Originally Posted by FLEX

Around 2002 I was waiting for a jumpseat with a senior Southwest pilot. The discussion centered around airlines; specifically Southwest and Frontier. He made a statement that I will never forget, "Frontier IS, what Southwest WAS 25 years ago."

I am willing to bet that most of the senior Southwest pilots' that built Southwest would have more in common with their peers at Frontier then some of the newer Southwest employees.

Originally Posted by HuronIP

How can Frontier be what Southwest WAS 25 years ago? Southwest WAS making money and has never been in bankruptcy. I submit that today it is much harder to get a job at SWA than it was back in the day when on one wanted to work at SWA and those that got hired most likely were turned down by the legacies.

Originally Posted by MTOP

Not only that, but TWA would have failed utterly within weeks or months of the AA action to merge, in which case, ALL of the TWA employees would have been on the street. Make no mistake, there was NO chance of TWA surviving in any form without a merger at that point. It's sad, but a merger with AA, which was certainly not pleasant, was the only option to provide any future for TWA employees at that time.

Originally Posted by B757200ER

You are speculating, and really have no idea what you're talking about. TWA had 2 other offers on the table when AA announced the buyout in January 2001. One was a code-share/equity swap with another major and one was a very real investment by Boeing with JAlix as the interim management. AA was the only airline willing to buy all of TWA, but it most certainly wasn't the best for TWA employees, 90% of which are now gone from AA.

None of us had a choice, but I would have taken my chances with another suitor, as I'm still furloughed from AA, and no recalls will occur for years.

Originally Posted by InformationEcho

Does everything AA/TWA have to turn into a contest to see who can eject liquid waste farther?


So tiresome to read the same harping over and over.

Originally Posted by mulcher

What is fair then F9 guys? A 14 year F9 getting senority of 1994 with an $80000 raise, benies, qol and tremendous job security. What a lottery ticket. Pilotswife do you really think this would be fair? Not a chance. I really do hope we can give your husband stable employment. I am sure we will. Will it be different? You bet, but we need to all make it as enjoyable as we can. What about the 450 F9 apps that SWA has on file? Those where all pilots willing to go to the bottom with 1st year pay and probation. Why do you think that is?

Now I am all about keeping fellow pilots employed, but the F9's need to look at reality a little. I am all about fair, but I really need more facts before I could say staple or give an F9 pilot 14 years senority. Look at what Republic did to Midwest. You talk about SWA pilots wanting a windfall look in the mirror. The differences is one comapany is a little more stable then the other. If we were talking equal companies then sure relative senority, but we arent. Not even close. Believe me I know it could be us 10 years down the road.

I am pretty sure SWA will win the bid. It would be a shocker if they didnt. Republic will not have a vote due the fact they are a bidder.

Lets all just see what happens on the 10th. Then lets see what happens on the 11th-17th.

Patch nice post!

Originally Posted by aa73

Answer my question, why is it that F9 pilots are perfectly OK with a 100% staple