ones where they felt it was "two against one" in the SLI, will remain for years and years. You can't deny that, just read some posts on here. Next, your airline and the longevity of the employees has taken the "low cost" out of the LCC model. You don't have newhires everywhere making 1st year pay for cheap. You also don't walk into a market and control the fares anymore, and you don't have a fuel hedging advantage. But other than that, it's the same as before, including 5-6 leg intra Texas days. Enjoy it Howie, I'm off to Europe again this week, one leg to a nice layover dinner with crew. Bye!


Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[waveflyer]

It's my third airline, and although it is far from perfect and debatably traveling on an unchangeable path to mediocrity, I will still choose SWA on its worst day over the vast majority of others on their best day.

Those that have not experienced the seedy underbelly of this cutthroat industry truly do not understand how good we have it. Some of the biggest critics that actually work here have never worked anywhere else, not all of the critics of course, but a large majority.

Could it be better? Of course!

Was it once better than now? Most definitely!

Are we in the death spiral? I think not.

This^^^

But we can and will do better-

And despite some poster's gleeful hoping predictions of our demise- I believe we will prosper well after next year

 

[dicko]

A few hundred disgruntled FAT CPs can sure wreak havoc...

Are you making a suggestion or a statement ? Who would they wreak havoc on ?You might want to figure out who they're pissed off with first ......

 

[fareview]

Probably not in a death spiral Howie, but definitely not the same it was prior to your "hostile" takeover of the other pilot group. Bad feelings, the ones where they felt it was "two against one" in the SLI, will remain for years and years. You can't deny that, just read some posts on here. Next, your airline and the longevity of the employees has taken the "low cost" out of the LCC model. You don't have newhires everywhere making 1st year pay for cheap. You also don't walk into a market and control the fares anymore, and you don't have a fuel hedging advantage. But other than that, it's the same as before, including 5-6 leg intra Texas days. Enjoy it Howie, I'm off to Europe again this week, one leg to a nice layover dinner with crew. Bye!


Bye Bye---General Lee

Ha! And talk over dinner about Lucille Ball & the '69 Jets!

Coz the last time I was in DKR at the pool with DAL CREW ..the youngest hostie (61) couldn't talk about anything else...after a vodka or two squeezed out her pool bag!

(True btw... Respect for the old gal, she gave it a go. ; >. )

fv

 

[General Lee]

This^^^

But we can and will do better-

And despite some poster's gleeful hoping predictions of our demise- I believe we will prosper well after next year

You are not going through a death spiral, you are losing your uniqueness as the ONLY LCC that affected the legacies. You are turning into a legacy yourself, just with no longhaul flying.


Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[Dash Power]

I think it rather the Legacies turned to be more like us.

 

[N1atEcon]

Tell me one large company (not just airlines) that is the same as it was ten, twenty, thirty and forty years ago?
Change or Die.

 

[scoreboardII]

Ford Motor Company.

Harley Davidson Motorcycles.

Maybe Costco or Walmart.

That's about it.

 

[N1atEcon]

They are not the same. Harley D almost closed in the 80s. They sold a overweight motorcycles that were very unreliable. They made a lot of changes.

 

[HowardBorden]

Probably not in a death spiral Howie, but definitely not the same it was prior to your "hostile" takeover of the other pilot group.

And just exactly how would you have the slightest clue as to how it is now, ever was or will be in the future. You get your viewpoint from an anonymous web board! If I believed all the crap that is spewed here about SWA or any airline that I don't actually work for, I would be pathetically misinformed. Stick to pontificating about the airline you claim to work for rather than trying to be the all knowing about one you don't even claim to work for. It is still ridiculous and tired, but at least more believable.

 

[humveedriver]

Ford Motor Company

http://www.todayszaman.com/news-232039-ford-motor-co-says-culture-change-has-led-to-success.html


I'm pretty sure all business models and products have to be tweaked sooner or later. It's just a question of how much and how fast. As Ty and a few others have mentioned, it sucks watching SWA fail at something AT was really good at. Baggage handling and OT performance. One big challenge will be commiting to shut the gate door a few minutes prior to departure. I'm guessing some of the ramp issues could be union related. I'm sure those guys count on overtime as a result of low staffing.

 

[waveflyer]

I know some poster's hope to think we are just like them- but we aren't close- issues yes,not legacy issues.

 

[texman]

Humm, the problem we are having is a mini work slow down on the ramp.

 

[Ty Webb]

I know some poster's hope to think we are just like them- but we aren't close- issues yes,not legacy issues.

Wave, just curious-

Which Legacy were you at?

The reason I ask is that the former Legacy guys are the ones who are saying these things the loudest. Talk to a former USAir guy. . . . Better yet, listen to one.

 

[humveedriver]

Humm, the problem we are having is a mini work slow down on the ramp.

That makes more sense. Not saying I agree with it. But the lack of pep is obvious. 10 years ago our "fuel sheriff" wouldn't shut up about SWA's effiency on the ramp. Jetway rolling after parking brake set. External power laid out and ready for plug in. I still see good effort here and there. But nothing you would use as an example of "how to do it right".