Originally Posted by B757200ER
I'll try not to sound like management when I say that AA will have to utilize their resources more efficiently, and raise the productivity levels of their pilots (and other employees). If they don't , they cannot compete or be profitable.
OK, I'll type this slow, as maybe I'm not coming across clearly enough...ref my previous post..in Q3, with oil touching $70/bbl, AMR lost a grand total of (ta-da!) $150 million, with $90 million of that attributable to clinging onto a business model that looks more outmoded each day (RJ's). So if we then say that the mainline lost $60 million or so...In a company running $4 Billion or more a quarter thru the cash register, THAT AMOUNTS TO LITTLE MORE THAN ROUNDING ERROR!! Now that oil's price is moderating, it appears AMR is poised to deliver a nicely profitable 2006...and would be even moreso if they quit pouring cash into the RJ blackhole.
For instance, why does AA have separate 757/767 flying, and domestic/intl? Why not, as other carriers have done, allow ANY 757/767-qualified pilot to fly EITHER airplane or EITHER routes? That would be more productive AND more efficient.
Where do you get this? I flew the 75/76 for 6 years...Both airplanes...I flew primarily Int'l but could volunteer by going into makeup and fly domestic AFTER the domestic guys had their shot at the flying. Also, Int'l reserves can be assigned to fly a domestic trip, after all domestic reserves have been used. This month, FYI, I have a DFW-MIA-DFW "domestic" 2 day as part of my regular, normal, 777-I bid trip...Now if the company "needs" another part of my contract to combine DOM/INT divisions for "efficiency", I'll consider "selling" it to them...but this "gifting" strategy to management that I guess was considered negotiating at your STL based ex-employer is not something that interests a growing portion of us here.
What about Pref Bidding? That will most certainly help, too. And many of those ridiculous APA work rules you have are killing the company. Your contract is well known as one of the least efficient around.
Pref Bidding in the hands of AMR would be a complete disaster. Do a web search for the UAL MEC's chairman's remarks on their happiness with the implementation of PBS there...It would be the same way here, in AMR's hands. Also, PBS plain and simple will result in even more furloughs...something I thought you were against? Same way with ANY productivity "give". I am not opposed to making the company more productive, but not in exchange less control over my life, turning the savings into a fare sale, or wholesale layoffs. In other words, MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTABILITY!
It is'nt your fault AA is naming arenas or building new terminals, but is'nt this a good thing? Marketing your product and upgrading old facilities? I'd say Arpey has the right idea here.
Sure it's a good thing...if you got the money for it. But tell me, is it a good thing when selling your house to run up a bunch of debt so you can fill the house with fine furniture so it will sell quicker? Here's a concept you AND management needs to get your mind around: Concentrate on running a quality, safe airline in which the customer is satisfied and the employees are happy-don't depend on the "gimmick-du-jour" to bring customers in the door. Listening to you, you'd think that SW operating without a stadium named after it or out of tired old Love Field would be doomed!
And previous management's purchase of TWA is also well known; just as your horrible treatment of TWA's employees is. But hey---AMR got a $2 billion dollar company for only $750 million. What a deal! I see you still have all of TWA's valuable assets, but almost NONE of it's 22,000 employees.
We also have all the debt that came with the company, and all the retiree pension and health care obligations...that totaled a sum well over $2 Billion. In another thread (to which you did not respond) I remarked to you that AA is now the same size as we were before the TWA transaction...with 5% of our list consisting of ex-TWA pilots. That 5% is approximately 20% of TWA's list. Most of those guys still here are flying protected CA seats in STL..or what's left of STL. That was all that could be saved and seems fair enough in light of what history has wrought.You didn't make the cut and aren't happy. Got it. I'm not happy with the way it worked out either, but that's water under the bridge now. Maybe it's time you moved on too.. Or keep stoking that anger into an early medical retirement, your choice.
Maybe that's why your airline is losing money? They got rid of the most experienced people who really knew how to save money and operate efficiently!