Will SWA and AT truly merge?

[oriondriver]

What the tranny guys are forgetting, is that they aren't bringing to the table anything. You guys didn't wake one day and say "Hey lets merge with SWA" .SWA is buying the gates at atlanta and the future expansion!

 

[ivauir]

To paraphrase te NRA, "Lawyers don't take positions; people take positions".

Seriously, consider who his client was.

Ty,

I hope you are right. But if what I am reading on this forum is any indication of ATNALPA's approach position ... Catz may be well in his comfort zone with his new client. Hope I'm wrong.

 

[waveflyer]

Comparing this deal to DAL/NW is just silly.

I suggest you drop the flamebait.

Your life is about to change dramatically! You're going to LUV it here!

This is a good point-
Coming from a man with several airlines on his resume- southwest is not like any airline out there - it IS different- employees get along- it's credible, not corny- there's substance behind the koolaid- and if you need something... It happens- we work hard, play hard- but not as hard as most domestic airlines- we're more efficient- ive flown so many days that credit over 9- fly 7-8, in a 9.5 hour duty day-
Getting wrapped up in SLIs when this is coming is remarkably silly. Just relax and realize that culture and life style has 35+ years of making happy successful pilots

 

[texman]

This is a good point-
Coming from a man with several airlines on his resume- southwest is not like any airline out there - it IS different- employees get along- it's credible, not corny- there's substance behind the koolaid- and if you need something... It happens- we work hard, play hard- but not as hard as most domestic airlines- we're more efficient- ive flown so many days that credit over 9- fly 7-8, in a 9.5 hour duty day-
Getting wrapped up in SLIs when this is coming is remarkably silly. Just relax and realize that culture and life style has 35+ years of making happy successful pilots

True.

 

[Kharma Police]

What the tranny guys are forgetting, is that they aren't bringing to the table anything. You guys didn't wake one day and say "Hey lets merge with SWA" .SWA is buying the gates at atlanta and the future expansion!

No airline can "buy" gates at The World's Busiest Airport, not even Delta. They are leased, not owned, just like they are leased in LGA and DCA. They just renegotiated the leases and AirTran and Delta I believe had right of first refusal. Southwest realized that although they might have all the money in the world, they will never have the ability to lease the 35 gates that we will have in Atlanta with the new terminal. We bring growth and expansion to the table so please mind your manners when you come to Atlanta for supper. Welcome to the Dirty South!

 

[Secret Squirrel]

So was it with a bunch of LUV that SWA management started code share agreements with Volaris? I am sure it was a bunch of hand holding and koombaya when that was announced. Oh yea, I read a bunch of bitching and complaining on here about how the company has changed. I have a feeling the company will do whatever it takes to make it look like they are holding your hand through all this, and then they will do what they wanted to do in the first place.

 

[ivauir]

... so please mind your manners when you come to Atlanta for supper. Welcome to the Dirty South!

*cough*

I'm happy to tell you that dinner will be served in the great state of Texas. Welcome to Southwest Airlines! You are going to LUV it here!

 

[waveflyer]

SS-You say that bc you don't know what you're talking about- every airline has their 10%- the bitching is lack of perspective

 

[ivauir]

So was it with a bunch of LUV that SWA management started code share agreements with Volaris? I am sure it was a bunch of hand holding and koombaya when that was announced. Oh yea, I read a bunch of bitching and complaining on here about how the company has changed. I have a feeling the company will do whatever it takes to make it look like they are holding your hand through all this, and then they will do what they wanted to do in the first place.

Mr Squirrel,

Volaris was/is so offensive to SWA pilots because we have almost completely avoided ANY farming out of our flying. Even though any codeshare is unpalatable, our section one only allows for minuscule near international codeshare. It is a great example of why it is great to work here - any airplanes in SWA colors will be flown by SWA pilots.

What kinda scope do YOU have?

 

[Mongolikecandy]

*cough*

I'm happy to tell you that dinner will be served in the great state of Texas. Welcome to Southwest Airlines! You are going to LUV it here!

We talkin' brisket and Lone Star beer? I am on board regardless. If we are having that for dinner, that's just icing on the cake.

 

[Secret Squirrel]

Mr Squirrel,

Volaris was/is so offensive to SWA pilots because we have almost completely avoided ANY farming out of our flying. Even though any codeshare is unpalatable, our section one only allows for minuscule near international codeshare. It is a great example of why it is great to work here - any airplanes in SWA colors will be flown by SWA pilots.

What kinda scope do YOU have?

Like I said, they did not turn down a deal that made financial sense because the pilot group disagreed. They did what they thought was best for the company(shareholders). I envy your relationship with your management and look forward to being proud of the company I work for. My company not only was the most aggressive I have ever seen, but also the dirtiest. They would beat the group into accepting a concession with one hand and violate the CBA with the other. And now there are those on this board that are saying we have that to look forward to in our contact with SWAPA. I hope this is bravado from some. But you can understand why some of us are skeptical. Here is to hoping for blue skies ahead.

 

[redflyer65]

4) Pay/contracts do not figure into the equation. The career expectaions that the NMB will see is this: SWA pilot at the end of 20 years: 737 captain. AAI pilot at the end of 20 years: 737 captain.


Nu

I think your gamble on this one is not going to pay off.

There is a MASSIVE pay disparity between the two companies. Southwest has senior FO's making as much as senior AAI Captains.

Explain to me how that is not a windfall for the AAI pilots.(Not flame, but facts)

On the other side of the coin, what is in it for the SWA pilots? They already have the pay, work rules, and retirement. I'm not talking about what Southwest the company gets, but exactly what the Southwest Pilots get out of the deal.

Where is "fair and equitable" from the Southwest side of the equation?

 

[Kharma Police]

I think your gamble on this one is not going to pay off.

There is a MASSIVE pay disparity between the two companies. Southwest has senior FO's making as much as senior AAI Captains.

Explain to me how that is not a windfall for the AAI pilots.(Not flame, but facts)

On the other side of the coin, what is in it for the SWA pilots? They already have the pay, work rules, and retirement. I'm not talking about what Southwest the company gets, but exactly what the Southwest Pilots get out of the deal.

Where is "fair and equitable" from the Southwest side of the equation?

This is a broken record dude. If you have to ask, you'll never know.

 

[rajflyboy]

Come on now people. You know that SWA is going to take the Air Tran guys and let them merge into the seniority list date of hire, they will give them SWA pay and bennies, they will give them profit sharing checks back to date of hire, they will give them each a bottle of Whiskey and they won't even have to buy their own 737 types.


They don't call Southwest the "Love Machine" for nothing

 

[Kharma Police]

Come on now people. You know that SWA is going to take the Air Tran guys and let them merge into the seniority list date of hire, they will give them SWA pay and bennies, they will give them profit sharing checks back to date of hire, they will give them each a bottle of Whiskey and they won't even have to buy their own 737 types.


They don't call Southwest the "Love Machine" for nothing

Oy Vey, here comes some gas for the fire.

Please SWA dudes, don't flip, this guy isn't Tranny.

 

[GhettoBeechjet]

Here is the Flight Info solution to fair and equitable. The Airtran pilots will get everything RAJ said except they will be awarded the top 7700 spots on the combined list. Since there are only 1700 AAI pilots the ALPA MEC will set up a new process to hire the remaining 6000 pilots. All SWA pilots will be have "preferential interviews" and may or may not be placed on the list. After the 7700 selected by the AAI ALPA MEC all remaining SWA pilots will furloughed and placed on a "possible recall list". This list will be used only if the AAI ALPA MEC runs out of people they want to hire.

 

[400ADude]

There will be relative seniority based on career earnings and future earnings.

Count on it Critter boys!

 

[tzskipper]

Here is the Flight Info solution to fair and equitable. The Airtran pilots will get everything RAJ said except they will be awarded the top 7700 spots on the combined list. Since there are only 1700 AAI pilots the ALPA MEC will set up a new process to hire the remaining 6000 pilots. All SWA pilots will be have "preferential interviews" and may or may not be placed on the list. After the 7700 selected by the AAI ALPA MEC all remaining SWA pilots will furloughed and placed on a "possible recall list". This list will be used only if the AAI ALPA MEC runs out of people they want to hire.

That is funny.... It actually resembles what the offspring would have been, had what AT wanted to do to the ATA pilots been combined with what SWA had a hand in doing to the ATA pilots, in it's (successful) effort to eliminate the MDW competition and grab the gates....

 

[GhettoBeechjet]

Ohh and I forgot any former SWA pilot, poolie, or applicant will not be eligable for upgrade. The will have to pay for thier recurrent training every year (since SWA is a PFT operation) and will only be allowed to fly trips that contain at least 6 legs a day and overnight in LBB AMA or MAF.

 

[Kharma Police]

That is funny.... It actually resembles what the offspring would have been, had what AT wanted to do to the ATA pilots been combined with what SWA had a hand in doing to the ATA pilots, in it's (successful) effort to eliminate the MDW competition and grab the gates....

Very poor move by AirTran's Management to not try and buy the whole ATA operation with all the employees.