Patch

I read your post differently. If you were sincerely just adding humor, then I apologize. Reading somebody's words is far different then hearing them. That is why the 'Koolaid Krowd' comment really upset me. I took that comment as an insult to every SWA pilot that truly believes in the 'culture' that we have. I buy into it because I truly wanted to work here. It was the only place I applied. If I didn't get it, I had another career in mind.

In regards to the type rating, I couldn't care less whether your guys have it or not. Some of the SWA guys might have heartburn with it. I don't. I really wanted this job, so I got the type. It was a requirement for me. Your guys will get on without requiring it. Lucky them.

There's nothing 'special' about the interview per se. I was making a point that some of my buds that applied in the Spring didn't even get a shot to interview. Your guys automatically get a job at arguably the most desired airline to work for simply by being employed by AirTran at the time GK decided to acquire you. That is business and I get that. Again, it's the 'Koolaid krowd' comment that spun me up, not the fact that you'll be working here.

I will most likely vote YES for SL 10... waiting for the road shows. I do feel your union did a huge disservice to you in regards to SL9. Not even letting you vote for it blew me away. It probably would have passed on the SWA side and your guys would be soon loving the huge pay raise and benes. I would have voted for it even though I thought it was a windfall. Now we have a situation where your 'YES' votes could be driven by fear of liquidation. I hate that it's come to that. None of us want a bunch of ****ed off pilots flying our airplanes. I really don't want a US Air/AWA boondoggle.

While I know my comments came off as harsh and most certainly unwelcoming to you as an AirTran pilot, I was simply reacting to what I 'perceived' as a guy mocking the very group of pilots that he would most likely love to be a part of. I was upset. I should have just walked away from the computer.

Patch

Sniper

- Who is responsible for the culture @ WN?
- Who is instilling a "fear of liquidation"?
- Who is championing an agreement where only one side gets immediate upgrades?
- Who is supporting the possibility of "a bunch of ****ed off pilots flying our airplanes"?

1Seat 1Engine

-Who is asking rhetorical questions?

Sorry, couldn't resist.

We are unfortuneately in a scenario with the stakes so high that there will be strong perceptions of winning/losing no matter the outcome.

I think management sees a situation where there will be anger no matter the outcome. My guess is that they would rather see this than an alternative that looks like USAirways or the ongoing Continited/Uninental going nowhere merger.

I also think that management wants to make sure everyone realizes they're ultimately responsible for the company, not us.

Add on that the pilot group is the first of many labor groups yet to merge and I think they want to really show the other groups that this merger will go forward come hades or high tide.

blakman7

+1 for 1Seat 1Engine

SherpaLifter

Unless, of course, the AT pilots vote this down....then the merger is over and AirTran will be operated separately until the 737's are converted to SWA and the B717's sold off. Pilots will be on the street.

Sniper

No prob.

The questions are not quite rhetorical (IMO). I hear WN pilots say that they personally, and SWAPA, and Southwest management, don't want it to go this way, and how important culture is to them, etc.

And then I see what their management and representatives actually do.

Do the actions support the words? (yep, THAT is rhetorical).

FAULTPUSH

...but for how long is the question...

newKnow

Nice job, 1Seat.

+1.

forgot to bid

Deleted.......

tsquare

And ya'll still don't see the Frank Lorenzo comparison?