Flifast,

Arbitration would have been the way to go. Period. There are too many ifs and buts. If 9/11 hadn't happened. If we had continued to grow, etc. etc. Each group (majority) will always want to preserve what they have. Select groups on each side will always want to take advantage of a situation to suit themselves.

It is hard to say how many would agree with me, howeve I know a few and we seem to think along the same lines. In all honsety I can tell you shortly after the announced intergration I dealt with twins being born, a long divorce, fear of being furloughed and an immediate resume update and job search.

As time has passed an events in my personal life have calmed down I have had the oppotunity to fly with and discuss the past events of our two airlines. I have talked to captains and fos (formerly captains), Ozark ,and orginal Red. I have made friends, and learned much. I have heard everything from "we at TWA got screwed) to some who have said they expected less. Some who said (living in STL) there lives and current position never changed or were affected. I actually had a few say they were in the process of leaving and this worked out better than they expected.

I would not personally be able to formulate an integration list here with out the ability to go back and look at everything. A way to protect both sides. AA has a horrible history of purchasing airlines and dumping them.

I think what happened to the FAs was horrible, and you are probably correct about hiring next year after there recall rights expire. I am still not sure how the handful that are furlughed would truly effect the bottomline of a company which does 21 BILLION in revenue.

I guess in the end after blabbing on and on I would say again arbitration, and would need a little time to think of an appropriate way to address the TWA guys coming back (there treatment) and how to move forward. I will get back to you on that.

Regards, and thanks for being professional,
AAflyer

I thought of PMing you, but think it is important for you to know I will say the same thing to you in private as I would say on a public forum. I have ben bitten by both sides. I have been told by some of my peers that I have the Stolkhom Syndrome for relating to your pilot group, and some former TW guys who hate all things AA regardless of our support of them.