word302

It's almost like we're in the customer service industry. Weird.

WiFly

Not spinning anything as a positive. Delta was trash 20 years ago. Now they're crushing it. Nothing in this industry is guaranteed, you'd be well served keeping that in mind.

Varks

It has been that way for my entire career. Purposely trying to hurt the company despite relying on them for income. During indoc in 1998 I went to the APA shindig. I witnessed a rep and a president telling us giddy new hires that we need to screw the company every chance we got. I left right after I heard that. It was bizarre.

Leadership doesn't get it because they almost never fly the line. Once a chief Pilot you are in the club. I was an FO for 16 years and never flew with one or met one. How would I ever feel like a part of the "team" if they don't get to know me. I will never forget when they announced a meeting in JFK operations to meet the Chiefs. Some from headquarters. They set the meeting at noon. No JFK pilot will be there because all the departures are before 10am and after 4pm. Only a handful of itinerant pilots from different bases. Show your face at 5pm and there would have been a packed crowd.

Huge disconnect between a line pilot and a chief pilot.

170Till5

I’ve heard 2nd hand that an AA captain was pushed back from the gate and kept both engines running half way to burn off fuel for the whole taxi in hopes to go back to the gate and refuel and then time out. He did all that with an OAL jump seater trying to get to work and the FO didn’t say anything. Weird folks at AA that hate work that much.. just go home or call in sick

Werjower

Wouldn't surprise me, but I've also heard similar stories at other airlines. Even one at Delta of a captain that got deiced type I and type IV on a clear and million warm spring day just to stick it to the company.

Moral of these stories, there's bad apples everywhere. But yes, the hate for the company appears to be much more vocal at AA (and maybe rightfully so with the way management is steering it into icebergs)

170Till5

yup, last thing we need is these crusty captains going to 67.. they’re burnt out

Sliceback

The ratio of chiefs to pilots is 500:1? If you want to meet them it's easy enough to do - just go to their office. They can't run down hundreds of guys for a random meet and great. That being said several of the great CP's would be at work early running around to the gates stopping in to say hi to the crews. With satellite bases that was pretty tough. One CP would drive 30-40 minutes PAST his office to meet a couple of crews and then turn and drive back, longer because of rush hour traffic, to go back to work. SW in DCA, BS in PHL (now a head cheese in the Ivory Tower), and MC (former head cheese in the Ivory Tower). Beats me about other bases. 1998 1998 union meeting? Contract talks. Yes, using every legal tool to help the union, and thereby you, is discussed. Why the noon meeting to meet the big Chiefs? They'd fly in that morning, do a meeting, and fly back. Guys aren't coming in early at 0600-0800 to meet the chiefs so there's no 'big chief' meeting in the early morning. Local guys would drive in for a mid-day meeting.

Archiee

I would hope that is what people would do. Your life and well-being should be more important than a corporation.
I've had flights cancel in base during irops and I just get my bag and go home (I love close by). I'm not on reserve and Im not getting paid to sit in the crew room. It irks me that people show up to their trips knowing their flights are gonna be late and still show up at their original sign in time. There is no reason for that, have some self respect.

That's a matter of opinion. As long as the paychecks clears why should any of us care who has the best "service".

Whoopsmybad

2 reasons:
1. It’s required per the PWA at every airline I know of. That’s a stupid game to play with a multi million $$ career.
2. It starts your clock for FDP and pay. Especially with our 1:1pay every minute over 10 hours, this is important. Also starting the clock for when you time out and rest rules is also important.

CRJCapitan

AA doesn't have that.