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What Airtran brings to the table

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AAI crews bring urban survival strategies and high situational awareness from years of dodging car jackers, muggers & crack dealers on our way to and from the hotels, training center and employee parking lot!
 
GuppyWN said:
Just to clear this up. SWA is running under 11 pilots per aircraft. Airtran is over 12.

Gup
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Just as a quick aside, AirTran doesn't staff via a crews-per-airplane model. We use total block hours, and then have a ratio of pilots relative to total block hours based on our history. Planning swears we are short - who knows!
 
This reminds of that blog that one of your FO's had at nowheremag.com. He made me laugh so hard my whole body ached for a week. I hope I get to fly with that guy!
 
cheeseheadcrj said:
AAI crews bring urban survival strategies and high situational awareness from years of dodging car jackers, muggers & crack dealers on our way to and from the hotels, training center and employee parking lot!
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I've walked to get food after dark around the Quality Inn, not to bad but not the safest. Try taking a walk across the street from the Days Inn at Oakland Alameda Coliseum to the Denny's after dark. Not to mention waiting for the hotel van at the BART! How about the Hell's Angels and there 'ol ladies invading the joint during the holiday's. Let's not even bring the Black Panthers in to this.

Dick
 
We both bring our own list of things we bring to the table. We will be one company soon. Until then, just like GK said, we are competitors. When this is all played out, we will be able to reap the benefits of each others hard work and sacrifice. I have many friends that went to AT from my previous company and look forward to them becoming SWA pilots.

Welcome aboard all!

Dick
 
There are a lot of dots that need to be connected on route map after the merger. Just islands alone can make money from MDW, TX and west coast. There will be hiring.
 
Who ever started this I cant wait to have a beer with you! Got allota friends at AT. Glad we are joining groups against the evil empires of the aviator world!
 
slaquer5 said:
I am thinking a lot more on this board need to follow that lead and do the same. We are all on the same team now, like it or not. JMO :)
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Though AT guys won't be considered new hires- there is a time honored tradition at 7:37 (I guess at 7:17 as well) that needs to be considered here....

Just saying that Herb shot is a right of passage...

Anyone up for a 7800 person shot when it's all said and done...? (or 10 shots?)

:-)
 
ATLplt said:
Gotta say, this thread has to be the most appropriate and encouraging thread I've read in years on FI. I'm starting to feel slightly LUVed...forgot what that was like. Good luck to all of us, it's gonna be a kick-ass operation once we put the next year of integration behind us.
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Welcome aboard! I'm towards the bottom of the SWA seniority list and obviously the SLI is what is at the top of everyone's minds, but if you start thinking about the combined operations it's tough not to think these 2 route systems blend together perfectly. I can't imagine how there isn't going to be HUGE growth once the merger is complete. Based on the info I saw at lowfaresfarther.com (merger website) AirTran right now flies a total of 35 departures from Las Vegas, Chicago (Midway), Phoenix, Denver, Houston (Hobby), Dallas (Love Field) and Los Angeles COMBINED. So essentially we are going to be able to connect all those cities to the major cities that you currently operate from that we don't serve - mainly Atlanta, Charlotte, Memphis, D.C. Reagan, etc etc. That doesn't even consider international, the expanded slots at La Guardia and all the smaller markets you fly into. Obvisouly there is other competition and the Legacies will protect their turf, but I find it hard to imagine we won't be seeing new city pairs with huge population centers popping up left and right. And if the company is successful executing their gameplan and we are growing at 400-500 pilots a year that will quickly help heal some of the wounds that are bound to come from the SLI. Just my 2 cents. I'm looking forward to non-reving down to the Caribbean finally!
 
vikesfanIV said:
Welcome aboard! I'm towards the bottom of the SWA seniority list and obviously the SLI is what is at the top of everyone's minds, but if you start thinking about the combined operations it's tough not to think these 2 route systems blend together perfectly. I can't imagine how there isn't going to be HUGE growth once the merger is complete. Based on the info I saw at lowfaresfarther.com (merger website) AirTran right now flies a total of 35 departures from Las Vegas, Chicago (Midway), Phoenix, Denver, Houston (Hobby), Dallas (Love Field) and Los Angeles COMBINED. So essentially we are going to be able to connect all those cities to the major cities that you currently operate from that we don't serve - mainly Atlanta, Charlotte, Memphis, D.C. Reagan, etc etc. That doesn't even consider international, the expanded slots at La Guardia and all the smaller markets you fly into. Obvisouly there is other competition and the Legacies will protect their turf, but I find it hard to imagine we won't be seeing new city pairs with huge population centers popping up left and right. And if the company is successful executing their gameplan and we are growing at 400-500 pilots a year that will quickly help heal some of the wounds that are bound to come from the SLI. Just my 2 cents. I'm looking forward to non-reving down to the Caribbean finally!
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^^^This^^^
well said brother- just have to think a bit past your immediate situation and fears- we can bleed fighting each other as the only ones that can compete with the other- but why?
 
As a SWA F/O I think SWA MGMT just hit another grand slam. They hit ten grand slams for every strike out, and this is yet another brilliant move. I think the only people that should be concerned is Mother Delta, because their domestic market just took a dump.

Guys, SWA is hiring in 2011, so obviously this merger (it is a merger once it's all said and done) is with the intent to grow, and grow they will. Let's see, ATL needs to be connected to the rest of SWA's network, that requires way more than what Airtran already has. Wright Ammendment is closer and closer every day to going away. The international destinations Airtran has is only the beggining. SLI will take care of itself, I think in the end we all will be happy because SWA just got stronger and in the end that's what really matters. A/T guys and gals, SWA MGMT isn't perfect by any means, but they definately try to do things right. I don't know about you all but I would rather work for the shark than have to swim next to him. Welcome aboard.
 
OK, lets get some stuff straight while all the love fest is going down. This is serious business, so listen up:

What does Airtran bring to the deal? Well, you guys need to buy some nice quality sunglasses, not those cheap $9.99 ones at Walmart. You need to look good in Vegas baby!

Bring a good liver, again, quality is expensive, buy two if you need.

A side note, at SWA bags do fly free, they usually fly the AM trips out of PHX and OAK. Just letting you in on this as a professional courtesy, ignore at your own risk.

More later.
 
A week into this and I haven't talked to one SW guy thats happy about this, maybe its a PHX thing! How many AT folks are as sick to their stomach as well? I sense a "Little" problem down the road. I understand that this is above our pay grade, but geez! Lets just hope this deal falls apart! Pronto!
 
DonVerita said:
To answer the question originally posted by the thread title:

1. Major airline status
2. Profitable (never in bankruptcy)
3. Excellent product (Business Class, Assigned Seating)
4. International operations (Welcome aboard)
5. 136 Boeing jets with 1700 pilots to fly them
6. Proven track record
7. FAA award-winning Maintenance Program and staff
8. 50 B-737 700 & 800 series aircraft orders locked in. (This equals guaranteed growth)
9. Access to the busiest airport in the country - KATL (which SWA could not get into on its own)
10. A stronger merged airline than either airline could have been if kept seperate. (Achieves "critical mass" to compete with the other 2 mega-carriers: the combined Delta/Northwest and the soon to be combined United/Continental.
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11. Scabs.
 
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scoreboardII said:
A side note, at SWA bags do fly free, they usually fly the AM trips out of PHX and OAK. Just letting you in on this as a professional courtesy, ignore at your own risk.
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ROFLMAO!!

Dude, I'm buying you a beer. No, I mean it. LOLOL

Hope I get to stay in MCO or we open BNA as a base soon! Although I'm appreciative of Southwest's attitude towards bags, I can't help but want to avoid the issue, if at all possible. :D
 
desert rat said:
A week into this and I haven't talked to one SW guy thats happy about this, maybe its a PHX thing! How many AT folks are as sick to their stomach as well? I sense a "Little" problem down the road. I understand that this is above our pay grade, but geez! Lets just hope this deal falls apart! Pronto!
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It's a PHX thing....
 
ATLplt said:
Gotta say, this thread has to be the most appropriate and encouraging thread I've read in years on FI. I'm starting to feel slightly LUVed...forgot what that was like. Good luck to all of us, it's gonna be a kick-ass operation once we put the next year of integration behind us.
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I agree, I just hope you guys are bringing a bunch of hot FA's with you. I am sick of flying with hair legs!!
 
desert rat said:
A week into this and I haven't talked to one SW guy thats happy about this, maybe its a PHX thing! How many AT folks are as sick to their stomach as well? I sense a "Little" problem down the road. I understand that this is above our pay grade, but geez! Lets just hope this deal falls apart! Pronto!
Click to expand...
Judging by the posts on this board as a rough indicator, I'd say the majority of people are just fine with it. A little apprehensive, perhaps, but certainly not "hoping the deal falls apart". I mean really? No,,, really? Blow a multi-BILLION dollar deal because you're nervous about what's going to happen?

Guess there will always be the radical fringe, regardless of what happens in aviation.

p.s. Yes, we have a couple super-senior people at AAI who aren't happy, but the vast majority of us are either resigned to something we have little or no control over or cautiously optimistic for the future. Seems to be a sentiment echoed over there as well.
 
knowlimits said:
11. Scabs.
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A grain of sand in a full glass jar. Not even significant in the least.

Our total pilot group count is 1700. At last count, we had about 20 scabs left, half of which reside somewhere in the Training Dept. The other 10 on the line hang their pathetic heads low and scurry about in the shadows, hoping not to be seen.

How many ex-Eastern scabs are at SWA? Zero I hope. But if there are a few, then who cares...they are an insignificant minority with no say in anything.
 
I just read every post on this thread. I am impressed. I am so thankfull that guys/gals on both sides of this deal are optomistic about getting this deal done. I too look forward to buying a round of cold ones my first trip after we merge. You guys have gone a long way on this thread toward easing my fears of being treated like the bastard step child. Thanks SW guys/gals a truly class act!
 
Lear70 said:
Judging by the posts on this board as a rough indicator, I'd say the majority of people are just fine with it. A little apprehensive, perhaps, but certainly not "hoping the deal falls apart". I mean really? No,,, really? Blow a multi-BILLION dollar deal because you're nervous about what's going to happen?

Guess there will always be the radical fringe, regardless of what happens in aviation.

p.s. Yes, we have a couple super-senior people at AAI who aren't happy, but the vast majority of us are either resigned to something we have little or no control over or cautiously optimistic for the future. Seems to be a sentiment echoed over there as well.
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Lear don't worry bro its all good. Where ever the chips fall, we as a whole will kick some butt.
 
Lear, If more people realized this merger is completely out of their control and understand it is going to happen, then maybe they can finally be happy about it. There are so many positives out there if people would just open their eyes for a second. I don't think for a second the majority want this to fall apart. Growth, better pay, new destinations, more crew bases, etc are great for all of us. SLI is the only thing people are screaming about. Not everybody is going to be happy, in fact most won't be I'm sure. The way I think about it though, is once it is done you create a new starting point in your life and move on. Kicking and screaming is no way to live when you can't do a thing about it. There is way to much alcohol and too many women in this country to be pissed and mad, there is simply better things to do. I wish us all the best and look forward to flying with you guys some day. We truly have a great opportunity here fellas, let's not screw it up.

Bake
 

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